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THE 


HISTORY  OF  HAVERHILL, 


IVIASSACHUSE-n-S, 


FROM  ITS  FIRST  SETTLEMENT,  IN  1640, 


TO   THE  "S-E.A-1^  I860, 


BY  GEORGE  WINGATE  CHASE, 

Member  of  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical  Society ;  Cor.  Mem.  of  the  'Wisconsin  Historical 
Society ;  Author  of  a  Digest  of  Masonic  Law,  &c. 


Home  of  my  fathers  '  *  *  *  * 
O  never  may  a  son  of  thine, — 
Where'er  his  wandering  steps  incline, — 
Forget  the  sky  that  bent  above 
His  boyhood,  like  a  dream  of  love. 

—  Whittiee. 


HAVERHILL : 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOE. 

1861 


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Entebed  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1861,  by 

GEORGE  WINGATE  CHASE, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


STONE  4  HUSE, 

BOOK  PRINTERS, 

21  Central  St.,  Lowell,  Mass. 


I'REF^CE. 


The  earnest  and  frequent  demand  for  a  new  History  of  Haverhill^ 
induced  the  compiler  of  tlie  following  pages  to  enter  upon  the  task  of  its 
preparation,  and  in  February,  (12th)  1859,  public  notice  to  that  effect 
was  given  through  the  columns  of  the  local  press.  The  original  design  was 
to  include  the  history  of  the  town  from  its  first  settlement,  in  1640,  to 
January,  1860,  in  one  octavo  volume,  of  about  five  hundred  pages;  but 
twelve  months  of  almost  constant  application  to  the  work,  revealed  such 
a  mass  of  valuable  and  interesting  material,  that  a  proposition  was  made 
to  the  town,  at  its  annual  March  meeting,  in  1860  — 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  make  an  appropriation  toward  the  publication 
of  a  History  of  the  town,  and  if  so,  how  much,  as  requested  by  Geo.  W. 
Chase." 

The  proposition  met  with  a  most  hearty  approval,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  following  extract  from  the  town  records  :  — 

"  It  was  unanimously  voted,  That  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  be 
appropriated  and  paid  to  Geo.  W.  Chase  toward  a  publication  of  a  History 
of  this  town,  said  money  to  be  paid  at  times  and  in  sums  at -the  discretion  of 
the  selectmen ;  — provided,  that  not  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  shall 
be  paid  until  five  hundred  pages  of  the  proposed  History  is  prWted ;  and 
'provided  also,  that  the  -price  of  the  book,  in  good  substantial  binding, 
shall  not  exceed  two  dollars  per  copy." 

Encouraged  by  this  generous  aid,  given,  as  it  was,  with  entire  unanimity, 
the  work  was  pushed  forward  with  all  possible  despatch ;  and,  early  in  the 
following  December,  the  first  pages  went  to  press.     Various  causes  have 


rendered  the  work  of  printing  much  more  protracted  than  was  eipected^ 
or  could  have  been  foreseen,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  value  of  the  book 
has  been  increased  rather  than  diminished,  through  the  corrections  and 
numerous  additions  permitted  by  the  delay. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  History  of  his  native  town,  the  compiler  has 
endeavored  to  collect  his  material  from  the  most  reliable  sources,  and,  in 
nearly  every  case  where  practicable,  has  recorded  the  facts  in  the  exact 
language  in  which  they  were  found,  or  were  received.  It  has  been  his 
endeavor  that  each  and  every  "quotation"  introduced  may  be  safely 
relied  upon  as  literally  correct,  believing  that  thereby  not  only  will  the 
reader's  interest  in  no  wise  be  diminished,  but  the  historical  value  of 
the  work  will  be  greatly  increased. 

In  many  instances,  particularly  during  the  earlier  years  of  our  history, 
minor  incidents  and  matters  are  mentioned.  This  has  been  done  cither  to 
illustrate  the  manners,  customs,  &c.,  of  the  early  inhabitants,  or  for  the 
purpose  of  introducing  the  names  of  persons  in  town,  rather  than  for  any 
interest  or  value  in  the  incidents  themselves.  The  frequent  introduction 
of  lists  of  names,  has,  in  many  instances,  been  intended  as  an  aid  to  those 
particularly  interested  in  genealogy,  rather  than  as  items  of  interest  to  the 
general  reader. 

In  a  work  like  the  present,  where  so  much  dependence  is  of  necessity 
placed  upon  traditions,  —  often  vague  and  indistinct,  or  confused  and 
conflicting,  —  and  abounding  in  names,  dates,  and  figures,  it  is  hardly 
possible  to  avoid  errors.  It  is  hoped  and  believed,  however,  that  the 
following  pages  will  compare  favorably  in  this  respect  with  other  similar 
works ;  —  more  or  less  than  this  could  not  well  b6  expected. 

As  it  was  impossible  to  include  within  the  limits  of  a  single  volume  all 
that  might  be  classed  as  local  history,  or  of  local  interest ;  and  as  the 
general  history  of  the  town,  for  the  last  half  a  century,  is  already 
comparatively  well  preserved  by  the  local  newspapers,  as  well  as  by  living 
memories ;  less  space  has  been  devoted  to  the  latter  period  than  might, 
perhaps,  be  considered  as  its  just  proportion.  A  desire  to  preserve  the 
traditions  and  incidents  fast  receding  from  our  sight  in  the  dim  twilight 


■of  the  past,  must  plead  onr  excuse,  if  excuse  be  necessary,  for  this  seeming 
partiality  for  matters  relating  to  "ye  olden  time." 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work,  a  large  amount  of  valuable  and 
interesting  material  has  been  gathered,  which  could  not  well  be  used. 
This  will  be  carefully  preserved,  and  every  opportunity  to  add  to  the 
stock  will  be  as  carefully  improved.  Its  ultimate  disposal  cannot  now  be 
indicated  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 

To  name  the  many  who  have  directly  or  indirectly  aided  the  compiler 
in  his  labors,  would  greatly  exceed  the  space  allowed  for  the  present 
purpose.  To  one  and  all  of  them,  we  would  return  our  hearty 
acknowledgments.  We  cannot,  however,  forbear  to  mention,  specially,  — ^ 
Hon.  James  H.  Duncan,  for  his  active  exertions  in  securing  the  above 
mentioned  appropriation  by  the  town  in  our  favor,  and  for  his  many  other 
acts  of  kindness  and  liberality ;  George  Johnson,  Esq.,  of  Bradford,  for 
his  generous  donation  of  fifty  dollars  for  the  same  purpose;  Benjamin 
Bradley,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  for  his  proposal  to  bind  one  hundred  copies  of 
the  book,  gratuitously ;  A.  W.  Thayer,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,  John 
Bartlett,  Esq.,  of  Eoxbury,  and  Eev.  Gr.  W.  K^lley,  of  this  town,  for 
special  favors ;  and  Mr.  Alfred  Poor,  of  this  town,  (who  has  for  several 
years  devoted  his  whole  time  and  attention  to  genealogy)  for  much 
valuable  assistance. 

With  the  hope  that  the  book,  —  to  the  preparation  of  which  so  many 
pleasant  hours  have  been  devoted,  —  will  be  kindly  received,  this  History 
i^  HaverhiU  is  now  submitted  to  the  public. 

Mount  Washington,  Haverhill,  )  r'   w  n 

Septmnber  1,  1861.  j"  tr.  W.  U 


LIST  OE  ILLUSTllATIONS. 


TiETV  OP  Haverhill  in  1820 Frontispiece^ 

Map  of  Haverhill • 16 

Fac-Simile  of  Indian  Deed 46 

Eesidence  of  Charles  Corliss GO 

First  Meeting-House 67 

First  Plan  of  the  Town 104 

Map  of  Haverhill  and  Adjacent  Toavns 105 

Second  Meeting-House 177 

Plan  of  Massachusetts  Claim  vs.  N,  H 287 

"     "  New  Hampshire  Claim  vs.  Mass 292 

"     "  Haverhill  and  Londonderry 290 

Floating  Islands 462 

Portrait"  of  Piev,  Henry  Plummer 606 

"         "  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett 618 

•'         "      "     Israel  Bartlett 620 

**         •*      "     Samuel  Blodqett 621 

"         "      "     James  H.  Duncan 628 

"        "  Capt.  Nehemiah  Emerson •. 630 

"         "  Dr.  EuFua  Longley 636 

"         "  David  Marsh,  Esq., 638 

"         ♦'  Hon.  Leonard  White 650 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

CHAPTER  I. 
Early  Voyages — Discovery  of  Massachusetts 17 

CHAPTER  II. 
History  op  Puritanism  —  The  Pilgrims 23 

CHAPTER  III. 
Settlements  in  Massachusetts,  from  1620  to  1640 27 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Aboriginal  Inhabitants 30 

CHAPTER  V. 
Settlement  of  Haverhill,  1640 35 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Prom  1643  to  1649 55 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Erom  1650  to  1659 ." 70 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Erom  1660  to  1669 91 

CHAPTER  IX. 
From  1670  to  1675 113 

CHAPTER  X. 
Indian  Troubles— 1675  to  1678 123 

CHAPTER  XL 
Erom  1675  to  1688 130 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Indian  Troubles  — 1688  to  1695 148 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Erom  1695  to  1700 179 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Indian  Troubles  — 1700  to  1710 204 


Till 

CHAPTER  XV. 
From  1710  to  1722 234 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Indian  Troubles— 1713  to  1725 ■. 2G0 

CHAPTER  XVIL 
From  1720  TO  1728 265 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  Boundary  Difficulties  of  1720  to  1759 286 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

From  1729  to  1741 302 

CHAPTER  XX. 

From  1 742  to  1 765 320 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
The  French  War  — 1756  to  1763 340 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
The  Revolution — 1765  to  1783 362 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
From  1765  to  1790 o • 426 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
From  1790  to  1800 ^^^ 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
From  1800  to  1815 ^71 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
From  1815  to  1840 ^^^ 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

From  1840  to  1860 ^^3 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Manupacturb  of  Shoes  and  Hats — Improvements 532 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Ecclesiastical  History ^*' 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Biography  and  Genealogy "^^ 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Miscellaneous 


INTKOIDUOTION. 


The  town  of  Haverhill,  Esses  County,  Massacliusetts,  is  situated  on  the 
northerly  side  of  the  Merrimack,  — the  fourth  in  size,  hut  perhaj^sthc  most 
beautiful  river  in  New  England,  —  about  eighteen  miles  from  its  mouth. 
The  principal  village  is  twenty -nine  miles  from  Boston,  twenty-two  from 
Salem,  fourteen  from  Xewburyport,  eighteen  from  Lowell,  ninfe  from 
Lawrence,  and  thirty  from  Portsmouth,  Is".  H.  The  town  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Salem,  Atkinson,  and  Plaistow,  N.  H. ;  on  the  east  by  Ames- 
bury  ;  on  the  south  by  the  Merrimack  river ;  and  on  the  west  by  Methuen. 
The  northern  line  of  the  town  is  also  the  boundary  line  between  the  States 
of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire.  The  township,  as  originally  pur- 
chased of  the  Indians,  was  fourteen  miles  in  length,  —  six  miles  from  the 
Little  Eiver  eastward,  and  eight  miles  from  the  same  river  westward,  — 
and  six  miles  in  breadth.  As  first  laid  out  by  the  General  Court,  in  1G67, 
it  was  nearly  in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  extending  upon  the  Merrimack 
about  fifteen  miles  from  Holt's  Eocks  westward,  the  northerly  line  running 
about  the  same  distance  due  north-west  from  the  above  point,  and  the 
westerly  line  running  due  north  and  south.  As  thus  laid  out,  the  town 
included  a  large  portion  of  the  territory  now  forming  the  townships  of 
Salem,  Atkinson,  Hampstead,  and  Plaistow,  N.  H.,  and  Methuen,  Mass. 
Since  the  running  of  the  State  line,  in  1741,  the  bounds  of  the  town  have 
been  the  same  as  at  present. 

The  township  is  now  about  nine  miles  in  length,  and  three  miles  in 
breadth,  and  contains  fifteen  thousand  two  hundred  acres,  divided  nearly 
as^follows :  acres  of  land  annually  tilled,  excluding  orchards  tilled,  one 
thousand  and  eighty-six ;  acres  of  orcharding  of  all  kinds  of  fruits,  three 
hundred  and  fifty-one;  acres  of  upland  mowing,  excluding  orcharding 
mowed,  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-six ;  acres  of  orcharding 
mowed,  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine  ;  acres  of  fresh  meadow,  five  hundred 
and  thirteen ;  acres  of  pasture-land,  excluding  orcharding  pastured,  six 
thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  ;  acres  of  meadow,  exclusive  of 
pasture  land  inclosed,  two  thoijsand  three  hundred  and  forty-nine  ;  acres 


of  unimproved  land,  forty-three ;  acres  of  land  imimprovaWc,  thirteen ; 
acres  of  land  used  for  roads,  five  hundred  and  twenty-eight ;  acres  of  land 
covered  with  water,  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  seven. 

The  soil  is,  generally,  a  rich  friable  loam,  easily  cultivated,  and  highly 
productive.  But  few  towns  can  show  so  small  a  number  of  acres  of  unim- 
provable land,  or  of  land  of  decidedly  inferior  equality.  Many  of  the 
farms  arc  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  will  compare  favorably 
with  those  of  any  other  town  in  the  Commonwealth.  In  an  agricultural 
point  of  view,  but  few,  if  any,  towns  in  the  State,  surpass  this,  either  in 
regard  to  its  capacity,  or  the  developement  of  its  i-esources. 

Besides  the  Merrimack,  which  is  included  in  the  town,  and  which  forms 
the  entire  southern  bound  of  the  town,  there  are  three  smaller  streams, 
viz :  Little  Eiver,  East  Meadow  Paver,  and  Creek  Brook.  Little  River, 
so  called  to  distinguish  it  from  the  "  Great  Eiver,"  has  its  principal  source 
in  Plaistow,  X.  H.,  enters  Haverhill  a  little  east  of  the  Atkinson  line,  and 
flows  nearly  south,  to  the  Merrimack,  emptying  into  the  latter  at  the 
principal  village,  and  one-fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  the  Haverhill  bridge. 
This  stream  has  several  tributaries,  the  principal  one  of  which  is  known 
as  Fishing  Eiver,  taking  its  rise  from  the  north-western  extremity  of 
Kenoza  Lake,  and  flowing  at  first  northerly  into  Plaistow,  then  gradually 
bending  to  the  south-west,  and  entering  the  Little  Eiver  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  from  its  mouth.  There  are  several  mills  upon  Little  river,  the 
largest  of  which  is  the  flannel  mill,  long  known  as  "  Hale's  Factory,"  and 
located  on  Winter  street,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the 
river.  Upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream  at  this  place,  there  was,  for 
nearly  two  hundred  years,  a  saw-mill,  and  the  stream  was  most  commonly 
known  as  "  Sawmill  Eiver."  The  last  mill  of  the  kind  was  taken  down 
about  twenty  years  since.  About  midway  between  this  poinfr  and  the 
Merrimack,  and  near  the  small  island,  there  was  for  many  years  a  grist- 
mill, which  also  ceased  operations  about  twenty  years  since.  There  is 
also  a  grist-mill  on  the  stream,  near  the  State  line,  which  has  been  known 
these  many  years  as  "  Clark's  mill."  A  mill  has  been  constantly  located 
at  this  place  for  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Fishing  River, — so  named  on  account  of  the  large  quantities  of  ale- 
wives  taken  from  it  in  former  times,  —  is  now  used  principally  to  conduct 
the  surplus  water  of  Kenoza  Lake  to  the  flannel  factory,  in  the  dry  season. 
This  privilege  was  gi-anted  to  Mr.  Ezekiel  Hale,  jr.,  in  1835,  who  there- 
upon erected  a  flume  at  the  outlet  of  the  Lake,  and  deepened  the  bed  of 
the  stream,  so  that  about  six  feet  of  water  can  now  be  easily  drawn,  as 
occasion  may  require.     There  was  formerly,  and  for  many  years,  a  corn 


mill  upon  ttis  stream,  situated  about  half  a  mile  from  its  mouth.  The 
first  mill  of  the  kind  at  that  place,  was  erected  by  William  Starlin,  who 
subsequently  sold  it  to  Thomas  Duston,  from  whom  it  descended  to  his 
son,  Timothy  Duston. 

Jilast  Meadoio  River  takes  its  rise  in  Newton,  N.  H.,  enters  Haverhill 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  Brandy  Brow  Hill,  and  flows  nearly 
due  south,  to  the  Merrimack,  emptying  into  the  latter  at  "  Cottle's  Creek," 
—  one  mile  below  the  Chain  Ferry.  There  has  long  been  a  saw-mill  and 
a  grist-mill  upon  this  stream,  near  the  Amesbury  line,  known  as  "Peas- 
lee's  Mills."  The  first  mill  at  this  place  was  erected  by  Joseph  Peasly,  in 
1693,  since  which  time  the  privilege  has  been  almost,  or  quite,  constantly 
in  the  possession  of  his  descendants.  There  was  formerly  a  saw-mill,  grist- 
mill, and  fulling-mill,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  stream. 
These  were  built  by  Anthony  Chase  (great-grandfather  of  the  writer) ,  — 
the  first  in  1757,  and  the  others  a  few  years  later,  —  and  continued  in 
operation  for  many  years.  There  is  also  a  grist-mill  about  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  from  the- Merrimack,  —  known  as  "Johnson's  mill," — which  was 
first  built  by  Thomas  Johnson,  about  1790,  or  later.  There  was  formerly 
a  fulling-mill  about  one  mile  above  the  mills  of  Anthony  Chase,  which 
was  erected  by  his  son,  John  Chase,  who  carried  on  the  business  for  many 
years. 

Creeli  Brooh,  which  runs  from  Creek  Pond  nearly  due  south  to  the 
Merrimack,  carries  two  mills.  The  first,  which  is  located  at  the  outlet  of 
the  pond,  was  long  operated  as  a  grist-mill,  but  has  recently  been  trans- 
formed into  a  hat  factory.  The  other,  —  known  these  many  years  as 
"Bradley's  Mill,"  —  is  a  grist  mill,  and  is  located  about  fifty  rods  from 
the  Merrimack. 

There  are  four  ponds  in  the  town,  three  of  them  situated  within  a  mile 
of  the  principal  village,  and  within  half  a  mile  of  each  other. 

Plug  Pond,  —  formerly  called  "  Ayer's  Pond,"  from  the  fact  that  several 
persons  of  that  name  settled  near  its  western  end,  and  owned  a  large  part 
of  the  adjoining  land,  — is  the  smallest  of  the  four,  and  is  situated  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  Merrimack,  in  a  north-easterly  direction  from  the 
village.  It  covers  an  area  of  about  seventy  acres.  At  its  northern,  south- 
ern, and  western  extremities,  particularly  the  latter,  the  bottom  is  mostly 
covered  with  mud,  which  will  perhaps  account  for  its  moderate  stock  of 
fish,  as  well  as  for  the  greenish  and  unpleasant  appearance  of  its  water 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  summer.  At  its  southern  point  a  dam,  or 
"  plug,"  has  long  existed,  through  which  its  surplus  water  is  drawn  to 
supply  the  mills  on  the  brook  connecting  it  with  the  Merrimack.     Upon 


Xll 

this  stream,  known  as  "  Mill  Brook,"  there  is  at  the  present  time  a  plaster- 
mill,  a  grist-mill,  a  hark-mill,  ami  a  hat  factory,  with  a  variety  of  other 
machinery  attached.  Near  its  mouth  is  also  located  a  steam  saw-mill. 
The  first  corn-mill  in  the  town  was  erected  upon  this*  stream,  as  was  also 
the  first  tannery,  and  fulling-mill.  In  its  passage  from  the  pond  to  the 
river,  the  Avatcr  of  this  brook  can  be  used  for  mill  purposes  at  least  five 
times,  though  we  believe  that  four  times  is  the  most  ever  yet  required 
of  it. 

Hound  Pond  is  situated  about  one  mile  north  of  the  Haverhill  Bridge, 
and  about  half  a  mile  north-westerly  from  Plug  Pond.  It  covers  an  area 
of  about  eighty  acres,  and  was  formerly  called  "Belknap's  Pond,"  and 
also  "  Little's  Pond,"  from  persons  of  that  name  who  lived  near  it.  With 
the  exception  of  one  small  cove  at  its  north-western  extremity,  the  shores 
of  this  beautiful  sheet  of  water  are  entirely  free  from  mud,  and  show  its 
bottom  to  be  a  clean  gravel.  There  is  not  a  single  living  stream,  large  or 
small,  seeking  outlet  into  the  pond,  but  it  is,  with  the  exception  of  what 
water  may  be  turned  into  it  from  the  gently  sloping  hills  surrounding  it, 
entirely  supplied  by  subterranean  springs.  From  this  pond,  by  means  of 
an  acqueduct,  the  central  village  is  mostly  supplied  with  pure,  cold,  soft 
water,  for  domestic  purposes.  The  water  in  the  pond  is  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  above  that  of  the  Merrimack,  and  is  well  stocked  with 
pickerel  and  perch.  The  natural  outlet  to  the  pond  was  to  the  south-west 
into  the  Little  Piver,  through  which  salmon,  and  other  fish,  passed  up 
into  the  "pond,  in  the  appropriate  season,  to  deposit  their  spawn.  The 
direction  of  this  outlet  was  long  ago  artificially  changed,  —  toward  the 
Plug  Pond,  —  so  as  to  secure  the  surplus  water  for  the  mills  upon  Mill 
Brook.  Within  a  few  years,  the  Acqucduct  Company  have  purchased  the 
original  mill  privilege  upon  the  latter  stream,  and  the  above  outlet  has 
been  discontinued. 

Great  Pond,  or,  as  it  has  recently  been  re-named,  "Kenoza  Lake,"  is 
situated  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Haverhill  Bridge,  in  a  north- 
easterly direction,  and  about  one-third  of  a  mile  east  of  Bound  Pond.  It 
covers  an  area  of  about  three  hundred  acres,  and  is  the  largest  sheet  of 
water  in  the  town.  The  water,  which  in  some  places  is  fifty  feet  in  depth, 
is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  Merrimack,  and 
abounds  with  the  finest  pickerel, — hence  the  new  name,  "Kenoza,"  sig- 
nifying "pickerel."  The  only  outlet  from  this  miniature  lake,  is  the 
Fishing  lliver,  already  mentioned,  through  which  large  numbers  of  salmon 
and  alcwivcs  formerly  passed  into  the  pond.  White  perch,  of  the  finest 
flavor,  once  inhabited  the  waters  of  this  pond,  but  have  now  nearly  disap- 


XlU 

peared.  The  woods  "bordering  the  pond  were  long  the  retreat  of  various 
kinds  of  game,  and  the  favorite  hunting  ground  of  sportsmen.  The  heau- 
tiful  point  of  land  near  the  north-eastern  extremity  of  this  pond,  has  long 
been  a  popular  place  of  resort  for  parties  of  pleasure.  Since  1807,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  have,  by  purchase,  enjoyed  the  unrestricted  right 
to  occupy  the  grounds  for  that  purpose. 

Creeh  Pond  is  situated  in  the  West  Parish,  about  three  miles  north- 
west from  the  principal  village,  and  covers  an  area  of  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  The  shores,  which  are  quite  irregular,  exhibit  some  really 
beautiful  scenery,  and  there  are  many  fine  farms  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  waters  of  the  pond  are  remarkably  clear  and  transparent,  and  the 
bottom  is  for  the  most  part  even  and  sandy.  The  pond  has  long  been  a 
favorite  resort  for  those  who  delight  to  style  themselves  disciples  of  Izaak 
"Walton.  The  outlet  to  the  pond  was  formerly  one  of  the  most  productive 
of  our  alewive  fisheries,  and  was  one  of  the  last  that  ceased  to  be 
profitable. 

There  are  several  prominent  hills  in  the  town,  but  none  which  can  be 
dignified  with  the  title  of  mountains.  Among  them  may  be  named  Golden 
Hill,  Silver  Hill,  Turkey  Hill,  Brandy  Brow  Hill,  and  the  Great  Hill. 
The  hills  are  all  of  gentle  ascent,  and  capable  of  profitable  and  easy  culti- 
vation to  their  summits. 

There  are  no  chains  of  hills  in  the  town,  the  eminences  being,  in  nearly 
every  case,  detached,  aff"ording  from  their  summits  the  view  of  an  unob- 
structed and  complete  circle  of  charming  landscape.  There  are  no  craggy 
peaks,  or  barren  ledges,  but  the  view  from  valley  and  hill-top  can  hardly 
be  surpassed  for  its  quiet,  unpretending  loveliness. 

Golden  Hill,  which  rises  upward  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet 
above  the  river,  is  situated  about  one  mile  east  of  Haverhill  bridge,  and 
its  base  is  about  twenty  rods  from  the  Merrimack.  The  prospect  from 
its  brow  is  extensive  and  picturesque.  The  beautiful  island, — long 
known  as  Clement's  Island, — with  its  fringe  of  delicately  variegated 
foliage,  and  its  smooth,  green  carpet ;  the  quiet,  rural  villages  of  Grove- 
land,  and  Bradford,  with  their  snow-white  cottages,  and  well  cultivated 
meadows  ;  and  the  more  extensive  village  of  Haverhill,  with  its  long  line 
of  substantial  manufactories ;  are  in  full  view,  and,  with  their  rural 
environments,  combine  to  form  a  picture  of  extraordinary  beauty.  This 
hill  was  originally  called  "Golding's  Hill,"  from  a  person  of  that  name 
who  owned,  or  lived  near  it. 

Silver  mil,  or  "  Silver's  Hill,"  —  so  called  from  a  former  owner — is 
situated  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  Haverhill  bridge,  and  is 


XIV 

also  plainly  seen  from  the  central  village.  It  rises  gradually  from  the 
Merrimack,  which  flows  past  its  southern  base,  to  the  height  of  about  three 
hundred  feet.  The  view  from  its  summit  is  exceedingly  beautiful.  Before 
us,  and  almost  at  our  very  feet,  lies  the  pleasant  village  of  Haverhill,  with 
its  twelve  hundred  dwelling  houses,  its  one  hundred  shoe  manufactories, 
and  its  eleven  churches.  Its  natural  situation  is  uncommonly  fine.  Built 
upon  a  gentle  acclivity,  the  houses  rise  one  above  anotlier  in  such  regular 
order  that  nearly  every  one  can  be  counted.  The  Merrimack,  dotted  here 
and  there  with  a  variety  of  craft,  from  the  light  and  trembling  skiff  to 
the  heavy  gondola,  —  and  the  still  more  imposing  and  majestic  moving 
ocean  craft  with  their  broad  white  sails,  and  tall  masts  overshadowing  the 
water,  —  and  spanned  with  its  bridges,  flows  calmly  at  its  base,  not  in  one 
straight,  monotonous  course,  but  with  a  gentle  meandering,  of  which  the 
eye  can  never  tire.  Accross  the  river  are  seen  the  smoothly  rounded  hills, 
the  green  and  fertile  fields,  and  the  pleasant  villages  of  Bradford  and 
Groveland.  To  the  south  rises  the  hills  of  Andover,  with  their  wooded 
slopes  dotted  here  and  there  with  neat  white  farm-houses.  A  little  to  the 
west,  the  tall  spires,  just  peeping  above  the  hills,  point  out  the  where- 
abouts of  the  city  which  sprang  into  existence  almost  like  Jonah's  gourd, 
—  the  city  of  Lawrence.  A  little  further  still  to  the  west,  and  the  same 
signs  indicate  the  spot  long  ago  settled  by  the  hardy  sons  of  Haverhill,  — 
the  village  of  Methuen.  In  the  dim  distance  beyond,  enveloped  in  its 
misty  blue,  can  be  traced  the  outline  of  Mount  "Wachusett.  Still  further 
toward  the  west,  —  as  if  it  were  not  well  the  eye  should  roam  too  far,  — 
the  "  Scotland "  and  "West  Meadow"  hills  shut  out  the  more  distant 
view  beyond ;  —  but  not  until  we  have  caught  sight  of  the  tall  peaks  of 
the  Grand  Monadnock.  Sweeping  toward  the  north,  we  have  a  view  of 
the  thrifty  farms  of  the  AVest  Parish,  with  the  granite  hills  of  New 
Hampshire  in  the  background.  To  the  north,  the  eye  rests  upon  a  fine 
succession  of  green  fields  and  wooded  slopes,  marking  a  section  of  the 
town  which  suffered  the  most  severely  from  the  atrocities  of  the  murderous 
savages.  There  the  brave  and  resolute  Hannah  Bradley  was  twice  taken 
captive  ;  there  the  lion-hearted  Hannah  Duston  was  captured,  but  not 
conquered,  —  and  there  stands  her  monument;  there  the  heroic  Thomas 
Duston  defied  the  murderous  tomahawk  to  harm  the  humblest  of  his  little 
flock.  There,  too,  upon  that  .gentle  slope,  the  brave  Captain  Ayer,  and 
his  little  band,  boldly  attacked  the  retreating  foe,  iipon  the  memorable 
29th  of  August,  1708.  From  this  summit  might  have  been  heard  the 
war  whoop,  and  have  been  seen  the  gleaming  tomahawk,  in  nearly  every 
attack  made  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  by  the  savages.      The 


XV 

valley  of  the  Little  Kiver,  (or  Indian  River,  as  it  was  also  once  called) 
of  -whicli  tlie  section  just  mentioned  forms  a  part,  is  here  seen  in  all  its 
beauty,  as  it  stretches  with  its  charming  succession  of  hill,  and*  dale,  and 
meadow,  from  the  Merrimack  far  back  among  the  granite  hills  of  our  sister 
State.  This  view  alone  is  well  worth  a  visit  to  the  broad  summit  of 
"Silver  Hill. 

Turkey  Hill,  or,  rather,  the  "Turkey  Hills,"  is  the  irregular  group  of 
hills,  near,  and  north  of,  the  East  Parish  meeting-house.  From  the  south- 
eastern brow  of  the  principal  hill,  a  fine  view  is  had  of  the  valley  of  the 
Merrimack,  for  several  miles.  From  the  summit  of  JoVs  Hill,  which  is 
situated  a  short  distance  directly  north  of  the  Turkey  Hills,  a  charming 
view  of  the  East  Meadow  river  and  valley  is  obtained.  These  meadows 
were  the  most  valuable,  as  well  as  most  extensive  in  the  town,  and  were 
highly  prized  by  the  early  settlers. 

Brandy  Brow  Hill,  —  so  named  from  the  accidental  breaking  of  a 
bottle  of  that  traditional  liquor  upon  its  summit,  —  is  a  hill  of  moderate 
elevation  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  town.  Upon  the  brow  of 
this  hill  is  a  large  rock,  which  stands  at  the  corner  of  four  towns,  — 
Haverhill,  Plaistow,  Amesbury  and  Newton.  The  vicinity  of  this  hill 
was  long  noted  for  the  abundance  and  excellence  of  its  pine  timber. 

Great  Hill  is  the  name  applied  to  the  highest  elevation  of  laud  in  the 
town,  and  is  situated  one  mile  north  of  Kenoza  Lake.  This  hill,  which 
rises  three  hundred  and  thirty-nine  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean,  and 
is  the  second  highest  land  in  Essex  County,  is  the  most  prominent  of  a 
group  of  hills,  which,  as  seen  from  the  west  and  north,  appear  quite  near 
each  other,  and  were  early  known  as  The  Great  Hills.  The  view  from 
the  summit  of  this  hill  is  the  most  extensive  and  interesting  of  the  many 
similar  views  to  be  obtained  in  the  town.  Portions  of  more  than  twenty 
towns  in  Massachusetts,  and  nearly  or  quite  as  many  in  New  Hampshire, 
are  easily  distinguished  by  the  naked  eye.  To  the  east  stretches  the  broad 
Atlantic,  whose  deep  blue  waters,  dotted  with  the  white  wings  of  com- 
merce, are  plainly  seen,  from  the  G-reat  Boar's  Head  to  Cape  Ann.  Near 
its  edge,  and  partially  hidden  from  our  sight  by  Pipe  Stave  Hill,  in  New- 
bury, are  seen  the  spires,  and  many  of  the  houses  of  the  city  of  Newbury- 
port.  To  the  right,  the  eye  can  distinctly  trace  the  outline  of  Cape  Ann, 
from  Castle  Neck  to  Halibut  Point.  "With  the  aid  of  a  glass,  several 
villages  upon  the  Cape  are  made  visible.  As  we  sweep  around  from  east 
to  south,  nearly  all  the  most  prominent  hills  in  "Essex  North"  can  be 
distinctly  seen,  and  easily  identified.  To  the  south  and  south-west,  por- 
tions of  the  villages  of  Groveland,  Bradford,  Haverhill,  North  Andover, 


XVI 

Andover,  and  Methuen,  and  the  city  of  Lawrence,  can  be  seen,  peeping 
above  the  intervening  hills.  To  the  south-west,  the  "Wachusett ;  to  the 
west,  the  Monadnock ;  and  to  the  north,  the  Decrfield  mountains,  are  easily 
distinguished.  To  the  north-west,  the  village  of  Atkinson,  with  its  cele- 
brated Academy,  is  spread  out  in  bold  relief  To  the  north-east,  is  seen 
the  top  of  Powow  Hill,  in  Salisbury  —  so  named  from  its  having  been  the 
place  selected  by  the  Indians  for  their  great  "pow-wows,"  long  before  a 
white  man  gazed  upon  the  waters  of  the  Merrimack  from  its  summit. 
Turning  again  to  the  south,  we  notice,  almost  at  our  feet,  the  beautiful 
Lake  Kcnoza,  glistening  in  the  sun~iik6  a  diamond  encompassed  by  emer- 
alds. Once  viewed,  the  memory  of  this  lovely  landscape  scene  will  never 
be  effaced, — 

"  the  faithful  sight 
Engraves  the  image,  with  a  beam  of  light." 


I«^ 


HISTORY  OF  HAVERHILL. 


CHAPTER  I. 


EARLY    VOYAGES. DISCOVERY    OF    MASSACHUSETTS. 


Though  the  Western  Continent  bears  the  name  of  a  later  voyager,  the 
honor  of  its  discovery  has  been  generally  conceded  to  Christopher  Colum- 
bus. But,  from  the  evidence  published  by  the  Northern  Antiquarian 
Society,  at  Copenhagen,  in  1837,  and  which  seems  entitled  to  confidence, 
it  would  appear  that  the  Western  World  was  discovered  by  the  Northmen, 
several  centuries  before  the  time  of  Columbus. 

About  the  year  986,  one  Biorne,  or  Biarne,  a  Norwegian,  in  sailing 
from  Iceland  to  Greenland,  lost  his  reckoning  in  dense  fogs.  When  the 
weather  became  clear,  he  found  himself  sailing  northeasterly,  with  low 
and  wooded  land  on  his  left.  Continuing  the  same  course  nine  days,  he 
arrived  at  Greenland,  reaching  it  in  an  opposite  direction  from  that  in 
which  he  commenced  his  voyage. 

Fourteen  years  afterwards,  Leif,  with  a  single  vessel  and  thirty-five 
men,  sailed  from  Greenland  in  quest  of  the  land  discovered  by  Biorne. 
He  found  it  and  named  it  Helluland.  Proceeding  southwardly,  he  came 
to  a  land  well  wooded  and  level,  which  he  called  Marldand.  Thence  sail- 
ing northeasterly  two  days,  he  reached  an  island,  where  he  lauded,  built 
huts,  and  wintered.  Having  found  grapes  in  its  woods,  he  named  it  Vin- 
land,  or  Wineland. 

On  his  return  to  Greenland,  Leif  gave  over  his  vessel  to  his  brother 
Thorwald,  who  sailed  in  1003,  to  explore  the  new  country.  He  win- 
tered at  Yinland,  and  the  next  summer  found  several  uninhabited  islands. 
After  another  winter,  he  sailed  to  the  eastward  and  then  to  the  north, 
where  he  was  killed  by  the  natives.  After  passing  a  third  winter  at 
Vinland,  his  companions  returned  to  Greenland, 

In  1007,   Thorfiun,  with  three  vessels  and  a  hundred  and  sixty  men, 


18  HISTORY    OF    IIAVKRHILL. 

sailed  from  Greenland  to  Vinland  to  found  a  colony.  He  touched  at  Hell- 
ulaud  and  ^Marldand,  and,  steering  south,  came  to  a  bay  extending  into 
the  country,  with  an  island  at  its  entrance.  Southwesterly  from  this 
Island,  they  entered  a  river  and  passed  up  into  a  lake  upon  whose  banks 
wheat  and  vines  grew  wild.  Here  they  found  natives,  of  a  sallow  com- 
plexion, with  large,  ill-formed  faces,  and  shaggy  hair,  who  came  about 
them  in  canoes.  Several  conflicts  with  the  savages  caused  Thorfinn  to  give 
up  his  project  of  colonization  and  return  to  Greenland. 

There  are  also  accounts  of  two  more  voyages  to  Vinland  within  the 
next  three  or  four  years,  and  it  is  claimed  that  communication  between 
the  two  countries  was  not  entirely  discontinued  before  the  middle  of  the 
fourteenth  century. 

The  name  Helluland  is  supposed  to  have  been  given  to  what  is  now 
called  Labrador,  or  to  Newfoundland ;  MarJdand  to  Nova  Scotia,  and 
Vinland  to  Khode  Island  and  the  southeastern  part  of  Massachusetts. 

There  are  also  traditions,  with  important  corroberation,  of  a  voyage  in 
1170,  by  Madoc,  a  Welshman  ;  of  the  Yenitian  brothers  Zeni,  in  1390  ; 
of  John  Vas  Cortereal,  a  Portugese,  in  1463  ;  and  of  Szkolney,  a  Pole,  in 
1476. 

The  existence  of  this  continent  may  possibly,  therefore,  have  been 
known  to  the  civilized  world  before  the  voyage  of  Columbus,  in  1492 ;  but 
by  him  conjecture  and  doubt  were  converted  into  certainty,  and  all  illu- 
sions dispelled.  The  news  of  his  discovery  of  a  "  New  "World,"  and  the 
glowing  descriptions  of  its  wealth,  awakened  the  liveliest  enthusiasm 
throughout  Europe,  and  gave  a  fresh  impulse  to  maratime  adventure. 

In  1497,  John  and  Scbastin  Cabot  sailed  from  England  with  three 
hundred  men,  in  two  ships, — touched  at  Iceland, — and,  sailing  west,  came 
unexpectedly  upon  the  coast  of  Labrador,  or  Newfoundland.  After  sail- 
ing along  the  coast  as  far  south  as  Maine,  and  perhaps  Massachusetts, 
they  returned  to  England.  These  discoveries  of  the  Cabots  gave  to  Eng- 
land her  claims  to  this  part  of  North  America ;  but,  for  various  reasons, 
only  a  few  voyages  were  undertaken  by  the  English  for  the  next  half 
century. 

In  1;")24,  John  Verazzano.  a  Florentine,  in  the  service  of  France,  sailed 
along  the  shore  from  the  34th  to  near  the  50th  degree  of  north  latitude. 
He  entered  Hudson's  River,  sailed  up  Narragansett  Bay,  for  fifteen  days 
lay  at  anchor  iu  the  harbor  of  what  is  now  called  Newport,  whore  his  ves- 
sel was  freely  visited  by  the  natives ;  kept  the  coast  of  Maine  in  sight 
for  fifty  leagues,  and  visited  as  far  north  as  Nova-Scotia. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  19 

Before  the  voyage  of  Verazzano  was  known  in  Spain,  Stephen  Gomez 
had  sailed  for  the  new  world.  He  made  the  coast  of  Newfoundland  and 
sailed  along  the  country  southwardly,  as  far  as  the  capes  of  the  Delaware, 
passing  through  Long  Island  Sound. 

In  1535,  Jaques  Cartier  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  and,  in  1540,  he 
built  a  stockade  on  the  hill  at  Quebec. 

Fifty  years  after  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus,  no  permanent 
settlements  had  been  made  in  New  England  or  to  the  north.  The  French 
had  commenced  a  lucrative  fur  trade  in  Canada,  and  the  cod  fisheries  of 
Labrador  and  Newfoundland  were  already  extensive,  (in  1577  they  em- 
ployed nearly  three  hundred  and  fifty  vessels) ,  but  in  all  New  England 
not  a  white  family  was  settled — not  a  white  child  had  been  born, 

jBut,  by  the  opening  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  thirst  for  dis» 
covery  was  fully  enkindled,  and  colonization  efi'orts  were  more  seriously 
entertained. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnold  sailed  from  Falmouth,  in  England,  with 
thirty-two  men  in  a  small  bark,  and  in  forty-nine  days  made  the  coast  of 
New  Hampshire,  or  perhaps  Maine.  The  next  day,  he  discovered  a 
"  mighty  headland,"  which,  from  the  large  quantity  of  cod-fish  caught  in 
the  vicinity,  he  named  "  Cape  Cod."  Here  he  landed  and  explored  the 
coast  to  the  south.  On  a  "rocky  ilet,"  in  the  western  part  of  what  is 
now  Cuttyhinh  he  resolved  to  make  a  settlement ;  and,  after  three  weeks' 
labor,  a  cellar  was  dug  and  house  erected-- ;  but  scarcity  of  provisions 
and  troubles  with  the  Indians,  induced  him  to  abandon  the  idea  of  a  setr 
tlement,  and  he  sailed  for  England. 

Gosnold's  favorable  descriptions  of  the  country  were  incentives  to 
further  enterprise,  and  the  next  year  William  Brown,  with  two  vessels 
and  forty-two  men  and  boys,  made  land  near  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot, 
and  ranging  the  coast  to  the  southwest,  they  passed  the  islands  of  Casco 
Bay,  the  Saco,  Kennebunk,  York  and  Piscataqua  rivers,  sailed  by  Cape 
Ann,  crossed  Massachusetts  Bay,  and,  rounding  Cape  Cod,  came  to  an- 
chor in  what  is  now  Edgarton  or  Oldtown  harbor. 

In  1605,  George  Weymouth  arrived  on  the  coast  near  Cape  Cod,  and  sail- 
ing northward  about  fifty  leagues,  anchored  at  Monhegan,  or  vicinity, 
where  he  remained  several  weeks  trading  with  the  natives  and  exploring 
the  country.  Before  he  left,  he-  kidnapped  five  of  the  natives,  whom  he 
hurried  into  bondage.     About  the  same  time,  Poutrincourt,  a  Frenchman, 

'  The  spot  where  Gosnold  erected  his  house  was  identified  by  a  party  of  Antiquarians  in  1817. — 
"  N.  Am.  Review  " :  V.— 813. 


20  HISTORY    OF    IIATERHILL, 

examined  the  shores  of  Maine  and  Massachusetts  as  far  as  Cape  Cod,  "but 
the  unfriendly  disposition  of  the  natives  discouraged  him  from  further 
undertaking. 

In  1606,  Sir  John  Popham,  Sir  Ferdinando  Georges  and  others,  having 
procured  a  grant  from  King  James  for  two  plantations  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  formed  two  companies  —  the  London  and  the  Plymouth  —  and  soon 
after,  the  London  company  sent  three  ships  with  one  hundred  and  five 
colonists  to  the  coast  of  Virginia,  where  they  effected  a  settlement  which 
they  called  Jamestown.  About  the  same  time,  the  Plymouth  company 
sent  two  ships  with  over  one  hundred  landsmen,  under  Kaleigh  Gilbert 
and  George  Popham,  but  the  result  was  an  unfortunate  colony  at  the  Sag- 
adahoc, which  continued  only  until  the  next  year.  This  checked,  for  a 
season,  the  ardor  of  the  company. 

Meanwhile,  discoveries  had  been  made,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Dutch, 
of  the  Housatonic,  Thames  and  Connecticut  Rivers,  and  upon  the  Hudson, 
and  a  trading  house  had  been  established  near  Albany. 

The  earliest  notice  we  find  of  the  river  ^Merrimack,  is  through  the  Sieur 
De  Monts,  who  wrote  from  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  1 604,  thus : 
"  The  Indians  tell  us  of  a  beautiful  river,  far  to  the  south,  which  they  call 
the  Merrimack."  Its  abundant  fisheries,  and  fertile  planting  grounds, 
were  the  scenes  of  Indian  story,  and  the  theme  of  Indian  praise,  at  that 
early  date.  The  next  year,  the  Sieur  De  Champlain  discovered  the  Mer- 
rimack. Its  position  was  marked  out  for  him  with  a  coal,  upon  a  board, 
by  some  Indians  whom  he  met  upon  the  beach,  near  the  point  of  land  at 
the  west  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua  river.  This  was  June  16th.  The  next 
day,  Champlain  sailed  along  the  coast  to  the  southward,  and  discovered 
the  river,  as  the  Indian  had  laid  it  down.  He  named  it  "  Eiviere  du 
Gas."  The  same  Indian  gave  him  to  understand  that  there  were  six 
tribes  of  Indians  on  the  coast,  or  on  the  river,  under  as  many  chiefs. 

The  river  was  called  MeiTiraack  by  the  northern  Indians ;  probably 
from  Merriih  (strong),  and  Anke  (a  place) — a  strong  place  ;  or  a  place  of 
strong  currents.  The  strong  and  rapid  current  which  met  them  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  as  they  entered  it  with  their  frail  canoes  from  the 
northward,  would  naturally  be  the  most  prominent  thing  to  excite  their 
attention,  and  lead  them  to  couple  it  with  the  name  of  the  river.  The 
Massachusetts  Indians  called  the  river  Monomac'k,  from  Mona,  (an  island) 
and  Anhe  (a  place) — the  Island  Place,  or  A  Place  of  Islands.  By  some, 
the  latter  name  is  derived  from  sturgeon,  large  quantities  of  which  were 
taken  by  the  Indians,  and  also  by  the  early  English  settlers, 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  2^1 

But  a  new  era  in  the  annals  of  New  England  begins  with  the  voyage  of 
Captain  John  Smith,  in  1614.  With  two  vessels  and  forty-nine  men  and 
hoys,  he  sailed  from  ^London,  in  March,  and  in  a  few  weeks  arrived  at 
Monhegan.  While  his  men  fished.  Smith  ranged  the  coast  in  an  open  boat 
making  noted  discoveries.  In  this  voyage,  the  coast  was  explored  from 
Penobscot  to  Cape  Cod,  within  which  bounds,  he  says:  "I  have  seen,  at 
least,  forty  several  habitations  upon  the  sea  coast,  and  sounded  about 
twenty-five  excellent  good  harbors."  He  speaks  of  the  coast  of  Massa- 
chusetts as  "  planted  with  gardens  and  cornfields,  and  so  well  inhabited 
with  a  goodly,  strong,   and  well-proportioned  people,     '•■'     =•'■=  I  can 

but  approve  this  a  most  excellent  place,  both  for  health  and  fertility. 
And  of  all  the  four  parts  of  the  world  I  have  yet  seen,  not  inhabited, 
could  I  but  have  means  to  transport  a  colony,  I  would  rather  live  here 
than  any  where.     =•'     =■•'  Here  are  many  isles,  all  planted  with  corn, 

groves,  mulberies,  salvage  gardens' '  and  good  harbors ;  and  the  sea  coast 
as  you  pass,  shows  you  cornfields,  and  great  troupes  of  well  proportioned 
people."  Smith  acted  honorably  with  the  natives,  but  his  companion, 
Hunt,  whom  he  left  behind,  copied  the  vile  example  of  Weymouth,  and 
kidnapping  upwards  of  twenty  of  the  natives,  sailed  for  Malaga,  where  a 
part  (at  least)  were  sold  as  slaves.  This  barbarous  act,  says  Mather, 
"  was  the  unhappy  occasion  of  the  loss  of  many  a  man's  estate  and  life, 
which  the  barbarians  did  from  thence  seek  to  destroy  ;  and  the  English, 
in  consequence  of  this  treachery,  were  constrained  for  a  time  to  suspend 
their  trade,  and  abandon  their  project  of  a  settlement  in  New  Eng- 
land." 

In  1618,  Georges,  who  was  still  anxious  to  settle  a  colony,  sent  out  a 
vessel  in  charge  of  Capt.  Thos.  Dermer,  and  also  sent  with  him  one  of  the 
natives  who  had  been  carried  to  England,  and  who  had  acquired  a  smatter- 
ing of  the  language.  After  sending  his  vessel  back  laden  with  furs, 
Dermer  embarked  in  an  open  pinnance  of  five  tons,  taking  with  him  Tis- 
quantum,  or  Squanto,f  the  native  above-mentioned,  and  "  searching  every 
harbor,  and  compassing  every  capeland,"  he  arrived  at  what  is  now  called 
Plymouth.  This  was  his  "  savage's  native  country,"  and  near  here  he 
held  a  friendly  conference  with  two  native  kings|  from  Pockanokit. 
From  this  place  Dermer,  passing  the  Dutch  settlement  at  Manhattan,  con- 

"~-  Savage  gardens. 

t  Who  subsequently  became  the  friend  and  interpreter  of  the  Pilgrims. 

X  Massasoit  and  his  brother  Quadequina,  who  soon  after  extended  a  hospitable  reception    to  the  Ply- 
Diunth  colonists. 


22  HISTORY    OP    HAVERniLL 

tinued  on  to  Virginia.  This  journey  of  Dermer  preceded  the  landing  of 
the  Pilgrims  but  little  more  than  a  year,  and  was  an  important  addition 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  country. 

No  colony  had  as  yet  been  planted  upon  the  territory  of  Massachusetts, 
though  colonies  were  established  in  Canada  and  Newfoundland,  and  the 
Dutch  had  established  trading  posts  in  the  "  New  Netherlands,"  where 
they  were  conducting  a  lucrative  trade  in  furs.  It  was  left  for  a  religious 
impulse  to  accomplish  what  commercial  enterprise  had  attempted  without 
success.  Civilized  New  England  is  the  child  of  English  Puritanism,  and 
a  history  of  its  early  settlement  involves,  at  least  in  part,  a  history  of 
Puritanism  in  England. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  23 


CHAPTER  II. 


HISTORY    OF    PURITANISM.  THE    PILGRIMS. 


At  the  time  Columbus  discovered  the  New  World,  nearly  ail  Christian 
Europe  was  under  the  dominion  of  the  church  of  Eome.  The  pope  was 
the  recognized  head  of  that  church,  and  the  fountain  of  all  power,  both 
spiritual  and  temporal. 

England  was  Catholic,  and  for  hundreds  of  years  had  been  the  vassal 
of  Eome.  When  Luther  kindled  the  fires  of  the  Eeformation,  the  reign- 
ing monarch  of  England  denounced  him  as  the  chief  of  heretics  ;  wrote  in 
defence  of  the  seven  sacraments ;  and  was  rewarded  with  the  flattering 
title  "Defender  of  the  Faith." 

But  in  twenty  years  from  the  day  Luther  burned  the  bull  of  pope  Leo 
before  the  gates  of  Wittemberg,  his  view  had  spread  over  a  large  part  of 
Europe,  and  Protestantism  had  assumed  its  distinctive  position.  The 
reformation  had  gained  a  foothold ;  the  assumptions  of  Pome  had  been 
publicly  spurned,  and  a  host  of  determined  opponents  of  the  supreme  and 
unlimited  authority  of  the  pope  had  sprung  into  existence.  Even  the 
"  Defender  of  the  Faith  "  had  experienced  a  change,  and  when  Clement 
VII  refused  to  decree  his  divorce,  the  monarch  renounced  his  allegiance 
to  the  Roman  See,  abrogated  the  authority  of  the  pope  in  his  realm,  and 
assumed  the  title  of  "  Supreme  Head  of  the  Church  of  England." 

But  it  was  only  a  transfer  of  the  tiara  from  the  Tiber  to  the  Thames ; 
and,  in  four  years  after,  an  act  was  passed  "  abolishing  diversity  of 
opinion,""  making  the  king's  form  of  ortherdox  doctrine  a  standard  of  be- 
lief, and  punishing  all  teaching  to  the  contrary,  even  to  forfeiture  of  goods 
and  burning  at  the  stake.  The  king  could  burn  as  heretics  the  favorers 
of  Protestantism,  and  hang  as  traitors  the  supporters  of  the  pope. 

The  accession  of  Edward  YI  opened  a  brighter  prospect.  The  thunder 
of  The  Bloody  Statutes  died  away  ;  prisoners  for  heresy  were  set  at  lib- 
erty ;  fugitives  allowed  to  return ;  the  Bible  in  English  was  placed  in 
every  church,  and  soon  The  Six  Articles  were  repealed.  But  soon  fol- 
lowed the  requiring  of  uniformity  in  public  worship,  by  using  the 
prescribed  liturgy.  All  innovations  were  prohibited,  under  severe  penal- 
ties, even  to  imprisonment  for  life. 

o  Known  as  the  "  Bloody  Statutes,"  and  the  "  Six  Articles," 


24:  HISTORY    OF    llAVElllIILL. 

The  accession  of  Mary  still  further  eclipsed  the  star  of  Protestantism. 
Educated  a  Catholic,  and  filled  with  bigotry  and  pride,  she  re-established 
Catholicism  with  all  its  pageantry  and  creed,  and  let  loose  the  fierce  winds 
of  persecution  upon  the  favorers  of  Protestantism.  The  fires  of  Smith- 
field  were  kindled,  and  hundreds  perished  at  the  stake,  while  hundreds 
more,  fortunate  enough  to  escape,  found  in  various  places  on  the  Continent 
an  asylum  from  the  violence  raging  at  home. 

Happily,  the  career  of  Mary  was  of  short  duration,  and  when  Elizabeth 
ascended  the  throne,  in  1558,  the  kingdom  was  once  more,  and  pemia- 
nently,  severed  from  the  Papal  see.  The  exiles  returned,  and  those  who 
had  hid  emerged  from  their  concealment.  But  the  Puritans,  as  they 
were  now  called,  were  soon  satisfied  that  there  was  very  little  hope  of  a 
further  reformation  in  religious  aiTairs.  The  Act  of  Supremacy  re(]^uired 
an  oath  of  renunciation  of  the  authority  of  any  f6reign  priest  or  prelate, 
and  a  recognition  of  the  supremacy  of  the  sovereign  in  all  causes,  ecclesias- 
tical and  civil ;  while  the  Act  of  Uniformity  forbid  the  conducting  of 
public  worship  otherwise  than  according  to  the  rubric.  Two  hundred 
Catholics  suffered  death,  and  hundreds  were  imprisoned,  and  large  num- 
bers of  ministers  Avcre  punished  for  Non-covformity.  But,  instead  of 
destroying,  opposition  only  served  to  radicate  their  principles  and  increase 
their  power.  In  all  classes  of  society,  Puritans  were  found ;  and  before 
the  close  of  this  reign,  they  began  to  return  a  majority  in  the  House  of 
Commons. 

The  accession  of  AVhitgift  to  the  primacy,  in  1583,  was  a  severe  blow 
to  the  dissentients.  In  one  week,  instructions  were  issued  forbidding 
preaching,  catechising  and  praying  in  any  private  family  in  presence  of 
persons  not  belonging  to  it ;  and  to  silence  all  preachers  who  had  not  re- 
ceived orders  from  episcopal  hands,  or  who  refused  or  neglected  to  read 
the  whole  service,  or  to  wear  the  prescribed  habit,  or  subscribe  to  the 
queen's  supremacy,  the  "  Thirty-nine  Articles,"  and  the  "Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer."  In  one  year,  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  ministers  were 
suspended  in  six  counties.  A  "  Court  of  High  Commission  "  was  organ- 
ized, with  power  to  "  visit,  reform,  redress,  order,  correct  and  amend  all 
errors,  heresies,  schisms,  abuses,  contempts,  ofi^ences,  and  enormities  what- 
soever." The  law  of  England  virtually  declared  England  to  be 
uninhabitable  by  non-conformists.""' 


°  Puritanism,  ns  an  element  of  church  politics,  dntca  from  the  time  when  Ilooper  refused  to  be  con- 
secrated in  the  ecclesiastical  vestments,  in  1550.  In  like  manner,  KorKonformity  takes  its  date  from 
the  refusal  of  Bishop  Coverdale  and  others  to  subscribe  to  the  Liturgj'  and  other  ceremonies,  in  1563. 
Separatism  soon  followed,  when  several  deprived  ministers  broke  off  from  the  public  churches,  audsepar- 
atcdin  private  houses. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  25 

But  the  High  Commission  Court  did  not  admit  of  opposition,  except 
from  such  as  were  prepared  for  ruin.  Many  such  appeared.  Some  suf- 
fered death,  and  many  others  long  imprisonment  and  ruinous  fines.  But 
the  seed  scattered  grew  rapidly. 

In  1593,  there  were  four  religious  classes  in  England:  1.  The  Catho- 
lics, who  adhered  to  the  Church  of  Kome ;  2.  The  members  of  the  English 
Church  ;  3.  The  Puritans  ;  and  4.  The  Separatists,  or  Independents.  Of 
the  third  class  were  the  founders  of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  and  to  the 
fourth  belonged  the  settlers  of  Plymouth. 

The  Puritans  were  simply  non-conformists.  Connected  with  the 
national  church,  they  questioned  chiefly  the  propriety  of  some  of  her  ob- 
servances. They  submitted  to  her  authority  as  far  as  they  could,  and 
acknowledged  her  as  their  Mother  in  all  matters  of  doctrinal  concern ; 
and,  up  to  the  date  of  their  removal  to  America,  they  made  no  open  seces- 
sion from  her  communion.  Had  liberty  been  allowed  them,  they  would 
probably  have  continued  in  the  land  of  their  nativity  and  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Establishment. 

The  Plymouth  colonists  were  not  of  the  national  church.  Years  before 
their  expatriation,  they  had  renounced  her  communion  and  formed 
churches  of  their  own.  Between  them  and  the  Massachusetts  colonists, 
however,  the  differences  were  in  matters  of  policy,  rather  than  in  articles 
of  faith  ;  and,  on  their  arrival  in  the  New  World,  apart  from  the  influen- 
ces of  their  native  land,  and  under  far  difi"erent  circumstances,  a  few  years 
intercourse  assimilated  their  views  and  cemented  their  union. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  Puritanism  and  Independency,  We  now  pass  to 
a  brief  notice  of  the  church  of  the  Pilgi'ims. 

The  church  of  the  Pilgrims  was  first  organized  at  Grainsborough,  about 
159.8,  and  was  afterward  formed  into  two  bodies,  the  junior  of  which  met 
at  the  house  of  William  Brewster,  in  Scrooby,  In  July,  1604,  a  procla- 
mation was  issued,  commanding  the  Puritan  clergy  to  conform  before  the 
last  of  November,  or  to  dispose  of  themselves  and  families  in  some  other  way. 
In  consequence  of  this  edict,  and  the  persecutions  which  followed  it,  the 
Independent  churches  at  Gainsborough  and  Scrooby  resolved  to  escape. 
The  former  was  the  first  to  depart,  fleeing  to  Holland.  The  other  tarried 
a  little  longer,  hoping  for  a  lull  in  the  fierce  storm  ;  but,  finally,  after 
many  troubles,  and  two  unsuccessful  attempts  to  escape,  in  August,  1608, 
they  arrived  safely  in  Holland.  For  a  few  months,  they  sojourned  at  Am- 
sterdam, when  they  removed  to  Leyden,  about  forty  miles  distant.  Here 
they  lived  in  comparative  peace.  Others,  from  time  to  time,  joined  them, 
until  they  numbered  about  two  hundred  persons. 


26  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

But  ciglit  years  residence  in  a  land  of  strangers,  satisfied  this  little  band 
that  Holland  could  not  be  for  them  a  permanent  home ;  and  after  long 
and  anxious  consideration,  they  resolved  to  remove  to  America.  A  grant 
was  finally  obtained  from  the  Virginia  company,  and  after  many  delays 
and  perplexities,  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons  sailed  from  South- 
hampton, in  two  small  vessels,  —  the  Speedwell  and  the  Mayflower.  The 
former  vessel  proving  leaky,  they  were  obliged  to  abandon  it,  and  one 
hundred  and  two  embarked  in  the  Mayflower.  Their  destination  was  to 
some  point  near  Hudson's  Eiver ;  but  after  a  stormy  passage  of  sixty -four 
days,  they  came  in  sight  of  the  white  sand-banke  of  Cape  Cod,  when  they 
tacked  to  stand  to  the  southward.  Becoming  "entangled  among  roaring 
shoals,"  they  retraced  their  course,  and  the  next  day  came  to  anchor  in 
what  is  now  the  roadstead  of  Provincetown.  After  a  brief  exploration  of 
the  adjacent  country,  the  voyagers  landed  and  commenced  a  settlement, 
which  they  called  New  Plymouth.  The  landing  was  made  on  Monday, 
December  11th,  Old  Style,  upon  what  has  long  since  been  called  Fore' 
fathers'  Rock. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  27 


CHAPTER  III. 


SETTLEMENTS    IN    MASSACHUSETTS    FROM    1620    TO    1640. 


The  fame  of  the  "  plantation  "  at  Plymouth  soon  spread  through  a 
large  portion  of  England,  exciting  the  deepest  interest  in  the  subject  of 
colonization,  and  emigration  soon  began  in  earnest. 

In  1623,  settlements  were  made  at  Cocheco,  (Dover,  N.  H.,)  and  at 
Piscataqua,  (Portsmouth)  ;  and  there  were  probably  a  very  few  settle- 
ments in  Maine.  In  1624,  a  company  from  England,  called  the  Dorchester 
Adventurers,  commenced  a  settlement  at  Cape  Ann,  but  soon  abandoned 
it  and  removed  to  Naumkeag  (Salem).  The  Plymouth  colony,  now  num- 
bering two  hundred  and  eighty  persons,  in  thirty-two  cabins,  had  already 
established  a  trading  house  at  Nantasket,  and  commenced  one  at  the  Ken- 
ebec.  During  the  succeeding  year,  a  settlement  was  commenced  in 
Quincy,  on  the  eminence  which  still  bears  the  name  of  the  founder  of  the 
plantation.  Mount  Wollaston. 

From  1620  to  1630,  the  emigration  to  New  England  was  inconsiderable, 
and  but  few  new  settlements  were  made. 

The  first  vigorous  and  extensive  movement  toward  the  settlement  of 
Massachusetts  commenced  in  1628,  when  a  patent  was  obtained  for  Sir 
Henry  Roswell  and  others,  conveying  lands  extending  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  AVestern  Ocean,  and  in  width  from  a  line  running  three  miles  north 
of  the  Kiver  Merrimack,  to  a  line  three  miles  south  of  the  River  Charles. 
In  August,  of  the  same  year,  John  Endicott,  one  of  the  patentees,  with  a 
company  of  "  fifty  or  sixty  persons,"  arrived  at  Naumkeag ;  and  before 
winter  commenced  a  new  settlement  at  Mishawam  (Charlestown) .  The 
next  year,  the  company  was  much  enlarged  ;  a  royal  charter  was  obtained, 
creating  a  corporation  under  the  name  of  the  "  Governor  and  Company  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England  ;  "  and  soon  after  the  organization 
under  the  charter,  six  vessels  with  "  eighty  women  and  maids,  twenty-six 
children,  three  hundred  men,  with  victuals,  arms,  tools,  and  necessary  ap- 
parel, one  hundred  and  forty  head  of  cattle,  and  forty  goats,"  arrived  at 
Salem,  at  which  place  they  found  "half  a  score  of  houses,  and  a  fair 
house  newly  built  for  the  Governor."  One  hundred  of  the  colonists  im- 
mediately "  planted  themselves  "  at  Charlestown. 

In  1629,  it  was  determined  to  transfer  the  charter  to  New  England. 
John  Winthrop  was  chosen  Governor,  and  in  March,   1630,  he  sailed  for 


28  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

Massachusetts  -with  a  fleet  of  eleven  vessels,  "  filled  with  passengers  of  all 
occupations,  skilled  in  all  kinds  of  faculties  needful  for  the  planting  of  a 
new  colony."  During  this  year,  seventeen  ships,  with  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred passengers,  arrived  in  the  Bay  and  at  Plymouth.  Settlements  were 
then  established  at  Wessagussett,  ("Weymouth)  Nantasket,  Mount  WoUas- 
ton,  Mattapan,  (Dorchester)  Salem,  Mystic,  (Medford)  Lynn,  Charlestown, 
Winnissimet,  (Chelsea)  Noddle's  Island,  (East  Boston)  Thompson's  Island, 
Shawmut,  (Boston)  Watertown,  Roxbury  and  Newtown,  within  the  limits 
of  the  Massachusetts  colony. 

The  accessions  in  1G31  were  but  few,  but  in  the  two  following  years 
they  were  more  numerous.  In  1634,  the  colony  contained  from  three  to 
four  thousand  inhabitants,  distributed  in  sixteen  towns.  Boston  was  the 
capitol.  During  this  year,  settlements  were  commenced  at  Saugus,  Mar- 
vill  Head,  (]\Iarblehead)  Agawam,  (Ipswich)  and  Merrimacke." 

In  1035,  Newbury,  Concord,  and  Dedham  were  incorporated.  Already 
"the  people  were  straightened  for  want  of  room,"  and  parties  from 
Dorchester  and  Newtown  had  "  planted  in  Connecticut."  In  1636,  Eoger 
Williams  laid  the  foundation  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  new  settlements 
begun  to  spring  up  on  every  hand.  Plantations  were  made  at  "Windsor, 
Hartford,  "Weathersfield,  and  New  Haven,  in  Connecticut ;  and  at  Exeter, 
and  Hampton,  in  New  Hampshire. 

Emigrants  continued  to  arrive  in  large  numbers.  In  three  months,  in 
1638,  no  less  than  three  thousand  settlers  arrived  in  Massachusetts. 
Plantations  were  commenced  at  Salisbury  and  Rowley,  in  1639,  though 
persons  had  settled  in  the  former  place  as  early  as  1037. 

In  1640,  it  is  calculated  there  were  in  New  England  over  twenty  thou- 
sand persons,  or  four  thousand  families. 

Before  1643,  at  which  time  the  four  colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Ply- 
mouth. Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  formed  a  "  Confederation  of  New 
England  Colonies,"  there  were  supposed  to  be  a  thousand  acres  of  land 
planted  for  orchards  and  gardens,  and  fifteen  thousand  other  acres  under 
general  tillage.  The  number  of  neat  cattle  was  estimated  at  twelve  thou- 
sand, and  the  number  of  sheep  at  three  thousand.  Acts  had  been  passed 
incorporating  North  Chelsea,  Salisbury,  Springfield,  Rowley,  Sudbury, 
Braintree,  Woburn.  Gloucester,  Haverhill,  Wenham,  and  Hull,  in  addition 
to  those  already  mentioned.  This  year  four  counties  were  incorporated  : 
Suffolk,  Essex,  Middlesex,  and  Old  Norfolk,  containing  in  all  thirty  towns. 

The  country  east  of  the  Piscataqua  was  still  almost  without  English 

'  Wood's  New  England  Prospect. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  29 

inhabitants,  and  the  only  town  then  incorporated  west  of  Worcester,  (in 
this  State)  was  Springfield.  ■■= 

Emigrants  continued  to  arrive  in  large  numbers,  until  about  1640. 
The  meeting  of  the  Long  Parliament,  by  opening  the  prospect  of  a  fair 
field  to  fight  out  the  battle  of  freedom  at  home,  put  a  final  stop  to  the  ex- 
patriation of  patriotic  Englishmen;  and  for  the  next  century  and  a 
quarter,  it  is  believed  that  more  went  hence  to  England  than  came  hither 
from  England.  Nor  did  anything  that  can  be  called  an  immigration  oc- 
cur again  for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  f 

«  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  towns  in  Massachusetts  which  were  settled  previously  to  1640,  and  also 
those  settled  in  that  year :  » 

Settled.  Settled.  Settled. 

Barnstable, 1639  Ipswich, 1633  Sudbury 1638 

Beverly 1626  Lynn, 1629  Watertown 1630 

Boston, 1626  i  Marblehead, 1631  Wenham 1639 

Braintree 1630  Medford 1630  Weymouth, 1624 

Cambridcre 1630  Newburv, 1635  Yarmouth, 1639 

Charlestown, 1628  Plymouth 1620 

Concord 1635  Rowley, 1639  Haverhill 1640 

Dedham 1635  Roxbury 1630  Woburn, 1640 

Dorchester 1630  Salem, 1626  Reading 1640 

Duxbury 1637  Salisbury 1639  Marshfield 1640 

Gloucester, 1639  Scituate, 1633  Manchester, 1640 

Hingham 1633  Springfield 1635 

Haverhill  was  the  thirtieth  town  settled  within  the  present  limits  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts   and 
the  forty-ninth  in  New  England.     It  was  the  thirty-second  incorporated  town  in  the  State, 
t  Palfrey. 


30  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


ABORIGINAL    INHABITANTS. 


The  native  population  of  New  England,  at  the  time  of  the  first  English 
immigration,  was  probably  not  far  from  fifty  thousand ;  of  which  number 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  contained  perhaps  one-half,  and  ]\Iaine 
rather  more  than  one-fourth.=  -=  Of  the  ]^Iaine  Indians,  the  Etechcmins 
dwelt  furthest  towards  the  east ;  the  Abenaquis,  of  whom  the  Tarratines 
were  a  part,  hunted  on  both  sides  of  the  Penobscot,  and  westward  as  far 
as  the  Saco,  or,  perhaps  the  Piscataqua.  The  home  of  the  Penacook  or 
Pawtuckct  Indians,  was  in  the  valley  of  the  Merrimack,  and  the  contigu- 
ous region  of  Massachusetts.  The  Massachusetts  tribe  dwelt  along  the 
Bay  of  that  name.  Then  were  found  the  Pokanokets,  or  AVampanoags, 
in  southeastern  Massachusetts,  by  Buzzard's  and  Xarragansett  Bays  ;  the 
Narragansetts,  in  Rhode  Island ;  the  Pequots,  between  the  Xarragansetts 
and  the  river  Thames ;  and  the  Mohegans,  from  the  Pequots  to  the  Con- 
necticut river.  In  central  Massachusetts  were  the  Nipmucks,  or  Xipnets. 
Vermont,  Western  Massachusetts  and  northern  New  Hampshire,  were 
almost,  if  not  absolutely,  without  inhabitants. 

These  principal  tril)es  were  sub-divided  into  numerous  smaller  tribes. 
Of  those  upon  the  Merrimack  river,  were  the  Agawams,  who  occupied  from 
the  mouth  of  the  river  to  Cape  Ann ;  the  Wamesits,  at  the  forks  of  the 
Merrimack  and  Concord  rivers,  on  the  west  side  of  the  former  and  both 
sides  of  the  latter  ;  The  Xashuas,  at  Nashua ;  the  Souhegans,  on  the  river 
of  the  same  name;  the  Namaoskeags,  at  Amoskeag;  the  Pemacooks,  or 
Penacooks,  at  Concord  ;  and  the  Winnequesaukees,  at  the  Wiers,  near 
Lake  AVinnepiscogc. 

The  Penacooks  were  the  most  powerful  tribe  in  this  whole  region.  The 
others  were  controlled  by  them  for  a  long  time,  and  paid  tribute  to  them. 
Passaconnaway,  a  firm  friend  to  the  English,  was  the  chief  of  the  Pena- 
cooks, and  the  "  Great  Sachem  of  all  the  tribes  that  dwelt  in  the  valley 
of  the  Merrimack. f  He  was  the  most  noted  powow  or  sorcerer  of  all  the 
country,  and  exerted  an  almost  boundless  influence  over  his  people.  He 
lived  to  a  very  great  age,  as  GookiuJ  saw  him  at  Pawtucket  (Lowell) 
"  when  he  was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  old."  He  died  about 
1G65.  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Wannalancet,  who  remained  at  the 

°  Palfrey.        t  Elliott.        J  Hist.  Praying  Indians. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  31 

head  of  the  fast  diminishing  people  until  1677,  when  he  retired  to  Cana- 
da. Wannalancet  was  succeeded  by  Kancamagus,  (known  to  the  English 
as  John  Hogkins)  son  of  Xanamocomuck,  the  eldest  son  of  Passaconna- 
way.  lie  was  elected  Sagamore  by  the  remnant  of  the  tribe  who  remained 
at  Pennacook  after  the  withdrawal  of  Wannalancet,  and  was  afterwards 
joined  by  many  "  strange  Indians,"  from  other  tribes,  who  had  become 
disaffected  with  the  English.  He  was  an  active  spirit  in  the  Indian  diffi- 
culties of  1676  to  1691,  and  one  of  the  most  troublesome  enemies  of  the 
English. 

The  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  New  England  held  a  low  place  in  the 
scale  of  humanity.  They  had  no  civil  government,  no  religion,  no  letters, 
no  history,  no  music,  no  poetry.  The  French  rightly  named  them  Les 
Homnes  des  Bois — "  Men  Brutes  of  the  Forest."  Except  a  power  of  en- 
during hunger  and  weather,  acquired  by  their  hunting  habits,  they  were 
tender  and  not  long-lived ;  and  though  supple  and  agile,  they  always  sank 
under  continuous  labor.  In  them,  the  lymphatic  temperament  predomi- 
nated. They  scarcely  ever  wept  or  smiled.  Their  slender  appetites 
required  small  indulgence,  though  at  times  a  gormandizing  rage  seemed  to 
possess  them.  Though  no  instance  is  recorded  of  their  offering  insult  to  a 
female  captive,  it  must  be  credited  wholly  to  their  natural  coldness  of 
constitution.  Their  grave  demeanor,  which  has  so  often  been  interpreted 
as  an  indication  of  self-respect,  was  rather  an  indication  of  mere  stolid 
vacuity  of  emotion  and  thought.  In  constitution  of  body  and  mind,  they 
were  far  below  the  negro  race. 

They  were  simple,  ignorant,  and  indolent.  The  Indian  women  per- 
formed all  the  drudgery  of  the  household,  and  were  also  the  tillers  of  the 
soil ;  the  lazy,  indolent  lords  and  masters  deeming  it  debasing  to  engage 
in  aught  except  hunting,  fishing,  and  war. 

Their  principle  article  of  food  was  Indian  corn,  prepared  in  various 
ways,  —  either  boiled  alone  into  hominy,  or  mixed  with  beans  and  called 
succotash,  or  parched,  or  broke  up  into  meal  and  moistened  with  water,  in 
which  case  it  was  named  nookik-'  They  had  also  fish  and  game,  nuts, 
roots,  berries,  and  a  few  cultivated  vegetables. 

A  hoe,  made  of  a  clam-shell  or  a  moose's  shoulder-blade,  was  their  only 
tool  of  husbandry.  Their  manure  was  fish,  covered  over  in  tlie  hill  along 
with  the  seed.  Fish  were  taken  with  lines  or  nets,  the  cordage  of  which 
were  made  of  the  fibres  of  the  dogbane,  or  the  sinews  of  the  deer.  Hooks 
were  made  of  sharpened  bones  of  fishes  and  birds. 

®  Corrupted  into  nokik,  nocake,  nouecake,  "  Johny-cake,"  etc. 


32  HISTORY    OP    UAVERUILL. 

Their  houses,  or  lolgwams,  were  of  a  circular  or  oval  shape,  made  of 
bark  or  mats,  laid  over  a  frame-work  of  branches  of  trees  stuck  in  the 
ground  in  such  a  manner  as  to  converge  at  the  top,  where  was  an  aperture 
for  the  escape  of  the  smoke.  The  better  sort  had  also  a  lining  of  mats. 
For  doors,  two  low  openings  were  left  on  opposite  sides,  one  or  the  other 
of  which  was  closed  with  bark  or  mats,  according  to  the  direction  of  the 
wind. 

They  were  slothful,  improvident,  deceitful,  cruel  and  revengeful.  Pa- 
rental and  filial  affection  were  feeble  and  transient.  They  had  no  formal 
marriage  or  funeral  ceremonies,  or  forms  of  worship;  no  flocks,  herds  or 
poultry.  Their  shelters,  clothing,  tools,  hunting  implements,  &c.,  were  of 
the  simplest  and  rudest  kind,  and  could  scarce  be  called  ingenious. 

The  aborigines  of  Xew  England  possessed  no  code  of  laws,  or  any  set 
of  customs  having  the  force  of  legal  obligation. 

The  early  French  explorers  declared  that  tribes  visited  by  them  were 
without  a  notion  of  religion,  and  there  is  not  wanting  testimony  of  the 
same  kind  in  relation  to  the  New  England  tribes.  It  is  certain  they  had 
no  temples,  no  public  ritual,  nothing  which  can  be  called  social  worship, 
no  order  of  priests,  no  machinery  of  religion. 

In  revenge,  they  were  barbarous  and  implacable ;  they  never  forgot  or 
forgave  injuries.     Their  wars  were  massacres. 

With  the  Indian,  the  social  attraction  was  feeble.  The  most  he  knew 
of  companionship  and  festivity,  was  when  he  would  meet  his  fellows  by 
the  shores  of  ponds,  and  falls  of  rivers,  in  the  fishing  season.  Much  of 
his  life  was  passed  in  the  seclusion  of  his  wigwam,  and  the  solitude  of  the 
chase.  This  habit  of  loneliness  and  of  self-protection,  made  him  inde- 
pendent and  proud.  His  pride  created  an  aptitude  for  stoicism,  which 
constituted  his  point  of  honor.  This  was  fortitude  under  suffering. 
Craft,  rather  than  valor,  distinguished  him  in  war.  Stealth  and  swift- 
ness composed  his  strategy.  He  showed  no  daring  and  no  constancy  in 
the  field ;  but  it  was  great  glory  to  him  to  bear  the  most  horrible  tortures 
without  complaint  or  a  sigh  of  anguish. 

His  brave  endurance  presented  the  bright  side  of  his  character.  He 
was  without  tenderness,  and  but  few  instances  are  recorded  of  his  appear- 
ing capable  of  gratitude.  Cunning  and  falsehood  were  eminently  his. 
His  word  was  no  security.  A  treaty  could  not  bind  him  when  he  sup- 
posed it  might  be  broken  without  danger.  Exceptions  are  to  be  allowed 
for  in  every  portraiture  of  a  class  of  men,  as  everywhere  and  at  all  times 
there  are  natures  that  rise  above  the  moral  standard  of  their  place.     But 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  33 

it  remains  true  of  the  normal  representative  of  this  peculiar  race,  that  his 
temper  was  sullen,  jealous,  intensely  vindictive,  and  ferociously  cruel.'-* 

They  have  been  called  eloquent.  Never  was  a  reputation  more  cheaply 
earned.  Take  away  their  commonplaces  of  the  mountain  and  the  thunder, 
the  sunset  and  the  water-fall,  the  eagle  and  the  buffalo,  the  burying  of  the 
hatchet,  the  smoking  of  the  calumet,  and  the  lighting  of  the  council-fire, 
and  the  material  for  their  pomp  of  words  is  reduced  within  contemptible 
dimensions.  Their  best  attempts  at  reasoning  or  persuasion  have  been 
the  simplest  statements  of  facts.  Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  speci- 
mens of  Indian  oratory  in  other  parts  of  North  America,  —  which  must  be 
allowed  to  be  mostly  of  doubtful  authenticity,  — certain  it  is  there  is  no 
recorded  harangue  of  a  New  England  Indian  which  can  assert  a  claim  to 
praise.  Occasions  were  not  wanting,  but  the  gift  of  impressive  speech 
was  not  his. 

Their  manner  of  expression  was  vehement  and  emphatic  ;  their  ideas 
being  few,  their  language  was  far  from  copious.  It  really  consisted  of 
but  few  words.  They  had  no  letters,  but  few  symbols  or  signatures,  no 
chronicles,  and  scarce  any  traditions  extending  back  farther  than  two  or 
three  generations. 

Such  was  the  aborigines  of  New  England.  Those  who  have  studied 
only  the  Indian  of  romance,  will  seek  in  vain  for  a  single  specimen  of  such 
among  the  sober  realities  of  life.  Like  the  traditional  Yankee,  they  are 
only  and  altogether  creations  of  fancy. 

A  few  years  before  the  settlement  of  New  England  by  the  English,  a 
war  broke  out  among  the  aborigines  of  the  country,  which  resulted  in  the 
destruction  of  thousands  of  the  Indians.  To  the  war  succeeded  a  pesti- 
lence, which  spread  far  and  wide,  and  was  exceedingly  fatal.  It  raged, 
at  intervals,  for  more  than  two  years,  and  extended  from  the  borders  of 
the  Tarratines  southward  to  the  Narragansetts.  "The  people  died  in 
heaps ;  "  whole  families  and  tribes  perished  ;  so  that  "  the  living  were  no 
wise  able  to  bury  the  dead,"  and  seven  years  afterward  the  bones  of  the 
uuburied  lay  bleaching  upon  the  ground  around  their  former  habitations. 
The  nature  of  this  epidemic  has  never  been  determined.  It  has  been  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  small  pox,  or  the  yellow  fever.  The  Penobscots  and 
the  Narragansetts  suffered  but  little  from  it,  nor  does  it  seem  to  have 
troubled  the  few  English  residents  of  the  country.  Richard  Vines,  who 
was  stopping  at  Saco  when  the  pestilence  was  at  its  height,  says  that 
though  he  and  his  men  "  lay  in  the  cabin  with  these  people  that  died,  not 

^  ralfrey. 


34  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

one  of  them  ever  felt  their  heads  to  ache  so  long  as  they  stayed  there," 
Thus,  as  if  by  special  Providence,  were  the  aborigines  weakened  and 
scattered,  and  New  England  prepared  for  the  reception  of  civilized  and 
christian  immigrants.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  region  swept  by  the 
pestilence,  there  was  scarce  a  tribe  that  dare  oppose  the  sturdy  settlers ; 
and  it  was  only  when  several  of  the  stronger  ones  combined,  that  they 
were  able,  even  temporarily,  to  obstruct  the  progress  of  the  settlement. 

The  only  serious  conflicts  with  the  natives  between  the  settlement  at 
Plymouth,  in  1620,  and  that  of  Haverhill,  in  1640,  was  during  the  troubles 
with  the  Pequots,  1G36— 7.  But  so  vigorously  was  the  war  prosecuted 
on  the  part  of  the  English,  that,  in  a  few  months,  that  once  formidable 
nation  was  nearly  exterminated,  and  the  few  that  remained  were  divided 
among  the  friendly  tribes  as  vassals. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  35 


CHAPTER  V. 


SETTLEMENT    OF    HAVERHILL.       1640. 


The  large  immigration  into  Massachusetts  during  the  years  immediately 
preceding  1638,  led  to  the  settlement  of  many  new  plantations,  as  well  as 
the  rapid  enlargement  of  those  already  settled.  So  great,  in  fact,  was  the 
influx  of  immigrants,  that  in  many  places  they  could  not  be  accommo- 
dated. This  was  particularly  the  case  with  Ipswich  and  Newbury,  whither 
had  flocked  large  numbers  of  emigrants  from  the  vicinity  of  Ipswich, 
Newbury,  Haverhill,  Lynn,  and  other  towns  in  the  easterly  part  of  Eng- 
land. By  these  persons,  several  new  places  were  settled ;  among  them, 
Pentucket,  or  Haverhill. 

The  earliest  intimation  we  can  find  of  the  settlement  of  this  town,  is 
contained  in  the  following  letter-  to  Gov.  Winthrop,  from  one  Giles  Fir- 
man, of  Ipswich,  under  the  date  of  Dec.  26,  1639: — 

' '  Much  honored  and  dear  Sir : 

'  But  that  I  thinke  it  needlesse  (God  havinge  more  than  ordinarye  fitted 
you  for  such  trials)  my  letter  might  tell  you  with  what  griefe  of  spirit  I 
received  the  news  of  that  sad  affliction  which  is  lately  happened  to  your 
worship,  by  means  of  that  unfaithful  wretch  ;  I  hope  God  will  find  a 
shoulder  to  helpe  you  beare  so  great  a  burthen.  But  the  little  time  that 
is  allotted  me  to  write,  I  must  spend  in  requesting  your  worships  counsel 
and  favour.  My  father  in  law  Ward.f  since  his  sonnej  came  over,  is  varey 
desirous  that  wee  might  sett  down  together,  and  so  that  he  might  leave 
us  together  if  God  should  remove  him  from  hence.  Because  that  cant  be 
accomplished  in  this  town,  is  verey  desirous  to  get  mee  to  remove  with 
him  to  a  new  plantation.  After  much  perswasion  used,  consideringe  my 
want  of  accommodations  here  (the  ground  the  town  having  given  mee  ly- 
ing 5  miles  from  mee  or  more)  and  that  the  gains  of  physick  will  not 
finde  me  in  bread,  but  besides  apprehendinge  that  it  might  bee  a  way  to 
free  him  from  some  temptations,  and  make  him  more  cheerful  and  more 
serviceable  to  the  country  or  church,  have  yeelded  to  him.  Herein,  as  I 
desire  your  counsel,so  do  J  humbly  request  your  favor,  that  you  would  be 
pleased  to  give  us  the  libertye  of  choosinge  a  plantation  ;  wee  thinh  it  will 
bee  at  Pentuckett  or  Quichichchek,%  \_Cochichatoich~\  by  Shaioshin :  so  soon 
as  the  season  will  give  us  leave  to  goe,  we  shall  inform  your  worship 

»  Hntch.  Hist..  Coll.,  128.        t  Rev.  Nathaniel  Ward.  t  •Tohn  Ward.        §  Andover. 


36  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

whicli  we  desire :  And  if  that,  by  the  court  of  election,  wee  cannot  gather 
a  company  to  begine  it,  wee  will  let  it  fall.  We  desire  you  will  not 
graunt  any  of  them  to  any  before  wee  have  scene  them.  If  your  worship 
have  heard  any  relation  of  the  places,  wee  should  remainc  thankful  to  you 
if  you  would  be  pleased  to  counsel  us  to  any  of  them.  Further,  I  would 
entreat  for  advise  in  this ;  The  towne  gave  mee  the  ground  (100  acres) 
upon  this  condition,  that  I  should  stay  in  the  towne  3  years,  or  else  I 
could  not  sell  it :  Now  my  father  supposes  it  being  my  first  heritage  (my 
father  having  none  in  the  land)  that  it  is  more  than  they  canne  doe  to  hin- 
der mee  thus,  when  as  others  have  no  business,  but  range  from  place  to 
place,  on  purpose  to  live  upon  the  countrey.  I  would  entreate  your  coun- 
sel whither  or  noe  I  canne  sell  it.  Further :  I  am  strongly  sett  upon  to 
studye  divinite,  my  studyes  else  must  be  lost ;  for  physick  is  but  a  meene 
helpe.  In  these  cases  I  humbly  referre  to  your  worship,  as  my  father,  for 
your  counsel,  and  so  in  much  haste,  with  my  best  services  presented  to 
your  worship,  wishinge  you  a  strong  support  in  your  affliction,  and  a  good 
and  comfortable  issue,  I  rest  your  worships  in  what  he  canne  to  his 
power.  GYLES  FYEMIN." 

Ipswich,  26,  10th,  1639. 

Wee  humbly  entreate  your  secrecy e  in  our  desires." 

Whether  the  reply  of  the  Governor  was  favorable  or  otherwise,  we  are 
unable  to  determine,  but  it  is  certain  that  Fyrmin  did  not  leave  Ipswich 
until  fifteen  years  afterwards. 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Court,  held  at  Boston  on  the  13th  of  the 
succeeding  May,  (May  13,  1640)  a  petition  was  received  from  "Mr.  Ward 
and  Newberry  men "  for  permission  to  begin  a  new  plantation  on  the 
Merrimack,!  which  petition  was  "  committed  to  the  Governor,  Deputy 
Governor,  and  Mr.  Winthrop,  Senior,  to  consider  of  Patucket  and  Coijch- 
awick,  and  to  grant  it  them,  provided  they  returne  answer  within  three 
weeks  from  the  21st  present,  and  that  they  build  there  before  the  next 
Courte."J 

°  Gyles  Fyrmin  (or  Firman)  was  the  son  of  Giles,  an  apothecary  at  Sudbury,  England.  He  was  horn 
in  1614,  educated  at  Cambridge,  England,  and  afterwards  studied  medicine  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
previous  to  his  emigration  to  this  country.  In  1638,  the  town  of  Ipswich  granted  him  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  on  condition  that  he  lived  there  three  years.  In  December,  1639,  he  married  a  daughter  of  Eev . 
Nathaniel  Ward,  of  Ipswich,  a  few  days  after  which  he  wrote  the  above  letter  to  Gov.  Winthrop.  He 
was  made  a  freeman  in  the  same  year.  Fyrmin  was  an  elder  in  the  church  at  Ipswich,  where  he  con- 
tinned  to  reside  until  1654,  when  he  returned  to  England.  He  afterward  became  eminent  as  a  divine,  as 
well  as  physician,  and  after  a  long  and  useful  life,  he  died  in  April,  1697,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-three 
years. 

t  This  petition  is  probably  now  lost,  as  the  most  cartful  search  has  failed  to  give  us  nny  further  clue 
to  it. 

t  Colonial  Records,  1— 2ftfl. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  37 

Mr.  Ward  and  his  associates  selected  Pentucket,  and  commenced  a 
settlement  at  that  place  some  time  previous  to  the  October  following  their 
petition.  It  is  probable  that  they  commenced  operations  immediately  on 
learning  the  action  of  the  General  Court,  as  they  had  then  barely  suffi- 
cient time  to  plant  for  that  season,  and  the  fact  that  before  the  prescribed 
time  they  had  commenced  a  plantation  shows  that  they  were  by  no  means 
dilatory  in  their  movements. 

At  the  next  session  of  the  Court,  (October  7th.  of  the  same  year)  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  "  to  view  the  bounds  between  Colchester-'  and  Mr. 
Ward's  plantation.! 

We  are  confident  that  no  white  man  had  settled  within  the  limits  of 
Pentucket  previous  to  the  coming  of  Mr.  Ward's  associates,  as  no  mention 
can  be  found  of  such  settlement  in  the  records  of  the  colony,  which  are 
quite  full  and  explicit  upon  all  similar  matters  relating  to  that  early 
period  of  its  history.  As  early  as  September,  1G30,  (within  two  mouths 
after  the  arrival  of  the  Charter  of  the  Colony)  it  was  "ordered  that  noe 
person  shall  plant  in  any  place  within  the  lymitts  of  this  pattent,  without 
leaue  from  the  Gouvernor  and  Assistants,  or  the  maior  part  of  them ;  " 
and  "  also  that  a  warrant  shall  presently  be  sent  to  Aggawam,  to  com- 
mand \hose  that  are  planted  there  forthwith  to  come  away."  That  this 
was  no  "dead  letter"  enactment,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  seven 
years  afterwards, — and  when  thousands  of  immigrants  had  arrived  in  the 
country,  and  new  settlements  were  increasing  with  gi-eat  rapidity, — an 
order  was  given  to  the  constable  of  Xewberry  to  apprehend  those  men  who 
had  thus  planted  themselves  at  what  is  now  Salisbury,  and  to  tak^  them 
before  the  court,  at  Ipswich,  to  answer  for  such  violation  of  law.  At  the 
November  Court,  1637,  leave  was  granted  certain  petitioners  from  New- 
berry to  settle  at  Winnacunnet,  (Hampton)  "or  upon  any  other  plantation 
upon  the  Merrimak,  below  the  first  falls,  and  to  have  sixe  miles  square ;  " 
and,  in  Sept.,  1688,  liberty  was  allowed  Gyles  Firman,  and  others,  upon 
their  petition,  "to  hegin  a  plantation  at  Merrimack." 

Winthrop,|  under  the  date  of  1643,  says:  "  about  this  time,  two  plan- 
tations began  to  be  settled  upon  Merrimack,  Pentuckett  called  Hauerill, 
and  Cochichawick  called  Andover,"  Under  the  date  of  1638,  he  says: 
"  One  (plantation)  was  begun  at  Merrimack,"  doubtless  referring  to  Salis- 
bury, which  was  settled  about  that  time. 

Cotton  Mather§  makes  the  date  of  the  settlement  of  Haverhill  1641, 
but  he,  as  well  as  Winthrop,  evidently  reckons  from  the  time  of  Eev.  John 

■^  Salisbury.        t  Colonial  Records,  1 — 303. 

X  Hist,  of  New  England,  2—121.        §  Ma^nali.i,  470. 


38  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

Ward's  coining  to  Haverhill,  which,  as  wc  shall  see,  was  not  until  some 
time  after  the  first  settlement. 

Felts  under  the  date  of  1640,  says:  "Mr.  (Nath'l)  Ward,  with  some 
men  of  Newbury,  is  conditionally  allowed  to  form  a  settlement  at  Haver- 
hill, or  at  Andover.  This  privilege  was  improved,  and  the  former  place 
was  chosen  before  October.  His  chief  object  in  obtaining  such  a  grant  was 
to  prepare  a  residence  for  his  son,  who  became  an  estimable  minister  there." 
We  think  that  the  conditions  upon  which  the  petitioners  were  to  be 
allowed  their  request,  viz:  "provided  they  returne  answer  within 
three  weeks  from  the  21st  present,  and  that  they  build  there  before  the  next 
Courte ;  "  and  the  appointing  of  commissioners  at  that  Court  "  to  view 
the  bounds  between  Colchester  and  Mr.  Ward's  plantation  ;  with  the  ab- 
sence of  conflicting  records,  or  even  traditions,  are  sufficient  to  fix  the  date 
of  our  first  settlement  as  1640. 

The  first  company  of  settlers  in  the  wild  woods  of  Pentucket  were  from 
Tpsv;ich  and  Newbury,  and  were  twelve  in  number.  'I'he  following  are 
their  names : —  ,        ,,  . 

William  White<  John  Eobinson,  -  Abraham  Tylers-' 

Samuel  Gile,  Christopher  Hussey.  Daniel  Ladd,  ^^ 

James  Davis,.  John  Williams,  Joseph  Merrier' 

Henry  Palmer,  Eichard  Littlehale,  -  ^  Job  Clement.«^ 


The  last  four  were  from  Ipswich. 7      •     t^^-  ^  \yy'  rJ' 


It  has  been  generally  supposed  that  the  Rev.  John  Ward  was  the  per- 
son who  petitioned  to  the  General  Court  in  the  spring  of  1640,  and  that 
he  accompanied  the  first  band  of  settlers  to  Pentucket.  But  we  are  confi- 
dent that  neither  supposition  is  correct.  The  historian  of  Ipswich,  in  the 
passage  already  quoted,  and  the  editor  of  our  Colonial  Eecordsf  both  say 
that  the  Ward  alluded  to  in  the  Court  Records,  was  Nathaniel,  (the  father 
of  John  Ward,)  who  was,  it  seems,  very  anxious  to  find  some  good  place 
for  his  son  to  settle  in  the  ministr}-. 

Tliat  John  Ward  did  not  settle  in  Haverhill  as  early  as  1 640  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  he  preached  at  Agamenticus  (now  York,  Me.)  in  the 
early  part  of  1641,  and  perhaps  later.  Winthrop,  (Hist.  2,  p.  34)  under 
date  of  Feb.  29,  1641,  says: 

"  Mr.  Peters  and  Mr.  Dalton,  with  one  of  Acomenticus,  went  from  Pis- 
cataquack,  loith  Mr.  John  Ward,  who  was  to  be  entertained  there  for  their 
minister  ;  and  though  it  be  but  six  miles,  yet  they  lost  their  way,  and 
wandered  two  days  and  one  night,  without  food  or  fire,  in  the  snow  and 
wet.     But  God  heard  their  prayers,  wherein  they  earnestly  pressed  him 

o  Hist.  Ipswich,  18:H.        t  Dr.  Shnrtlctr. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  39 

for  the  honor  of  his  great  name,  and  when  they  were  even  quite  spent,  he 
brought  them  to  the  sea-side,  near  the  place  where  they  were  to  go,  blessed 
forever  be  his  name." 

After  diligent  search,  we  have  been  unable  to  find  the  name  of  any 
other  John  Ward  to  whom  the  incident  could  refer ;  and,  to  strengthen  us 
in  our  supposition,  no  writer  except  Mirick  (in  his  History  of  the  town) 
places  the  date  of  Mr.  Ward's  coming  to  Haverhill  earlier  than  sometime 
in  the  year  1641.  Mather  (Mag.  2,  470)  says  of  him  :  "  The  first  notice 
of  him  that  occurs  to  me,  being  in  the  year  1639,  when  he  came  over  into 
these  parts  of  America;  and  settled  therein  the  year  1641,  in  a  town 
also  called  HaA'eril."  Farmer  (N,  E.  Geneo.)  gives  the  date  of  Mr. 
Ward's  settlement  in  Haverhill  as  1645.  He  evidently,  however,  mistakes 
Mr.  Ward's  settlement  as  mifiister,  for  his  first  settlement  in  the  town. 
Felt,  (Hist.  Ips.)  under  date  of  1641,  says:  —  "Kev.  John  Ward,  Mr. 
John  Favor,  and  Hugh  Sherratt  went  from  Ipswich  to  Haverhill ;  "  and 
Allen,  (Am.  Biog.  and  Hist.  Diet.,  p.  571)  says  "  he  preached  for  some 
time  at  Agamenticus,  but  in  1641  was  settled  at  Haverhill,  then  a  new 
plantation." 

We  have  directed  our  attention  to  the  history  of  the  church  at  York, 
Me.,  but  without  receiving  any  additional  light  upon  the  point.  Green- 
leaf  (Eccl.  Hist.  Maine)  informs  us  that  "  the  first  preacher  at  York  of 
whom  any  account  is  preserved,  was  one  Burdett,  who  came  hither  from 
Exeter."  And,  in  another  place,  he  says,  "no  record  can  be  found  at 
this  day  of  the  first  gathering  and  embodying  of  the  church  in  this  town, 
nor  the  proceedings  of  the  church  under  the  two  first  ministers.  It  is 
presumed,  however,  that  it  was  organized  in  the  year  1673.  In  that  year, 
the  Eev.  Shubal  Dummer  was  ordained  at  York  ;  and  as  the  uniform  prac- 
tice had  been  to  gather  and  organize  a  church  before  settling  a  minister,  it 
is  highly  probable  that  the  church  is  to  be  dated  from  that  year." 

The  first  mention  made  of  Mr.  Ward,  in  the  Town  Eecords  of  Haver- 
hill, is  a  note  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  under  the  year  1643,  stating  that 
on  the  29th  of  Sept.,  1642,  he  had  "sixteen  acres  of  land  laid  out  to 
him  for  a  home-lot,  with  all  the  accommodations  thereunto  belonging." 

Aside  from  the  almost  certain  fact  that  Mr.  Ward  preached  at  York  as 
late  as  1641,  and  the  weight  of  written  authority  that  his  settlement  in 
Haverhill  was  in  that  year,  much  stress,  we  think,  may  be  placed  on  the 
strong  improbability  of  a  person  in  his  circumstances  and  position  accom- 
panying a  small  pioneer  company  of  persons  to  break  ground  for  a  new 
settlement.     Such  labor  was,  at  least,  not  usual  for  a  "  minister."     It 


40  HISTORY    OP    IIAVKRUILL. 

would  seem  more  reasonable  that  he  should  have  waited  until  the  settle- 
ment had  been  made,  before  he  took  up  his  residence  among  them ;  and 
such,  we  believe  was  the  fact.  It  is  probable  he  came  to  the  new  planta- 
tion about  the  full  of  1G41.  So  pleased  were  the  settlers  with  their  good 
fortune  in  securing  his  settlement  among  them,  that  they  named  the  place 
"  Haverhill,"  that  being  the  name  of  his  birth-place,  in  England. 

John  Waku,  the  master-spirit  of  this  hardy  band  of  pioneers,  was  a 
son  of  Kev.  Nathaniel  Ward,'-'  and  a  grandson  of  Eev.  John  Ward,  a 
worthy  and  distinguished  minister  of  Haverhill,  England.  He  was  born 
in  Haverhill,  Essex  Co.,  England,  Nov.  5,  1G06.  He  received  the  degree 
of  A.  B.  in  162G,  and  that  of  A.  M.  in  1630,  at  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, England.     He  came  to  this  country  in  1639. 

Matherf  speaks  of  him  as  "  learned,  ingenious,  and  religious.  He  was 
a  person  of  quick  apprehension,  a  clear  understanding,  a  strong  memory, 
a  facetious  conversation,  an  exact  grammarian,  an  expert  physician,  and, 
which  was  the  top  of  all,  a  thorough  divine  ;  but,  which  rarely  happens, 
these  endowments  of  his  mind  were  accompanied  with  a  most  healthy, 
hardy,  and  agile  constitution  of  body,  which  enabled  him  to  make  nothing 
of  walking  on  foot  a  journey  as  long  as  thirty  miles  together.  Such  was 
the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  religious  education,  that  he  was  not  only  re- 
strained from  the  vices  of  immorality  in  all  his  younger  days,  but  also 
inclined  unto  all  virtuous  actions.  Of  young  persons,  he  would  himself 
give  this  advice :  Whatever  you  do,  be  sure  to  maintain  shame  in  them  ; 
for  if  that  be  once  gone,  there  is  no  hope  that  they'll  ever  come  to  good. 
Accordingly,  our  Ward  was  always  ashamed  of  doing  any  ill  thing.  He 
was  of  a  modest  and  'bashful  disposition,  and  very  sparing  of  speaking, 
especially  before  strangers,  or  such  as  he  thought  his  betters.  He  was 
wonderfully  temperate  in  meat,  in  drink,  in  sleep,  and  he  was  always  ex- 
pressed, I  had  almost  said,  affected,  a  peculiar  sobriety  of  apparal.  He 
was  a  son  most  exemplarily  dutiful  unto  his  parents ;  and  having  paid 
some  considerable  debts  of  his  father,  he  would  afterwards  humbly  ob- 

o  Rev.  Nnthrtuicl  Ward,  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Ward,  was  born  in  1570,  and  educated  at  the  University 
of  Cambridge.  Ue  was,  for  some  time,  pastor  of  a  church  at  Standon,  in  Hertfordshire,  but  being  driven 
out  of  England  for  liis  non-confonnity,  he  emigrated  to  New  England  in  163i,  and  settled  as  pastor  ol  the 
church  at  Ipswich,  then  called  Agawani.  He  was  bred  a  l.iwyer,  and,  in  1638,  was  appointed  by  the  General 
Court  to  draw  up  a  code  of  laws  for  New  England.  Though  a  pious  man,  he  was  very  eccentric  in  his  conduct. 
He  soon  left  his  charge  at  Ipswich,  was  without  employment  for  some  time,  and  returned  to  England  in 
lt)47.  He  was  afterwards  a  settled  minister  at  Shetlicld.  He  died  in  1053.  He  wrote  several  books  of 
humor,  and  some  learned  treatises,  hut  none  have  come  down  to  us  but  the  one  entitled  "  The  Simple 
C'obler  of  Jgatvavi,"  which  he  wrote  at  Ipswich,  and  which  has  passed  through  many  editions, 
t  Magnalia. 


HISTORY    OP    HAYERHILh.  41 

serve  and  confess,  that  God  had  abundantly  recompensed  this  his  dutiful- 
uess. 

"  Though  he  had  great  offers  of  rich  matches  in  England,  yet  he  chose 
to  marry  a  meaner  person,  •■whom  exemplary  piety  had  recommended.  He 
lived  with  her  for  more  than  forty  years,  in  such  an  happy  harmony,  that 
when  she  died  he  professed  that  in  all  this  time,  he  never  had  received 
one  displeasing  word  or  look  from  her.  Although  she  would  so  faithfullj'' 
tell  him  of  everything  that  might  seem  amendable  in  him,  that  he  would 
compare  her  to  an  accusing  conscience,  yet  she  ever  pleased  him  wonder- 
fully ;  and  she  would  often  put  upon  him  the  duties  of  secret  fasts,  and 
when  she  met  with  any  thing  in  rcLidiug  that  she  counted  singularly 
agreeable,  she  would  still  impart  it  unto  him.  For  which  cause,  when  he 
lost  this  his  mate,  he  caused  these  words  to  be  fairly  written  on  his  table- 
board. — 

In  Lugeuda  Compare,  Vit;c  Spacinm  Compleat  Orliii;;: 

And  there  is  this  memorable  passage  to  be  added.  While  she  was  a  maid 
there  was  ensured  unto  her,  the  revenue  of  a  parsonage  worth  two  hundred 
pounds  per  annum,  in  case  that  she  mai-ried  a  minister.  And  all  this  had 
been  given  to  our  Ward,  in  case  he  had  conformed  unto  the  doubtful  mat- 
ters of  the  Church  of  England ;  but  he  left  all  the  allurements  and 
enjoyments  of  England,  choosing  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people 
of  God  in  a  Avilderness. 

■"  Although  he  would  say,  there  is  no  place  for  fishing  like  the  sea,  and 
the  more  hearers  a  minister  has,  the  more  hope  there  is  that  some  of  them 
will  be  catched  in  the  nets  of  the  Gospel ;  nevertheless,  through  his 
humility  and  reservation,  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  he  chose  to  begin  his 
ministry  in  Old  England  at  a  very  small  place,  thus  when  he  came  to  New 
England  he  chose  to  settle  with  a  new  plantation,  where  he  could  expect 
none  but  small  circumstances  all  his  days.  He  did  not  love  to  appear 
upon  the  public  stage  himself,  and  there  appeared  few  there,  whom  he  did 
not  prefer  above  himself :  but  when  he  was  there,  every  one  might  see 
how  conscientiously  he  sought  the  edification  of  the  souls  of  the  plainest 
auditors,  before  the  ostentation  of  his  own  abilities.  And  from  the  like 
diffidence  it  was,  that  he  would  never  manage  any  ecclesiastical  affairs  in 
his  church,  without  previous  and  prudent  consultations  with  the  best  advi- 
sors that  he  knew :  he  would  say  he  had  rather  always  follov/  advice 
though  sometimes  the  advice  might  mislead  him,  than  ever  act  without 
advice,  though  he  might  happen  to  do  well  by  no  advice  but  his  own." 

c  Alice  Edmunds,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Elizabeth  and  Mary.    His  wife  died  March  24, 1680. . 


42  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

Pleasant,  indeed,  is  it  to  be  able  to  point  to  so  amiable  and  exemplary 
an  individual  as  one  of  the  founders  of  our  town,  and  the  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral adviser  and  master-spirit  of  its  early  settlers.  Mr.  AVard  died 
December  27,  1693. 

Of  the  previous  history  of  the  associates  of  Mr.  Ward  in  his  arduous 
enterprise,  we  have  been  able  to  glean  but  few  particulars, — which  may 
be  found  in  another  place.  For  the  present,  suffice  it  to  say,  that  their 
descendcnts  have  ever  been,  and  yet  are,  among  our  best  and  most  prom- 
inent citizens. 

At  the  succeeding  October  court,  ' '  Mr.  Edward  Woodman,  Mr.  Paine, 
and  Mr.  Nelson,  were  appointed  to  view  the  bounds  between  Colchester 
(Salisbury)  and  Mr.  Ward's  plantation,"-  from  which  it  would  seem  that 
the  work  of  settling  had  been  begun  in  earnest.  The  first  house  was 
erected  near  the  old  burying  ground, j  and  for  some  time  the  principal 
settlements  were  made  in  that  vicinity,  though  land  was  cleared  and  broken, 
and  houses  built  in  other  parts  of  the  town.  It  was  nearly  two  years, 
however,  before  a  house  was  erected  as  far  from  the  centre  as  Little  Eiver, 
about  which  time  one  was  built  near  where  Winter  Street  now  crosses 
that  stream. 

The  Indian  name  of  the  region  included  within  the  present  bounds  of 
the  town,  was  Pentuchett,  and  it  was  at  one  time  the  home  of  quite  a 
numerous  tribe  of  that  name,  who  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Passa- 
connaway,  chief  of  the  Pennacooks.  Their  principal  village  is  supposed  to 
have  been  on  the  banks  of  Little  Eiver,  not  far  from  its  mouth  ;  and  the 
second  house  on  Merrimack  street,  east  from  Emerson  street,  stands  upon 
their  ancient  burial  ground.  AVhen  the  cellar  of  the  above  house  was 
excavated,  a  number  of  Indian  skeletons  were  dug  up,  in  a  very  good  state 
of  preservation..!  Heads  of  arrows,  stone  mortars,  and  other  Indian  relics, 
have  frequently  been  found  in  that  vicinity,  thus  confirming  the  tradition 
of  a  settlement  thereabouts. 

We  have  now  no  means  of  knowing  how  many  of  the  aboriginees  still 
lived  here  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Ward's  settlement,  but  circumstantial  evi- 
dence indicates  that  they  were  few  in  number.  In  but  few  of  the  early 
accounts  of  the  native  inhabitants  is  any  mention  made  of  any  tribe  or 
tribes  at  this  place  ;  and  where  mentioned,  it  is  as  a  remnant — the  last 
few — of  a  once  vigorous  tribe.     On  the  other  hand,  the  wording  of  the  deed, 

o  Colonial  Records— 1.  t  N^ow  called  Pen  tucket  Cemetery. 

tOne  of  the  workmen  npon  the  occasion  drank  a  bumper  of  punch  to  the  memory  of  the  original 
inhabitants, /row  one  of  the  skulls  thus  l/)-oiiffhl  to  light ! 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  43 

and  the  small  sum  paid  for  the  large  extent  of  territory,  strongly  favor  the 
conclusion  that  but  two  families  of  the  natives  then  remained."  It  is 
probable  that  the  terrible  pestilence  of  IGlo,  in  its  desolating  march  from 
the  Kennebec  to  the  Narragansett,  included  the  Pentuckets  among  its  vic- 
tims, and  left  only  a  few  to  await  the  approach  of  civilization.  The  rude 
marks  upon  this  deed,  are  the  only  memorial  we  have  left  of  the  aboriginal 
inhabitants  of  Pentucket.  They  have  faded  away.  As  leaves  before  the 
chilling  frosts,  so  have  they  fallen  and  withered  before  the  breath  of  civil- 
ization, and  silently  sunk  into  the  graves  of  their  fathers. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  place,  it  was  named  Haverhill,  in 
compliment  to  Mr.  Ward,  who  was  born,  as  we  have  mentioned,  in  Haver- 
hill, Essex  County,  England. 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Court,  in  the  succeeding  June,  (1641) 
"  Mr.  John  Woodbridge,  Matthew  Bayse,  John  Crosse  and  George  Giddings, 
they  four,  or  any  three  of  them,  are  appointed  to  set  out  the  bounds  of 
Salisbury  and  Pentucket,  alias  Haverhill ;  they  are  to  determine  the 
bounds  which  Mr.  Ward  and  his  company  are  to  enjoy  as  a  towne  or  vil- 
lage, if  they  have  six  houses  tip  by  the  next  General  Courte  in  the  8th 
month,"  [October.]  We  must  not  suppose  from  this,  that  six  houses  had 
not  as  yet  been  erected,  because,  as  we  have  seen,  twelve  persons  (and 
probably  most  of  them  men  of  families)  had  already  been  here  a  year, 
and  had,  within  that  time,  received  considerable  accession  to  their  numbers. 
It  would  be  strange  indeed  if  they  had  not,  by  that  time  at  least,  double 
the  required  number  of  houses  erected.  We  should  interpret  the  act  of 
the  General  Court  as  specifying  the  smallest  number  of  dwellings  that 
should  be  reckoned  as  a  town  or  village,  rather  than  as  declaring  that  so 

»  To  shoTv  that  Havevhtll  was  not' psculidr  in  this  respect,  we  may  refer  tu  Newbury  and  Ipswich,  once 
without  dowljt  the  home  of  a  large  tribe  of  Indians. 

Newbury  was  settled  la  the  spring  of  1633,  but  the  first  intimation  of  any  Indians,  eitlicr  by  record  or 
tradition,  is  in  IGii,  wlien  a  parcel  of  land  was  allotted  to  one  "John  Indian."  The  next  mention  is  in 
1330,  when  "Great  Tom,  Indian,"  sold  to  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  "all  his  right,  title,  and  interest 
in  all  the  woods,  commons  and  lands  in  Newbury,  together  with  his  three  acres  of  planting  land  as  it  is 
fenced  in  one  entire  fence  in  Newbury,  lying  near  Indian  Hill."  Thei-e  is  no  other  notice  of  either  of 
these  Indians.  The  next  intimation  of  any  Indi.ans  in  that  town,  is  in  1661,  when  the  family  of  "  Old 
Will"  is  referred  to,  which  was  in  1G63  the  only  Indian  family  in  the  town,  and  consisted  of  himself,  wife, 
and  three  daugiiters. 

From  a  report  made  to  the  General  Court  in  1676,  it  appears  there  were  then,  "  at  and  about  Ipswich, 
eight  men  and  seventeen  wonien  and  children,  Indians,  and  at  Dunstable,  Wonolancet's  company  of  about 
sixty  persons." 

Coffin,  in  his  valuable  History  of  Xcwhuri/,  sa.js:  —  " However  large  the  population  of  this  region 
might  once  have  been,  it  is  certain  that  from  various  causes  the  race  had  become  nearly  extinct,  when  the 
white  population  had  determined  to  occupy  the  territory,  thus  providentially  vacated ;  and  it  was  with 
the  "  knowledge,  licence  and  good  liking"  of  the  few  that  remained,  that  the  first  settlers  took  possession 
of  this  then  howling  wilderness." 


44  HISTORY    OF    nAVERIIILL. 

many  as  six  houses  had  not  as  yet  been  erected  in  this  new  plantation/"^ 
At  the  time  the  town  was  first  settled,  it  was  covered  with  the  thick,  and 
in  many  places  almost  impenetrable  woods  of  the  primitive  forests,  except- 
ing the  lowlands,  or  meadows.  There  were  no  pleasant  fields,  nor  gardens, 
nor  public  roads,  nor  cleared  plats.  Except  where  the  timber  had  been 
destroyed,  or  its  growth  prevented,  by  frequent  fires,  the  groves  were  thick 
and  lofty.  The  Indians  so  often  burned  the  country,  to  take  deer  and 
other  wild  game,  that  in  many  parts  of  it  there  was  but  little  small  timber. 
The  meadows  had  been  partially  cleared  by  the  Indians  long  before  the 
arrival  of  the  white  settlers,  and  were  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of 
grass,  which  grew  remarkably  thick  and  high.  The  Indians  were  accus- 
tomed to  set  this  grass  on  fire  each  autumn,  so  that  they  might  the  more 
easily  kill  the  deer  which  came  to  feed  upon  the  young  grass  the  succeeding 
spring.  On  account  of  the  grass,  these  lands  were  prized  very  highly  by 
the  first  settlers,  as  from  them  they  procured  hay  for  their  flocks  and  herds. 
In  the  early  settlement  of  this,  and  other  New  England  towns,  these 
meadow  lands  were  divided  into  small  lots  and  distributed  among  the  set- 
tlers. In  many  cases  the  "  meadow  lot  "  was  several  miles  distant  from 
the  house  of  the  owner,  and  as  roads  and  other  conveniences  of  travel  and 
transportation  had  not  as  yet  been  introdaced,  we  can  easily  imagine  that 
"haying"  was  then  a  much  moi*e  laborious  and  expensive  matter  than 
now.  After  being  cut  and  cured,  the  dried  grass  was  piled  in  stacks  on 
the  meadows,  and  left  until  winter,  when  it  was  hauled  home  on  sleds,  by 
oxen. 

The  forests  were  filled  with  the  various  kinds  of  birds  and  small  ani- 
mals peculiar  to  New  England.  The  worst  enemy,  of  the  beast  kind,  to 
the  infant  settlement,  was  the  wolf.  These  gave  a  great  deal  of  trouble, 
and  at  one  time  had  become  so  bold  and  troublesome,  that  a  large  plat  of 
ground  was  enclosed  near  the  common,  and  used  as  a  pasture  for  the  sheep. 
Shepherds  were  appointed  to  watch  over  them,  and  at  night  they  were 
closely  folded,  as  a  still  greater  security.  Even  after  the  town  had  become 
([uite  extensively  settled,  these  voracious  prowlers  did  much  and  frequent 
damage  by  their  depredations,  and  the  town  at  various  times  offered  liberal 
bounties  for  their  destruction. 

Though  only  twelve  persons  composed  the  first  party  of  settlers  in  the 
town,  their  numbers  were  soon  increased  by  the  arrival  of  others.  Of 
those  who  arrived  in  10 10  and  IGll,  we  arc  able  to  give  the  names  of  only 

°  A  newspaper  story  writer  (18^52)  says,  that  in  the  autumn  of  IMl  there  were  only  six  houses  in  he 
town.     We  presiinio  his  statement  is  founded  np  m  thi  abnvp  mentioned  vote  of  the  General  Conrt, 


HISTORY    OF    IIATEIiniLL.  45 

Job  Clements  (sou  of  Eobert),  Jolin  Favor,  and  Hugh  SheiTatt,  though 
we  are  confident  that  several  others  came  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1G41. 

The  winter  of  1641-2  was  unusually  severe.  Boston  harbor  was  frozen 
over  so  deeply  that  it  was  passable  for  horses,  carts,  and  oxen  for  six 
weeks. 

The  first  recorded  birth  in  the  town  was  that  of  John  Eobinson,  (son  of 
John)  who  survived  but  three  weeks.  The  second  birth  was  also  a  son  of 
the  same,  in  1 642,  who  lived  but  one  week.  The  third  child  born,  was 
Deborah,  daughter  of  Tristani  Cofiin.  in  1G42,  who  lived  only  six  weeks.  =•' 
The  simple  record  of  these  early  deaths  in  that  little  community,  consid- 
ered in  connection  with  the  exceeding  severity  of  the  preceding  winter, 
and  the  known  cares,  anxiety  and  labor  that  always  attend  a  first  settle- 
ment, even  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  clearly  and  most 
touchingly  tells  of  denials,  exposures,  and  life-destroying  hardships. 

Hardly  had  the  little  company  commenced  life  in  their  new  home,  when 
intelligence  was  received  bj^  the  Governor,  from  Connecticut,  (September, 
1642)  that  "the  Indians  all  over  the  country  had  combined  themselves 
to  cut  off  the  English."! 

The  time  appointed  for  the  massacre,  was  soon  after  the  harvest.  The 
Indians  were  to  divide  themselves  into  small  parties,  and  visit  the  houses 
of  the  principal  men  for  the  professed  purpose  of  trading,  while  others 
concealed  themselves  in  the  vicinity.  At  a  given  signal,  those  in  the 
houses  were  to  fall  upon  the  owners,  slay  them,  and  seize  upon  their  weap- 
ons, while  the  concealed  party  were  to  rush  in  and  assist  in  completing 
the  bloody  work. 

Upon  the  reception  of  this  intelligence,  it  was  thought  advisable,  by  the 
Governor  and  Council,  to  disarm  all  the  Indians  within  our  jurisdiction. 
A  warrant  was  accordingly  sent  to  Ipswich,  Eowley  and  Xewbury,  '•  to  dis- 
arm Pasaconnaway,  who  lived  by  Merrimack."  The  next  day  forty  armed 
men  were  sent  for  that  purpose,  although  it  was  the  Sabbath,  and  a  heavy 
rain  was  falling.     On  account  of  the  rain,  they  could  not  reach  his  wig- 

""■  The  following  gives  the  number  i.!"  births  ami  deaths  in  the  town   each  year,  from  1641  to  1061,  so  far 
as  given  in  the  town  records  : 


BIKTHS. 


1  in  1641 

Sin 

164S 

10  ii 

1655 

2  "  1042 

0  •• 

L04i) 

ff  '• 

1650 

1  "  104;! 

7  " 

1050 

12  " 

1657 

1  "  1644 

11  " 

1651 

11  ' 

1658 

;$  "  1645 

10  " 

1652 

8  ' 

1659 

6  "  1046 

10  ' 

165:^ 

11  ' 

1600 

5   "  1647 

10  ' 

1654 

n  ' 

lOGl 

t  Winthrop,  2- 

-7S-87 

DEATHS. 


1  in  1041 

1  in  1051 

2  in  1058 

2  '•  1642 

2  "  1052 

4  "  1G5<» 

1  "  1646 

1   "  105:1 

,S  "  1000 

1  "  1047 

0  "  1054 

1  "  1001 

1  "  1648 

5  "  1057 

8   "  1602 

2  "  1050 

46  HISTORY    OF    irAVERHILL. 

warn,  but  came  to  his  son's,  and  took  him  and  his  squaw  and  child 
prisoners.  On  their  return,  they  led  the  son  with  a  line,  for  fear  of  his 
escape.      He,  however,  eluded  their  vigilance  and  escaped  into  the  woods. 

Upon  learning  of  this  unwarrantable  proceeding,  the  Governor  and 
Council  immediately  sent  a  friendly  messenger  in  search  of  Passaconna- 
way,  to  inform  him  that  the  capture  of  his  son  and  his  family  was  without 
their  orders,  and  also  to  tell  him  the  reasons  why  they  had  disanned  the 
Indians  in  their  jurisdiction.  The  woman  and  child  were  also  sent  back. 
The  mission  proved  successful,  and  in  a  few  days  the  chief  sent  his  oldest 
son  to  deliver  up  his  guns  to  the  English. 

No  massacre  of  the  kind  was,  however,  perpetrated ;  but  it  was  after- 
ward ascertained  that  such  a  plot  had  existed,  headed  by  the  chief  of  the 
Narragan  setts. 

Though  the  town  was  settled  and  houses  erected  in  1640,  it  was  not 
until  more  than  two  years  afterward  that  a  title  to  the  land  was  purchased 
of  the  Indian  owners.  As  it  was  usual  for  the  Massachusetts  settlers  to 
buy  the  land  they  wished  to  occupy,  we  are  left  in  doubt  as  to  the  reason 
why  the  Haverhill  men  did  not  sooner  make  such  a  purchase.  The  most 
reasonable  solution  we  can  give  is,  that  when  the  white  settlers  first  came 
to  Pentucket  there  were  no  Indians  living  here ;  and  that  afterward  one 
or  two  families,  descendants,  perhaps,  of  the  original  owners,  straying  back 
to  their  old  hunting  and  fishing  grounds,  and  finding  them  in  possession 
of  the  "  pale  faces,"  had  laid  claim  to  the  land  ;  or  else  that  the  number 
of  Indians  living  here  was  so  small  that  they  were  not  considered  worth 
noticing  at  all,  until  the  startling  intelligence  of  the  intended  massacre 
suggested  the  purchase  as  a  security  against  molestation  from  the  Indians 
near  them.  At  any  rate,  the  fact  that  the  purchase  was  made  within  the 
next  month  after  the  above-mentioned  information  first  reached  the  Colony, 
would  seem  to  indicate  some  such  a  condition  of  things.  The  following  is 
a  correct  copy  of  the  original  deed,  ■'  of  which  we  also  give  a  perfect  fac- 
similie. 

••  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  wee  Passaquo  and  SaggaHew 
with  ye  consent  of  Passaconnawaj^ :  have  sold  unto  ye  inhabitants  of  Pen- 
tuckett  all  ye  lands  wee  have  in  Pentuckett ;  that  is  eyght  myles  in  length 
from  ye  little  Eivver  in  Pentuckett  AVestward:  Six  myles  in  length  from 
ye  aforesaid  Riwer  northward  :  And  six  myles  in  length  from  ye  foresaid 

OThe  original  document  was  for  a,  long  time  in  the  possession  of  the  descendants  of  William  White, 
one  of  the  witnesses  to  the  deed,  but  at  the  suggestion  of  the  writer,  it  has  recently  been  presented  to  the 
Town  of  Haverhill,  by  E.  A.  Porter,  Esq.,  administrator  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Charles  White,  Esq . 
As  it  was  originally  given  to  "  the  inhabitants  of  Pentuckett,"  it  seems  appropriate  and  proper  that  it 
ehould  b?  in  the  possessim  of  the  Town,  and  wo  are  pleased  to  annotinc'e  that  it  hns  bcfu  s.i  disposed  of. 


OF    HAVERHILL,    MASS 


FACSIMILE    OF    THE    INDIAN   DEED    OF    THE    TOWNSHIP  ^p   HAVERHILL    MASS 


1 


As  ^^^  (^'^^-^^uxS  ^j^^A 


€ 


^ 


i 


i 


i.s 


?^ 


Ki 


£i.~ 


HISTORY    OP    HAYERHILL. 


47 


Eivver  Eastward,  with  ye  Ileand  and  ye  rivver  that  ye  ilcand  stand  in  as 
far  in  length  as  ye  land  lyes  by  as  formerly  expressed  :  that  is,  fourteen 
myles  in  length  :  And  wee  ye  said  Passaquo  and  SaggaHew  with  ye  con- 
sent of  Passaconnaway,  have  sold  imto  ye  said  inhabitants  all  ye  right 
that  wee  or  any  of  us  have  in  ye  said  ground  and  Ileand  and  Eivver : 
And  wee  warrant  it  against  all  or  any  other  Indeans  whatsoever  unto  ye 
said  Inhabitants  of  Pentuckett,  and  to  their  heires  and  assignes  forever 
Dated  ye  fifteenth  day  of  november  Ann  Dom  1642. 

Witnes  our  hands  and  scales  to  this  bargayne  of  sale  ye  day  and  year 
above  written  (in  ye  presents  of  us,)  wee  ye  said  Passaquo  &  SaggaHew 
have  received  in  hand,  for  &  in  consideration  of  ye  same  three  pounds  & 
ten  shillin<i;s. 


John  WcitlI 
Robert  Clements 

Tristram  Coffin 
Hugh  Sherratt 

William  White 


ye  signe  of  (1) 

o 

Thomas  Davis 


Passa'^uo 


ye  marke  of 
(A  how   and  arrow.) 
Passaquo. 


ye  marke  of 

(A  how  and  arrow.) 

Saggahcw. 


[seal.] 


Saggahew. 


[seal.] 


On  the  side  of  it  the  following  is  written  : —  •'  Entered  and  recorded  in 
ye  County  Records  for  Norfolk  (lib.  2d,  pa.  209)  yc  29th  day  of  April 
1671  As  attest  The.  Bradbury  Eecorder. 

Eecorded  ye  first  of  April  1681  among  ye  records  of  Lands  for  Essex 
at  Ipswich  :  As  attest  Eobcrt  Lord  Eecorder." 

On  the  outside  it  is  endorsed,  "  The  purchase  from  the  Indians  by  Ha- 
verhill men,  Recorded." 

In  1680,  the  deed  was  copied  into  the  Town  Eccords,  and  the  following 
testimony,  taken  by  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  is  written  on  the  succeeding 
page. 

"  The  Eev.  Teacher  of  ye  church  &  towne  of  Haverhill,  Mr.  John 
Ward ;  &  William  White  and  Tho.  Davis  do  testifie  that  Haverhill  towne- 
ship  or  lands  then  by  ye  Indians  called  Pentuckett,  was  purchased  of  ye 
Indians  as  is  mentioned  in  ye  deed  in  this  paper  contained,  which  is  en- 
tered upon  record  and  that  wee  were  then  inhabitants  at  Haverhill  and 


48  UlSTOliy    OF    HAVERHILL. 

present  with  ye  Indians  Passacjiuo  and  Saggabew  (who  were  ye  apparent 
owners  of  ye  land  &  so  accounted)  did  signe  and  coufirme  ye  same ;  and 
that  then,  wee,  (with  others  now  dead)  did  signe  onr  names  to  ye  deed, 
which  land  wee  have  ever  since  enjoyed  peaceably  without  any  Indian 
molestation  from  the  grantors  or  their  heirs.  Taken  upon  February  ye  4rth 
1680  before  Nath.  Saltonstall.     Assist." 

"  Lieut.  Brown  and  Lieut.  Ladd  both  affirm  upon  oath  that  what  is 
entered  in  the  records  for  Haverhill  as  the  deed  of  purchase  from  the  In- 
dians of  Haverhill  Township  or  lands,  of  which  the  deed  above  written  is 
a  true  copy,  was,  and  is  a  true  copy,  extract,  or  transcript  of  the  original 
deed  given  by  the  Indians.  Taken  upon  oath,  February  the  4th,  1680. 
Before  me,  Nath'l  Saltonstall.     Assist." 

The  following  brief  biographical  notices  of  the  witnesses  to  this  import- 
ant instrument,  will  doubtless  be  read  with  interest. 

Of  John  IVard  we  have  already  given  an  extended  notice,  and  will  only 
add,  that  he  married  Alice  Edmunds,  in  1646,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth  and  Mary  (•■■).     His  wife  died  March  24,  1680. 

Eobert  Ch'msrd  came  from  England,  in  the  early  part  of  1642,  landing 
at  Salisbury,  from  whence  he  came  to  Haverhill  sometime  in  the  fol- 
lowing summer,  with  his  wife  and  four  children — John,  Lydia,  Eobert 
and-Sarah.  Job,  his  sou,  came  as  early  as  1640-1,  doubtless  to  "spye 
out  the  land."  His  youngest  daughter,  Mary,  remained  in  England  (in 
the  city  of  Coventry,  in  Warwickshire)  imtil  about  1652,  Avhen  she  also 
came  over  to  Haverhill,  and  was  soon  after  married  by  her  father  to  John 
Osgood,  of  Andover,  Mass. 

liobert,  senior,  was  the  first  Dei)uty  of  the  town  to  the  Oeneral  Court, 
and  until  1654  ;  was  associate  Judge;  County  Commissioner ;  "  appointed 
and  empowered  by  the  General  Court  to  give  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Haverhill ;  "  appointed  to  set  oiT  the  public  lands,  fix  their 
limits,  &c.  He  was  a  man  of  rare  integrity,  and  superior  talent,  as  may 
readily  be  judged  from  the  responsible  stations  he  was  repeatedly  called  to 
fill.     He  died  on  the  spot  where  he  first  settled,   in  1658,  aged  about 


°  Elizalifth,  bom  April  1,  1047,  and  died  April  19,  1714;  Mary  born  June  24,  1649,  died  Oct.  11,  108,1. 
Ulizabcth  married  Natluinicl  Saltonstall,  Dec.  2S,  1003,  and  had  five  children :, — 
fturdon,  born  March  27,  1060,  died  in  1724. 
Elizabeth,  born  September  17,  1068. 
Richard,  born  April  25,  1072,  died  April  22,  1714. 
Nathaniel,  bom  September  5,  1074. 
John,  born  August  14,  1076,  died  October  2,  lOSl. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 


a 

49 


68  (■■').  He  owned,  when  he  died,  the  first  grist-mill  built  in  town.  His 
son  Eobert,  whom  Mirick  confounds  with  Eobert  sen.,  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  and  the  first  one  in  town.  In  1652  he  married  Elizabeth  Fane,  by 
whom  he  had  eleven  children.  He  held  several  town  offices,  was  a  large 
landholder,  and  lived  near  where  the  "  Exchange  Building"  is  now  situ- 
ated. We  have  not  ascertained  the  time  of  his  death,  but  he  was  living 
in  1684.     His  wife  died  in  1715. 

Job  was  a  tanner  (probably  the  first  in  town),  and  married  Margaret 
Dummer  —  the  first  marriage  in  town. 

John,  was  a  farmer,  and  married  Sarah  Osgood. 

The  Clements  for  a  long  time  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  the  town 
and  county,  and  their  descendants  have  ever  been  considered  as  among  our 
best  citizens.  Several  generations  of  them  have  lived  on  the  place  now 
owned  by  Jessee  Clement  (in  the  North  Parish) ,  who  is  a  lineal  descend- 
ant from  Eobert  sen. 

Tristram  Goffyn  was  born  in  1609,  in  Brixham  parish,  town  of  Ply- 
mouth, in  Devonshire,  England.  He  was  the  son  of  Peter  and  Joanna 
Coffyn.  Tristram  married  Dionis  Stevens,  and  in  1642,  after  the  death 
of  his  father,  he  came  to  New  England,  bringing  with  him  his  mother,  f 
his  two  sisters,  Eunice  and  Mary,  his  wife,  and  five  children  (Peter,  Tris- 
tram, Elizabeth,  James,  and  John). 


o  "  The  inventory  of  Mr.  Robert  Clements,  his  goods  and  estates  in  \ew  England,  excepting  some  small 
debts  which  cannot  yet  be  accompted,  he  died  ye  29th  of  Sept.,  1658. 


£  s.  d. 

Iny  his  wearing  apparel! 16  18  00 

It  (")  his  purse,  money,  silver,  seal  and 

ring 1  07  00 

It  by  one  bill  owing  him 55  00  00 

It  one  paver  of  Steers 3  06  08 

It  twenty  bush.41  of  rie 10  00  00 

It  one  cuw  and  30  lbs  of  rie 5  00  00 

It  one  bill 8  15  00 

It  one  bill 12  15  00 

It  one  bill 56  00  00 

It  one  bill  5  00  00 

It  one  bill 06  06  00 

It  one  bill 14-00  00 

It  one  bill 02  03  06 

It  one  bill 04  00  00 

It  one  bill   07  12  00 

It  one  engMgement  of  rent  for  land 05  00  00 

It  4  cows,  2  steers,  one  heifer 22  00  00 

It  3  mares,  1  philli,  1  hoss,  1  colt 69  00  00 

It  3  cows   10  00  00 

It  in  swine,  calves  and  sheep, 10  15  00 

It  in  bedding 25  13  00 

It  a  psU  (t)  of  cotton  wooU  it   cotton 

varne,    sheeps    wooll,   canvers    & 

fethers 03  01  00 

It  on  carpett,  warmg  pan,  &  cotton  cloth. 01  10  00 

t  Who  died  in  Boston  in  16G1,  aged  77.     Rev.  John  Wilson  preached   her  funeral  sermon,  and  "em- 
balmed her  memory." — Sewall. 

7 


£    B.    d. 

It  his  dwelling  honsei  accommodations.. 55  00  00 

It  8  loads  of  hay  &  a  psU  linen  cloth 05  00  00 

It  his  grist  mill 30  00  00 

It  one  payer  of  oxen 12  00  00 

It  a  psll  of  boards  &  two  stocks  of  bees.  .02  13  00 
It  wooden  vessels  and  earthen  vessels  & 

one  spade 01  16  00 

It  cotton  and  linen  yarn 02  10  00 

It  one  debt  3  tr 03  00  00 

It  one  debt  of  10  tr 10  00  00 

It  in  wheat  it  Indian  com 02  10  00 

It  for  chests,  Tunnes  &  cards  Potts  & 

kettles 4  17  00 

It  several  things,  viz.,  fier  shovel  &  tongs 

Andyrons  spitt.  plough 05  17  16 

It  chayns  &  such  like  Iron  things 

It  in  books  fowling  piece,  table  cloth  and 

napkins 03  18  00 

These  goods   were  apprized  by  us  whose  names 
are  under  written. 

Teist.  Coffyn, 
Willi  White. 


'■'  Item, 
t  ParceL 


50  HISTORY    OF    IIATERIIILL. 

He  came  to  New  England  early  in  the  Spring  of  1642,  in  the  same  ship 
with  Eobert  Clements,  and  landed  at  Salisliury,  from  whence  he  came  to 
Haverhill  sometime  during  the  following  summer.  He  seems  to  have  set- 
tled near  Mr.  Clements,  and  tradition  has  it  that  he  was  the  first  person 
who  plowed  land  in  Haverhill. 

JNIirick  says,  that  "  in  the  following  year  he  removed  to  the  Eocks, 
where,  in  1645,  he  was  liscenced  to  keep  an  '  ordinary,'  or  tavern — hence 
the  name  '  Coffin's  Ordinary.'  "  If,  by  the  "  Eocks,"  he  means  the  place 
then  called  by  that  name,  and  afterward  designated  as  "Holt's  Eocks," 
(just  below  the  bridge  at  Eock's  Village)  he  is  evidently  mistaken  in  the 
locality.  Mr.  Coffyn  was  licensed  "to  keep  an  ordinary  a^  Netoherry" 
and  also  to  "  keep  a  ferry  on  Ncwbery  side  over  ^Merrimack,  when  the 
interest  of  Gleorge  Carr  shall  be  determined,  and  that  George  Carr  shall 
have  liberty  to  keepe  his  boate  going  on  Salisbery  side." 

The  place  where  Mr.  CoflFyn  settled  was  in  Newbury,  opposite  what  has 
since  been  called  Carr's  Island — so  called  from  the  above-named  George  Carr. 
Mirick  gives  the  date  of  the  license  as  1645,  and  Coffin  (Hist.  Newbury) 
1644";  but  we  cannot  find  it  in  the  Colonial  Eecords  of  either  year. 
Coffyn  was  first  licensed  on  the  26th  of  May,  1647,  and,  as  we  have  above 
mentioned,  to  keep  an  ordinary  "at  Newberryf."  He  probably  removed 
there  about  that  time. 

Although  Mr.  Coffyn  was  the  person  licensed,  it  seems  that  3frs.  C.  did 
sometimes  "  help,  aid,  and  assist,"  as  we  find  that  in  1645,  she  was  "pre- 
sented" for  "  selling  beere  at  3d  a  quarte,"  contrary  to  the  law  in  such 
case  made  and  provided,  which  required  four  bushels  of  malt  to  the  hogs- 
head, and  that  it  should  be  sold  at  2d  per  quai-t.j  j\lrs.  Coffyn  made  it 
"  appear  to  the  Court "  that  sJie  put  in  six  bushels  into  a  hogshead,  where- 
upon the  Court  acquitted  her ! 

"  He  also  gives  the  same  under  the  date  of  Decemlier  26,  1G47. 

t  It  would  seem,  however,  that  there  was  a  place  in  the  easterly  part  of  this  town,  known  as  Coffin's 
Ordinary,  about  1652.  In  that  year,  a  second  division  of  upland  was  made,  in  which  James  Davis  re- 
ceived forty  acres,  one  piece  of  which  was  bounded  as  follows :  "  By  James  Davis  sen.  on  the  west ;  the 
great  river  on  the  south ;  on  the  north  side  a  swamp ;  on  the  east  a  brook ;  the  other  part  bounded  by  a 
red  oak  at  Colfrn's  ordinary  runninj?  up  that  brook  to  a  lilack  oak,  James  Davis  sen.  on  the  east ;  tlie 
great  river  on  the  south. 

J  Some  of  the  regulations  concemin<f  taverns,  or  ordinaries,  are  worth  preservinj;;  and  as  matters  of 
curiosity  and  illustrations  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  "  ye  olden  time,"  we  give  some  of  them. 

In  1631,  it  was  ordered  by  the  General  Court,  "  that  noe  pson  that  keepes  an  ordinary  shall  take 
abQvc  vj  d  a  meale  for  a  pson,  and  not  above  J  d  fir  an  ale  quarte  of  beare,  out  of  meale  tjine,  under 
the  penalty  of  x  s  for  eury  offence,  cither  of  dyet  or  beare.  Likewise,  that  victulars,  or  keeps  of  .^n  ordi- 
nary, shall  not  siiffVr  any  tobacco  to  be  taken  into  their  houses,  under  the  penalty  of  vs  for  eury  offence, 
to  be  payde  by  the  victular,  and  xij  d  by  the  party  that  takes  it." 

Tobacco  was  evidently  far  from  bcinq;  the  popular  weed  of  these  more  modern  times.     Even  its  pri- 


HISTORY    OF    HAVEllHILL.  51 

Mary,  daughter  of  Tristram,  married  Nathaniel  Starbuck,  at  Nantucket, 
and  all  accounts  agree  in  representing  her  as  an  extraordinary  woman. 
In  the  language  of  John  Eichardson,  an  early  writer,  "  the  Islanders 
esteemed  her  as  a  Judge  among  them,  for  little  of  moment  was  done  with- 
out her."  It  was  her  custom  to  attend  their  town  meetings,  where  she 
took  an  active  part  in  the  debates,  usually  commencing  her  address  with 
"  my  husband  thinks  "  so  and  so  ;  but  Eichardsou  says,  that  "  she  so  far 
exceeded  him  in  soundness  of  judgment,  clearness  of  understanding,  and 
an  elegant  way  of  expressing  herself,  and  that  not  in  an  affected  strain, 
but  very  natural  to  her,  that  it  tended  to  lessen  the  qualifications  of  her 
husband."  In  1701  she  became  a  Quakeress,''  took  the  spiritual  concerns 
of  the  whole  Island  under  her  special  superintendance,  was  speaker  in 
their  religious  meetings,  wrote  the  quarterly  epistles,  and  was  distinguished 
in  every  relation  in  life.  Eespecting  her  domestic  economy,  the  same 
author  observes  :  "  the  order  of  the  house  was  such  in  all  the  parts  thereof 
as  I  had  not  seen  the  like  before  ;  the  large  and  bright-rubbed  room  was 
set  with  suitable  seats  or  chairs,  [for  a  meeting]  so  that  I  did  not  see  any 
thing  wanting  according  to  place,  but  something  to  stand  on,  for  I  was  not 
free  to  set  my  feet  upon  the  fine  cane  chair,  lest  I  should  break  it."  Mary 
died  in    1717.     She   had  six   children.      The  descendants  of  Tristram 

vatc  use  was  ' '  regulated,"  as  will  appear  from  the  folloiving :  "  further,  it  is  ordered,  that  noe  pson  shall 
take  tobacco  publiquely,  under  the  penalty  of  ij  s  vj  d,  nor  privately,  in  bis  oinie  howse,  or  in  the  howse  of 
another,  before  strangers,  and  that  two  or  more  shall  not  take  it  together,  any  where,  under  the  aforesaid 
penalty  for  eiiry  offence."  In  1637,  "upon  many  sad  complaints  that  much  drunkeness,  wast  of  the  good 
creatures  of  God,  mispenee  of  preaious  time,  and  other  disorders  have  frequently  ftillen  out  in  the  inns,  and 
common  victualing  houses,"  the  Court  ordered  that "  it  shall  not  bee  lawfuU  for  any  persoue  that  shall  keepe 
any  such  inne,  or  common  victualling  house,  to  sell  or  have  in  their  houses  any  wine,  nor  strong  waters,  nor 
any  beare,  or  other  drink  other  than  such  as  may  and  shall  be  souled  for  Id  the  quarte  at  the  most." 
The  Court  also  ordered  that  no  beei-  should  be  brewed  by  any  innholders  or  victualers,  but  only  by  lisenced 
brewers,  and  that  even  they  should  not  "  sell  nor  utter  any  beare,  or  other  drinke,  of  any  stroilger  size 
than  such  as  may  and  shall  be  afforded  at  the  rate  of  8shs  the  barrell. 

It  does  not  appaar,  however,  that  these  "  JIaine  Laws  "  put  a  stop  to  the  use  of  either  tobacco  or  "  strong 
water :  "  and  the  Court  the  next  year  relaxed  the  severity  of  the  last  named  regulation,  so  as  to  allow 
innkeepers  and  victuallers  to  brew  their  own  beer.  Two  years  after,  they  repealed  the  "  orders  about  re- 
straint of  beer,"  and  permitted  it  to  be  sold  at  2d  a  quarts  which  was  the  rule  when  Mrs.  Coffyn  was 
called  to  account  in  1645. 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  we  have  found  the  following  interesting  paragraph  in  a  Boston  Paper,  (Sep- 
tember, 1859)  :  •'  Narcissa  B.  Coffin  of  Nantucket,  a  well  known  minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  was 
in  Beverly  for  a  short  time  on  the  22d  ult.  She  had  just  returned  from  Vermont  and  Upper  New  York, 
where  she  had  been  engaged  in  visiting  prisons,  houses  of  bad  repute,  and  almshouses,  preaching  the 
Gospel  to  the  inmates,  sometimes  with  great  hopefulness,  many  of  the  outcasts  of  society  seeming  glad  to 
hear  of  a  Saviour.  Mrs.  Coffin  is  a  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Hoag,  niece  of  Lindley  Mui-ray  Hoag,  and 
daughter  of  Hannah  Butrey,  all  of  them  well  known  and  highly  i-espected  ministers  in  the  Society  of 
Friends.  Joseph  Hoag  had  a  large  family,  aU  of  whom,  both  sons  and  daughters,  with  their  companions 
(except  two)  were  preachers.  Mrs.  C.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Alex.  G.  Coffin,  a  worthy  Fritnd,  and  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Tristram  Coffm,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Nantucket,  who  moved  thither  from  Haverhill 
about  two  hundred  years  ago. 


62  HISTOEY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

Coffin  are  very  numerous ;  among  them  was  the  distinguished  Admiral 
Sir  Isaac  Coffin ;  -  more  than  twelve  thousand  of  that  name  were  supposed 
to  he  in  the  United  States  thirty  years  ago. 

Hugh  Sherratt  came  from  Ipswich,  in  164:1,  with  Mr.  Ward  and  John 
Favor.  In  1650  a  house  lot  was  granted  him  "  over  the  little  river,"  from 
which  we  presume  that  he  settled  in  that  part  of  the  town.  As  he  was  to 
leave  open  a  highway,  "  both  by  that  and  the  great  river,"  it  would  seem 
that  the  location  must  have  been  in  the  vicinity  of  the  westerly  side  of 
what  is  now  Washington  Square,  near  the  site  of  the  "  South  Church." 
At  the  time  this  lot  was  granted  him,  he,  with  several  others,  had  laid 
down  his  lot  in  the  (Pond)  plain. 

From  the  fact  that  his  name  frequently  appears  in  the  Court  records  as 
defendant  in  actions  for  debt,  we  judge  that  he  must  have  been  one  of 
those  whose  talent  for  accumulating  property  was  not  large.  In  1662,  he 
was  permitted  to  keep  an  ordinary,  and  to  sell  "  strong  water  and  wine  at 
retail."  From  this  we  should  infer  that  he  was  a  man  of  sobriety  and 
respectability,  as  in  those  days  only  such  persons  were  permitted  to  occupy 
so  responsible  a  position.  But  his  hard  luck  seems  to  have  followed  him 
through  life.  In  1677,  then  in  his  ninety-ninth,  year  (his  little  remain- 
ing property  having  been  illegally  taken  from  him,)  the  poor  old  man  was 
compelled  to  ask  relief  from  the  town.  Then,  as  now,  willing  and  prompt 
to  support  its  poor  and  needy,  the  town  agreed  with  Peter  Brewer  to  keep 
him  for  five  shillings  per  week,  one  half  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  bread- 
stuff, and  the  other  in  meat.  Upon  a  motion  "  to  know  who  would  lend 
corn,  or  meat,  to  the  town,  for  the  support  of  Hugh  Sherratt ;  and  they 
to  be  paid  by  the  next  town  rates  ;  several  engaged  as  foUoweth  ;  Kobert 
Emerson,  bacon  ;  Joseph  Emerson,  beef,  6  lb. ;  Daniel  Ela,  beef,  12  lb.  ; 
Samuel  Grile,  beef,  6  lb ;  Henry  Kingsbury,  Indian,  1  ;  John  Page  Jr,  1 
Ind.  and  meat  2  lb ;  Thomas  Eaton,  1 8  lb  meat  or  com ;  Eobert  Ford  Jr, 
1-2  Ind  ;  Bartholomew  Heath,  pork  4  lb;  Thomas  Davis,  pork  4  lb,  but- 
ter 1  lb ;  Michael  Emerson,  pork  4  lb  ;  Thomas  Whittier,  turnips  1 ; 
Kobert  Ayer,  pork  6  lb ;  Daniel  Hendrick,  meat  2  lb ;  Peter  Ayer  3  lb 
meat  or  corn;  Thomas  Ayer  Jr,  1  lb  meat." 

Considering  that  the  town  had  now  been  settled  nearly  forty  years,  the 
very  small  amounts  specified  in  this  loan  excite  our  surprise.  We  can 
hardly  imagine  that  the  time  should  ever  have  been  when  the  loan  of  a 
single  pound  of  beef,  or  butter  would  have  been  deemed  a  notable  thing, 
and  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  records  of  a  town.     Yet  it  was  so. 

o  Admiral  Coffin  lately  established  a  school  at  Nantucket,  for  the  chiUlrcn  there  who  are  descendants 
from  his  anccstcr  Tristram.  The  building  was  calculated  for  six  hundred,  but  eight  hundred  young 
CoflBns  presented  themselves!  —  Boston  Paladium,  July,  1829. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  53 

:  The  town  was  not  however,  long  called  to  bear  the  burden  of  supporting 
the  aged  patriarch.  The  next  year  he  reached  the  uncommon  age  of  one 
hundred  years,  and,  ere  its  close,  was  laid  to  rest.  He  died  September 
6th,  1678,  aged  100  years. 

William  White,  whose  name  is  attached  to  the  deed,  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  band  of  settlers  in  the  town,  and  came  here  from  Newbury.  He 
was  born  in  1610,  and  came  to  New  England  in  1635,  settling  at  Ipswich. 
He  subsequently  went  to  Newbury,  and  finally  settled  in  this  town,  being 
as  we  have  seen,  one  of  the  first  company  of  settlers.  He  died  September 
28,  1690,  aged  80.  His  widow  soon  after  removed  to  Ipswich,  where  she 
died  in  1693.  Mr.  White  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  James 
D.  White,  and  we  find  that  he  owned  a  farm  in  Newbury  in  1650.  Soon 
after  the  church  was  gathered,  he  became  a  member,  and  was  one  of  its 
firmest  pillars ;  he  had  the  honor  of  the  town  very  much  at  heart,  and  was 
esteemed  by  its  citizens,  and  was  frequently  entrusted  with  its  most  im- 
portant business.  His  descendants  are  exceedingly  numerous,  and  are 
scattered  in  almost  every  direction  over  the  United  States.  In  his  will, 
which  is  dated  2d  January,  1683,  he  says  :  "I  give  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Ward, 
my  Teacher,  in  Haverhill,  10s.  in  silver;  I  give  to  the  church  of  Haver- 
hill, of  which  I  am  a  member,  the  linen  cloth  which  is  on  the  communion 
table,  and  one  of  the  pewter  dishes  which  was  mine,  which  was  used 
at  the  sacrament,  and  to  be  kept  for  that  use  only  so  long  as  it  may 
serve  with  decency  for  the  common  good  of  that  society.  My  will  is,  that 
the  girl  which  was  given  to  me  by  the  girl's  mother  to  breed  up,  if  my 
wife  will  keep  her  untill  John  White  [his  son]  marry,  let  her  keep  it, 
otherwise  John  White  to  put  her  out  to  sum  one  who  will  bring  her  up  in 
good  nurtour  ;  if  afterward  she  live  with  John  till  she  is  1 8  years  of  age, 
or  day  of  marriage,  the  said  White  is  to  cloth  her  well,  and  to  give  her 
five  pounds.  I  give  to  Edward  Brumidge  a  cloth  jacket,  and  britches,  and 
a  shurt,  all  of  mine  own  wearing."  The  amount  of  his  property  taken 
after  his  decease,  was  £508,  10s.  * 

o  This  WiUiam  White  had  one  son,  John,  who  m.  Hannah  French  at  Sakm.  on  Aug.  25,  1662  and  d. 
Jan.  1,  1663-9,  aged  29  leaving  one  son,  John,  b.  March  8,  1664,  m.  Lydia  Oilman,  da'r  of  Hon.  John  Gil- 
man  of  Exeter,  Oct.  24,  1637,  and  had  manj-  sons  and  da'rs,  "  whose  descendants  are  exceedingly  numer- 
ous." He  d.  1727.  Said  John  and  Lydia  had  sons  William,  Samutl,  JVicholas.  Timothy,  (gradn. 
Harv.  Col.  1720)  James  and  John,  and  da'rs  Mary  (pa.  to  James  Ayer  of  Hav'U  1710)  Hannah  (m.  to 
Rev.  Samnel  Phillips  of  Anilover  1712)  i'/teafecf/i,  (m.  Rev.  Amos  Maine  of  Rochester)  Abigail,  (ni. 
to  Moses  Hazcn  1728)  was  mother  of  Gen.  Moses  Hazen,  —  Lydia,  (m.  to  Nath'l  Peaslee,  Esq.,)  and 
Joanna.  The  last  named  William  T(7u'<e  m.  Sarah  Phillips,  sister  of  sd.  Samuel  Phillips,  June  12, 
1716,  and  had  sons  William,  (merchant  in  Boston)  iSaniwe/,  (Esq'r  in  Hav'll)  John,  (of  Methuen,  d. 
1800  seg  80)  Timothy  (bookseller  in  Boston)  Phillips,  (of  Southampton,  N.  H.,  Judge  of  Prob.,— Mem- 
ber of  Congress)  and  da'rs  Mary  (m.  Rev.  John  Chandler,  BiUerica)  and  Sarah  (m.    Col.  Wm.   Thomp- 


54  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

Thomas  Davis,  whose  mark  is  affixed  to  the  deed  was  a  sawyer,  from 
Marlborough,  England,  and,  wc  believe,  a  brother  of  James,  one  of  the 
first  company  of  settlers.  He  married  in  England,  before  emigrating  to 
America.  He  came  to  Newbury  in  1641,  and  settled  in  Haverhill  early 
in  the  spring  of  lG-i2.  He  died  July  27,  1683.-  His  wife  died  April  7, 
1668.     He  had  one  son  (Joseph)  who  died  September  15,  1671. f 

son  of  Billerica).  Samuel  White,  (bro.  of  the  Wm.  who  m.  Sarah  Phillips)  m.  Ruth  Phillips,  another 
sister  of  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips,  and  was  fathei  of  Jofin  White,  Harvard  College,  1751,  and  gr'd  father  of 
Hon.  Leonard  White— R.  C,  1787. 

<»  Coiiiu  and  Mu-ick,  speak  of  the  descendants  of  Thomas  Davis  as  very  numerous,  but  we  think  they 
must  be  mistaken.  The  only  child  of  his  mentioned  in  the  Town  Records,  is  Joseph,  who  died  in  1671. 
The  niunerous  descendants  referred  to,  are,  we  think,  rather  those  of  James,  brother  of  Thomas ;  and  of 
John,  an  early  settler  in  Newbury.  John  died  in  1G75.  He  had  seven  children,  and  his  descendants  are 
'•  very  numerous,"  as  are  also  those  of  James.  As  early  as  1720,  there  were  no  less  than  nineteen  fami- 
lies of  that  name  in  town. 

t  Joseph,  son  of  Thomas,  was  doubtless  a  wild  boy,  if  we  may  judge  from  one  of  his  capers.  Under 
the  date  of  1052,  the  Portsmouth  Court  Record  thus  refers  to  him:  "Whereas  it  doth  appear  that  Joseph 
Davis  of  Haverhill  was  presented  for  putting  on  women's  apparel  and  going  from  house  to  house  in  the 
night  time,  with  a  female,  and  whereas  the  said  parties  being  removed  from  Haverhill  into  this  jurisdic- 
tion, and  being  apprehended  and  brought  into  the  Court  at  Strawberry  Bank ;  the  said  Joseph  Davis  is 
judged  to  pay  a  fine  of  eight  shillings,  and  also  to  make  public  acknowledgement  of  his  fault  on  a  lecture 
day,  before  the  next  Court,  in  default  of  which  he  shall  forfiet  forty  shillings  more."  We  may  charitably 
presume  that  the  unpleasant  termination  of  his  nocturnal  adventure  suspended  his  pursuit  of  pleasure  in 
that  direction,  at  least. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  55 


CHAPTEE  VI. 


FROM  1643  TO  1G49. 


MiRiCK,  in  his  history,  says,  "  the  first  lawful  town-meeting  was  holden 
this  year  "  (1643).  He  doubtless  based  his  decision  upon  the  fact  that  no 
record  is  preserved  of  any  previous  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  but  from 
the  fact  that  allusions  are  made  to  things  done  by  them  previous  to  that 
time,  we  think  it  is  correct  to  say  that  meetings  were  held  as  early  as  the 
first  year  of  the  settlement.  They  were  not,  it  is  true,  technically  speak- 
ing, ^ow?? -meetings, — ^because  the  plantation  was  not  incorporated  until 
1645, — but  were  meetings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  'plantation,  at  which 
was  transacted  all  business  relating  to  the  plantation,  as  such.  The  fact 
that  a. note  to  the  minutes  of  the  first  meeting  recorded,  mentions  the  lay- 
ing out  of  land  to  Mr.  John  Ward,  fourteen  months  previously,  seems  to 
us  conclusive,  that  the  settlers  held  regular  meetings  from  the  first.  While 
the  inhabitants  were  few,  there  was  but  little  general  business  necessary 
to  be  done  by  them,  and  that  little  could  be  so  easily  remembered,  it  was 
hardly  necessary  to  make  a  record  of  it.  But  as  the  settlers  multiplied, 
and  their  affairs  became  more  complicated,  they  wisely  made  provision  for 
a  regular  record  to  be  kept  of  all  their  doings  in  their  collective  capacity. 
About  this  time,  also,  the  G-eneral  Court  passed  a  law  requiring  a  record 
of  births,  marriages,  and  deaths  to  be  regularly  kept  in  each  town ;  and  at 
the  May  tei'm  of  the  Court,  (1643)  the  colony  was  divided  into  four  coun- 
ties, Essex,  Middlesex,  Suffolk,  and  Norfolk.  Haverhill  was  assigned  to 
Norfolk,  which  was  composed  of  Salisbury,  Hampton,  Haverhill,  Exeter, 
Dover  and  Strawberry  Bank,  (Portsmouth).-  At  the  same  Court,  a  tract 
of  land  containing  six  hundred  acres  was  granted  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ward, 
father  of  John  Ward,  "  near  Pentuckett,  or  as  near  as  conveniently  may 
be."  The  Court  also  granted  to  Haverhill  "a  parcel  of  meadow -land 
about  six  score  acres  more  or  less,  west  of  Haverhill  about  six  miles." 

Under  these  circumstances,  Richard  Littlehale  was  chosen  "clerk  of  the 
Writs,"  and  "  town  Recorder,"!  and  commenced  a  regular  record  of 
the  births,  marriages  and  deaths,  in  the  town,  and  also  the  proceedings  of  the 


*  The  Courts  were  hoUlen  alternately  at  Salisbury  and  Hampton. 

t  He  continued  in  office  till  1661:.  The  Cjurt  of  Writs  was  a  small  Court  established  in  town  to  try 
such  causes  tis  did  not  exceed  forty  shillinors.  It  was  soraetimss  called  the  Court  for  "  small  causes : "  and 
frequently  the  Clerk  of  tb»  AVrits  and  Town  Recorder  were  filled  by  one  person. 


66  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

inhabitants  at  their  regular  meetings.  The  date  of  the  first  meeting  thus 
recorded,  is  November  6,  1643,  and  the  first  vote  passed  was  to  prevent  an 
unnecessary  destruction  of  timber. 

The  following  is  a  correct  copy  of  the  vote:  —  "  Voted  that  no  man 
shall  fall  or  cause  to  be  fallen  any  timber  upon  the  Coraon  but  what  he 
shall  make  use  of  within  nine  months  next  after  it  is  fallen  or  other- 
wise it  is  and  shall  be  forfieted."  At  the  same  meeting  they  voted,  "that 
there  shall  bee  three  hundred  acres  laid  out  for  houselotts  and  no  more  ; 
and  that  he  that  was  worth  two  hundred  pounds  should  have  twenty  acres 
to  his  houselott,  and  none  to  exceed  that  number ;  and  so  every  one  under 
that  sum,  to  have  acres  proportionable  for  his  houselott,  to  gether  with 
meadow,  and  Common,  and  planting  ground,  proportionably."  This  land 
was  laid  out  east  of  Little  River,  where  the  village  stands,  and  was  called 
an  "  accommodation  grant." 

An  important  movement  of  this  year  (1643)  was  the  "  Confederation  of 
the  New  England  Colonies."  The  original  movement  toward  a  confeder- 
ation proceeded  from  the  western  colonies,  and  the  first  proposal  came  from 
Connecticut.  At  first  Massachusetts  was  indifi'erent  to  the  measure,  but 
at  the  General  Court  in  May,  commissioners  presented  themselves  at  Bos- 
ton from  each  of  the  three  colonies,  Plymouth,  Connecticut,  and  New 
Haven,  and  the  Governor,  with  two  magistrates  and  three  deputies,  were 
authorized  to  treat  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts.'-'  At  first  the  commis- 
sion encountered  some  difficulties,  but  "  after  two  or  three  meetings  they 
lovingly  accorded,"  and  agreed  upon  the  terms  of  what,  for  important 
purposes,  was  for  many  years  a  Federal  Government  of  the  New  England 
Colonies. 

The  year  1643  is  also  memorable  from  a  great  earthquake,  which  hap- 
pened on  Sunday,  March  5th.  "  It  came  with  a  rumbling  noise,  but 
through  the  Lord's  mercy  it  did  no  harm."t  It  was  also  a  year  of  want 
and  hunger.  "Corn,"  says  Winthrop,  "was  very  scarce  all  over  the 
country,  and  many  families  in  most  towns  had  none  to  eat  by  the  end  of 
April,  but  were  forced  to  live  of  clams,  muscles,  dr^'^-fish,  and  so  forth,  but 
the  merchants  had  great  success  in  the  sale  of  their  pipe  staves  and  fish." 
The  Trial,  of  Boston,  "made  a  good  voyage,  which  encouraged  the 
merchants,  jyid  made  wine,  sugar  and  cotton  very  plentiful  and  cheap  in 
the  country.  Our  supplies  from  England  failing  much,  men  began  to  look 
about  them,  and  fell  to  a  manufacture  of  cotton,  whereof  we  had  store 
from  Barbadoes,  and  of  hemp  and  flax,  wherein  Eowley  to  their  great 
commendation  exceeded  all  other  towns. "+ 

o  Winthrop,  2—99.  t  Winthrop,  2— 93.  t  Winthrop— 2  :  94.  95i 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  57 

On  the  fifth  of  July  "  there  arose  a  sudden  gust  at  northwest  so  violent 
for  an  hour  as  it  blew  down  multitudes  of  trees.  It  lifted  up  their  meet- 
ing house  at  Newbury,  the  people  being  in  it.  It  darkened  the  air  with 
dust,  yet  through  God's  great  mercy  it  did  no  hurt,  but  only  killed  one 
Indian  with  the  fall  of  a  tree.  It  was  straight  (narrow)  between  Linne 
(Lynn)  and  Hampton."-  There  was  little  rain  this  winter,  and  no  snow 
till  the  third  of  march,  the  wind  continuing  west  and  northwest  near  six 
weeks."! 

At  a  Town-meeting,  holden  the  6th  of  the  following  February,  it  was 
voted,  "that  all  landholders  shall  pay  all  publique  rates  according  to  their 
number  of  acres  that  they  hold  to  their  houselotts  ;  and  if  any  man  shall 
buy  one  acre  of  meadow,  one  acre  and  halfe  of  planting  ground,  or  one 
acre  of  commonage  to  his  houselott,  he  shall  pay  proportionably  for  every 
acre  or  commonage  with  the  houselott." 

The  former  historian  of  the  town,  in  referring  to  the  above  vote,  says : 
"  It  will  be  perceived  that  the  landholders  only  paid  the  public  taxes,  and 
that  each  man  was  rated  according  to  the  number  of  acres  in  his  "  house- 
lot,"  and  not  according  to  the  property  he  possessed."  We  wonder  that 
he  should  have  been  so  careless  in  his  statements.  A  reference  to  the  vote 
of  the  November  preceding  will  show  that  the  number  of  acres  of  each 
house-lot  depended  entirely  upon  the  number  of  pounds  the  settler  was 
worth.  In  other  words,  a  man  was  granted  land,  and  paid  taxes,  accord- 
ing to  the  amount  of  property  he  possessed. 

At  the  meeting  of  February  27th,  it  was  "  voted  that  Job  Clement 
should  have  a  parcell  of  ground,  not  exceeding  one  quarter  of  an  acre  at 
the  Mill  Brooke,  being  bounded  forth  by  the  Free-men  to  sett  him  up  a 
tann-Jioiise  and  tann-fatts  upon,  to  him  and  his  heirs  forever." 

The  Mill  Brook  referred  to,  is  the  small  stream  running  from  the  outlet 
of  Plug  Pond  to  the  Eiver,  and  which  has  retained  the  same  name  to  the 
present  time.  We  have  been  unable  to  find  any  particular  mention  of  a 
mill  upon  it  at  that  early  period,  but  its  being  thus  called  renders  it  quite 
certain  that  a  mill  (doubtless  a  corn-mill)  had  already  been  erected  upon 
it.  It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  from  that  time  to  the  present,  the  stream 
has  been  occupied  for  the  same  purpose. 

Job  Clement,  was  a  brother  of  Kobert,  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the 
deed,  and  was  the  first  tanner  in  town.  His  tannery  was  erected  near 
the  mouth  of  the  brook.  As  we  mentioned  in  regard  to  a  mill,  so  may  we 
say  in  regard  to  a  tannery,  that  one  has  constantly  existed  upon  the  stream 
from  that  time  to  the  present. 

o  Winthrop— 2  :  124.        t  Winthrop— 2 :  155; 

8 


58  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

September  19th,  "  two  churches  were  appointed  to  be  gathered,  the  one 
at  Haverhill,  the  other  at  Andover  (both  upon  Merrimack  river) .  They 
had  given  notice  thereof  to  the  magistrates  and  ministers  of  the  neighbor- 
ing churches,  as  is  the  manner  with  them  in  New  England.  The  meeting  of 
the  Assembly  was  to  be  at  that  time  at  Kowley,  (the  forementioned  planta- 
tions, being  then  but  newly  erected,  were  not  capable  to  entertain  them  that 
were  like  to  be  gathered  together  on  that  occasion) .  But  when  they  assembled 
most  of  those  who  were  to  join  together  in  church  fellowship  at  that  time,  re- 
fused to  make  the  confession  of  their  faith  and  repentance,  because,  as  was 
said,  they  declared  it  openly  before  in  other  Churches,  upon  their  admis- 
sion into  them.  Whereupon  the  messengers  of  the  Churches  not  being 
satisfied,  the  assembly  brake,  before  they  had  accomplished  what  they  in- 
tended. But  in  October,  1645,  messengers  of  Churches  met  together 
again,  on  the  same  account,  when  such  satisfaction  was  given,  that  Mr. 
John  Ward  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Haverhill,  on  the  North 
side  of  the  said  Merrimack,  and  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Church  at  Andover,  on  the  south  side  of  the  same.''- 

The  first  marriage  in  town  was  that  of  Job  Clement  and  Margaret  Dum- 
mer,  who  were  married  on  the  25th  December.  The  second  marriage  was 
that  of  G-eorge  Corlis  and  Joanna  Davis,  on  the  26th  of  Oct.,  1645.f 

Among  cotemporary  matters  of  interest  at  this  period,  we  may  mention 
the  following :  On  the  5th  of  June,  two  ministers'  sons,  students  in  Har- 
vard College  —  James  Ward,  son  of  Nathaniel  Ward,  (and  brother  of 
John  Ward  of  Haverhill)  and  a  son  of  Kev.  Thomas  Welde  of  Eoxbury, — 
being  found  guilty  of  robbing  two  dwelling  houses  in  the  night  time  of 
eleven  pounds  in  money,  and  thirty  shillings  worth  of  gunpowder,  "  were 
ordered  by  the  governors  of  the  college  to  be  there  whipped,  which  was 
performed  by  the  President  himself."  This  was  the  first  punishment  of 
the  kind  within  the  walls  of  old  Harvard. 

In  those  days  fish  were  commonly  made  use  of  by  farmers  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  rivers  and  fishing  places,  as  manure  for  the  corn,  (a  practice 
copied  from  the  Indians) ,  and  from  the  following  extracts,  it  would  seem 
that"doggs"  were  not  only  very  numerous,  but  troublesome.  The  Ips- 
wich records  contain  the  following  : 

o  Hubbard,  41G :  Wintbrop,  1G7. 

t  During  tbe  twenty  years  succeeding  tbe  first  marriage,  (that  is  from  lOM  to  1064),  there  were  thirty, 
seven  marriages  in  town,  viz :— 1  in  1644,  1  in  1645,  2  in  1646,  2  in  1647,  2  in  1648,  2  in  ]6J0,  2  in  1652 
1  in  1655,  2  in  1656, 1  in  1657,  2  in  1659,  1  in  1660,  ,3  in  1061,  5  in  1662,  10  in  1663. 

It  is  probable  the  above  includes  also  those  inhabitants  of  the  town  who  were  married  out  of  the  town. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  59 

"  May  11.  It  is  ordered  that  all  doggs  for  the  space  of  three  weeks 
after  the  publishing  hereof,  shall  have  one  legg  tyed  up,  and  if  such  a 
dogg  shall  break  loose,  and  be  found  doing  any  harm,  the  owner  of  the 
dogg  shall  pay  damages ;  if  a  man  refuse  to  tye  up  his  dogg's  legg,  and  hee 
be  found  scraping  up  fish  in  a  corn  field,  the  owner  thereof  shall  pay 
twelve  pence  damages,  beside  whatever  damage  the  dogg  doth.  But  if 
any  fish  their  house  lotts  and  receive  damage  by  doggs,  the  owners  of 
those  house  lotts  shall  bear  the  damage  themselves," 

The  following  is  from  the  Exeter  records : 

"May  19,  1644.  It  is  agreed  that  all  dogs  shall  be  clog'd  and  side- 
lined in  ye  day,  and  tied  up  in  ye  night,  and  if  any  dogs  shall  be  found 
trespassing  in  the  lots,  they  that  shall  find  them  shall  showt  them." 

Wolves  were  also  troublesome  about  this  time,  as  we  find  in  the  records 
of  Exeter,  Hampton,  and  Newbury,  large  bounties  were  offered  for  every 
wolf  killed.'-' 

"  The  winter  of  1644-5  was  very  mild,  and  no  snow  lay,  so  as  ploughs 
might  go  most  part  of  the  winter,  but  on  February  sixteenth  there  fell  so 
great  a  snow  in  several  days  as  the  ways  were  unpassable  for  three  weeks, 
so  as  the  court  of  assistants  held  not."  f 

Jan.  13,  1645,  the  town  "Voted,  That  every  inhabitant  that  will,  may 
make  upon  the  common  for  every  acre  of  house-lott  which  he  hath,  one 
hundred  of  pipe-staves  and  no  more  ;  provided  he  fall  no  timber  for  the 
same  within  two  full  miles  of  the  houselots." 

The  penalty  for  a  violation  of  the  above  vote  was  five  shillings. 

At  the  town  meeting  of  March  14,  1645,  it  was  voted,  "  that  every  in- 
habitant may  keep  for  every  acre  that  he  hath  to  his  house  lott,  either  an 
horisc  beast,  ox,  or  cow,  wth  a  foale  or  calfis,  wth  a  year  old,  a  two  year 
old,  and  a  three  year  old,  until  they  shall  be  of  the  age  of  three  years  and 
an  halfe,  upon  the  commons  appointed  by  the  greater  part  of  the  freemen 
and  no  more." 

What  was  then  called  the  commons,  were  such  lands  as  were  not  granted 
to  any  individual. 


'•^  So  serious  had  the  matter  become,  that  in  June,  1645,  the  General  Court  declared  that :  "  Whereas, 
great  losse  and  damage  doth  hefal  this  commonwealth  by  reason  of  wolves,  which  doe  destroy  so  great 
numbers  of  our  catle,  notwithstanding  provision  hathe  formerly  beene  made  by  this  court  for  suppressing 
of  them,  and  wee  find  little  hath  binn  donne  yt  way  for  ye  better  incouraging  of  any  to  sett  about  a  work 
of  so  great  concernment,  itt  is  therefore  ordered,  yt  any  person,  either  English  or  Indian,  yt  shall  kill 
any  wolf  or  wolves  within  tenue  miles  of  any  plantation  in  this  jurisdiction,  shall  have  for  evry  wolfe  by 
him  or  them  so  killed,  tenne  shillings,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  treasury  of  ye  county." — Col.  Rec.  3:  17. 

t  Winthrop  2 :  210. 


60 


HISTORY    OF    HAYERHILL. 


There  were  in  town  this 
landholders,  viz :  — 
John  AVard, 
Eobert  Clement, 
Job  Clement, 
John  Clement, 
Joseph  Merrie, 
Abraham  Tylor, 
Hugh  Sherratt, 
Henry  Savage, 
Christopher  Hussey,-' 
Daniel  Hendrick,'-' 
John  AVilliams,--' 


year,  as  near  as   can  be  ascertained,  thirty-two 


Rich^d  Littlehale,'' 
AVilliam  Butler, 
John  Ayer,  sen., 
John  Ayer,  jun., 
Joseph  Peasley,"-' 
William  "White,- 
John  Eobinson," 
Henry  Palmer,'* 
Thomas  Davis,  ■•* 
George  Corliss, 
Nathaniel  Wier,'"' 


James  ¥iske, 
Thomas  Hale,*^ 
James  Davis,  sen.''* 
James  Davis,  jun.," 
John  Eaton, 
■Bartholomew  Heath,'' 
Tristram  Coffyn, 
Daniel  Ladd, 
Samuel  Gile,-' 
John  Davis.  =■■' 


Those  names  which  have  a  =■•=  attached  to  them  were  from  Newbury. 

George  Corliss  came  from  England  to  Newbury  about  the  year  1639, 
being  at  the  time  about  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  is  believed  to  be  the 
first  one  of  the  name  who  came  to  this  country,  and  the  ancestor  of  most 
if  not  all  of  that  name  in  New  England.  He  married  Joanna  Davis,  Oct, 
26,  1645,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  seven  daughters." 

Corliss  was  an  enterprising  and  industrious  man,  and  well  qualified  to 
take  a  prominent  part  in  the  settlement  of  a  new  town.  He  settled  in  the 
West  Parish,  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Ephraim  Corliss, — now  owned  by  his 
son  Charles,  who  is  of  the  seventh  generation  from  the  original  grantee, — 
and  at  his  death  was  possessed  of  a  large  landed  property.  He  owned 
most  of  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  old  "  Spicket  Path,"  as  it  was  then 
called,  for  a  distance  of  more  than  three  miles, 

John  Rohinson  was  a  blacksmith,  and  came  with  the  first  settlers  in 
1640.  In  1657  he  bought  a  house-lot  in  Exeter,  and  soon  after  removed 
to  that  place. 

The  plantation  of  Haverhill  was  this  year  incorporated  into  a  town, 
being  the  twenty-third  town  settled  in  the  colony. 

The  first  church  was  gathered  in  the  summer  of  this  year  ;  it  consisted 
of  fourteen  members,  eight  males  and  six  females ;  and  Mr.  John  Ward 
was  ordained  their  pastor.  Johnson,  an  early  writer,  says : —  "  The  Town 
of  Haverhill  was  built  much  about  this  time,  lying  higher  up  than  Salis- 
bury upon  the  fair  and  large  Eiver  of  Merrimack :  the  people  are  wholly 
bent  to  improve  their  labor  in  tilling  the  earth  and   keeping  of  cattel. 


°  John,  the  son,  married  Mary  Milford,  Dec.  17,  1684,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
His  son  John  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children. 


•^   o 


,  ^.=,^i 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  61 

whose  yearly  increase  encourages  them  to  spend  their  days  in  those  remote 
parts.  The  constant  penetrating  further  into  this  "Wilderness  hath  caused 
the  wild  and  uncouth  woods  to  be  filled  with  frequented  wayes,  and  the 
large  rivers  to  be  overlaid  with  Bridges  passeable  both  for  horse  and  foot ; 
this  Town  is  of  a  large  extent,  supposed  to  be  ten  miles  in  length,  there 
being  an  overweaning  desire  in  most  men  after  Meadow  land,  which  hath 
caused  many  towns  to  grasp  more  into  their  hands  than  they  could  after- 
ward possibly  hold ;  the  people  are  labourers  in  gaining  the  goods  of  this 
life,  yet  they  are  not  unmindful  also  of  the  chiefend  of  their  coming 
hither,  namely,  to  be  made  partakers  of  the  blessed  Ordinances  of  Christ, 
that  their  souls  might  be  refreshed  by  the  continual  income  of  hi§  rich 
grace,  to  which  end  they  gathered  into  a  church-body  and  called  to  office 
the  reverend  Mr.  Ward,  son  to  the  former  named  Mr.    Ward,  of  Ipswich. 

With  mind  resolved  run  out  thy  race  at  length, 

Young  Ward,  begin,  -whereas  thy  father  left, 

Left  hath  he  not,  but  breaths  for  further  strength, 

Nor  thou,  nor  he,  are  yet  of  hope  bereft ; 

Fruit  of  thy  labours  thou  shal  see  so  much. 

The  righteous  shall  hear  of  it,  and  rejoyce 

When  Babel  falls  bj'  Christ's  almighty  touch. 

All's  folks  shall  praise  him  with  a  cheerful  voice. 

They  prosper  shall  that  Zion's  building  mend, 

Then  Ward  cease  not  with  toyle  the  stones  to  lay. 

For  great  is  he  thee  to  this  work  assigned. 

Whose  pleasure  is,  heavens  Ciowu  shall  be  thy  pay."* 

At  this  early  day,  the  houses  of  the  settlers  were  all  ou  or  near  the 
present  site  of  the  village,  while  their  meadow,  and  upland  (or  ploughing 
land)  lots,  were  located  in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Each  man  received 
a  number  of  acres  in  the  village  for  a  "  house  lot."  The  size  of  this,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  dependent  on  the  amount  of  property  he  possessed.  In 
addition  to  the  house-lot,  each  man  received  a  portion  of  meadow,  and 
planting  land,  the  number  of  acres  being  regulated  by  the  size  of  the 
house  lot.  The  meadow  and  planting  lands  were  often  several  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  house  lot.  In  course  of  time,  as  the  country  became  more ' 
thickly  settled,  and  the  land  cleared  up,  many  of  the  settlers  removed 
from  the  village  to  their  planting  land.  A  natural  desire  to  have  all  their 
land  as  nearly  in  one  body  as  possible,  led  to  the  frequent  buying,  selling 
and  exchanging  of  lots,  and  in  course  of  time,  the  lots,  or  fca-ms,  of  the 
settlers,  became  more  compact ;  and,  as  their  wealth  increased,  their  num- 
ber of  acres  also  increased.  « 

°  This  church  was  the  26th  gathered  in  the  colonv. 


62  HISTORY    OF    IIAYERUILL 

As  a  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which  the  land  was  first  distributed, 
we  copy  the  following  from  the  records  of  the  town  : — 

1659  "Daniel  Ladd's'-^  accommodations.  Six  acres  of  accommoda- 
ations:  Four  acres  to  his  house  lot ;  more  or  lessf  :  Eobert  Clement's 
bounding  on  the  east,  and  Henry  Savage  on  the  west.  Five  acres  in  the 
plain :  AVilliam  "White  on  the  east  and  John  Williams  on  the  north. 
Nine  acres  up  the  great  river,  Thomas  Ayers  on  the  cast  and  George 
Browne  on  the  west.  Four  acres  of  meadow  in  the  east  meadow,  more  or 
less  ;  Joseph  Peasly  on  the  south,  and  George  Browne  the  north.  One 
acre  and  a  half  of  meadow  in  the  pond  meadow ;  James  Davis  sen  on 
the  south,  and  Eobert  Clement  jun  on  the  north.  One  acre  of  meadow  at 
Hawkes  meadow  ;  John  Davis  on  the  south,  and  Thomas  AVhittier  on  the 
north." 

"Daniel  Ladd's  2d  division,  containing  27  acres  of  upland,  be  it  more 
or  less  ;  with  sixteen  acres  of  ox-common  and  a  half,  bounded  by  George 
Corley  and  John  Hutchins  on  the  west;  by  a  black  oak,  a  white  oak,  a 
red  oak,  and  a  walnut  on  the  south  ;  by  a  walnut  and  a  white  oak  on  the 
east,  by  two  white  oaks  and  an  ash  on  the  north.  Three  acres  of  meadow 
lying  on  Spicket  Eiver,  bounded  by  Thomas  Davis  on  the  south,  and  Eob- 
ert Clements  on  the  north  :  and  one  spot  of  meadow  at  Primrose  swamp, 
and  another  spot  at  the  east  meadow,  at  the  head  of  the  meadow  that 
was  John  Davis's  adjoining  to  his  own.  For  the  land  that  was  taken 
off  Daniel  Ladd's  3d  division,  we  added  a  piece  on  the  north  side  of  the 
highway  round  the  meadow  that  was  Goodman  Hale's  bounded  by  the  high- 
way and  Merrie's  Creek.  Third  division  of  meadow  containing  3  acres, 
be  it  more  or  less,  bounded  by  John  Page  on  the  south,  a  pine  on  the  east, 
his  own  uplands  on  the  west,  and  uplands  on  the  north  of  the  said 
meadow,  lying  in  mistake  meadow." 

Daniel  Ladd  doubtless  found  farming  quite  a  different  thing  from  what 
most  farmers  of  the  present  day  find  it.  His  house  lot  was  in  the  village  ; 
his  planting  ground  in  two  places,  —  a  part  of  it  "  in  the  plain  "  from  one 
to  two  miles  east  of  the  village,  and  the  other  part  "  up  the  gi'cat  river,'' 
at  least  as  far,  on  the  west  of  the  village  —  while  his  meadow  lands  were 
in  seven  lots,  and  as  many  distinct  meadows.  East  meadow  was  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town,  three  miles  from  his  home  lot,  while  Spicket 

°  Daniel  Ladd,  m.  Ann .     Children:  Mary,  b.  Feb.  14  1646;  Samuel,   b.  Nov.  1,  1649;  Nath'l 

b.  Mar.  10,  lor.i,  d.  (of  wounds)  Aug.  11,  '91 ;  Ezekiel,  b.  Sept.  IC,  1654 ;  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  4,  1657. 
He  died  July  27,  '93.     She  died  Feb.  10,  '94. 

t  The  "more  or  less  "  refers  to  the  rule  adopted  by  the  town  of  making  up  in  quantity  what  might  be 
lacking  in  the  quality  of  any  lot. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  63 

meadow  was  at  least  eight  miles  in  the  opposite  direction.  Pond  meadow 
was  two  miles  northeast ;  Hawkes'  meadow  some  three  miles  west ;  Prim- 
rose swamp  two  miles  northwest ;  and  mistake  meadow  somewhere  in  the 
westerly  part  of  the  town. 

When  we  reflect  that  in  those  days  "highways"  were  at  best  hut  prim- 
itive cart  paths,  through  the  woods,  with  stumps  still  standing,  hills 
ungraded,  and  streams  unbridged  ;  and  that  the  land  was  new,  rough,  and 
worked  only  by  great  labor,  we  may  have  a  faint  idea  of  some  of  the  hard- 
ships of  our  first  settlers.  Had  they  not  been  men  of  iron  nerve,  tireless 
muscle,  and  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance,  our  now  beautiful  town, 
with  its  unsurpassed  mosaic  of  cultivated  fields,  green  hills,  smiling  lakes, 
its  majestic  river,  and  murmuring  streams,  would  still  be  but  a  waste  and 
howling  wilderness,  the  home  of  wild  beasts,  and  the  hunting  gi'ound  of 
the  miserable  aboriginee. 

At  a  town  meeting  on  the  13th  of  January,  1646,  it  was  voted  that  the 
inhabitants  should  have  liberty  to  make  one  hundred  pipe  staves,  on  the 
common,  for  every  acre  which  his  house-lot  contained  ;  and  "  that  they 
should  fall  no  timber  within  two  miles  of  any  of  the  house  lotts."  If  a 
person  felled  a  tree  within  the  prescribed  limits,  he  was  to  pay  five  shil- 
lings, which  was  to  be  appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  the  town ;  or,  if  he 
felled  any  more  than  was  required  to  make  his  proportion  of  staves,  he  was 
to  pay  the  same  sum. 

It  is  pleasant  to  observe  the  great  respect,  and  even  veneration,  in  which 
our  fathers  held  their  minister,  or  as  they  more  frequently  called  him, 
their  Teacher.  It  not  only  speaks  well  for  the  Christian  virtues  of  the 
man,  but  for  the  sturdy  moral  character  of  his  people.  An  early  manifes- 
tation of  their  regard  for  Mr.  Ward  is  found  in  the  following  vote  of 
October  29,  1646:  — 

"  Voted  by  all  the  freeholders  then  present  at  a  lawful  town  meeting, 
that  Mr  Ward  our  Teacher's  land  shall  be  rate  free  for  his  ministry  dur- 
ing his  life,  if  he  continue  minister  to  the  plantation,  provided  he  use  it 
himself,  but  if  he  sell,  let,  or  set  any  of  it  to  hire,  it  shall  pay  rates  pro- 
portionable with  our  own  :  And  that  forty  pounds  p.  an.  shall  be  paid  him 
by  the  remainder  of  the  300  acres'-  for  his  ministry," 

At  this  meeting  the  first  selectmen  were  chosen  ;  they  were  Thomas 
Hale,  Henry  Palmer,  Thomas  Davis,  James  Davis  and  William  White. 

In  looking  over  the  records  of  this  early  date,  we  find  that  Goodman 
was  a  common  appellation  among  the  men,  excepting  when  they  addressed 

*  That  is,  the  three  hundred  acres  previously  laid  out  for  house  lots. 


64  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

their  minister,  magistrate,  or  a  militia  officer  above  the  grade  of  Lieuten- 
ant ;  to  such  they  applied  the  title  of  Mister.  Goodivife,  or  Goody,  were 
terms  applied  to  women,  excepting  when  addressing  the  wives  of  those 
above  mentioned,  whom  they  called  iMadam.  Mrs.  was  placed  before 
names  of  both  married  and  unmarried  women,  when  it  was  written,  — 
which  was  not  so  frequent  as  at  present. 

Hugh  Sherratt  was  this  year  licensed  by  the  General  Court  *'  to  draw 
wyne  by  retaill  at  Haverhill,  paying  tenn  shillings  p  ann  rent  therefore  to 
ye  countrye." •' 

In  order  to  avoid  all  cause  of  complaint  on  account  of  unequal  rates  of 
taxation  in  the  several  towns,  the  General  Court,  at  the  November  session 
of  this  year  (1646),  adopted  the  following  schedule  of  rates  : — 

"  Cowes  of  four  year  ould  and  upward,  5£  ;  heifers  and  steers  betwixt 
3  and  4  year  old,  4£  ;  heifers  and  steers  betwixt  2  and  3  year  ould,  fifty 
shillings ;  and  between  1  and  2  year  old  30s ;  oxen  4  year  old  and  up- 
ward, 6£;  horses  and  mares  4  year  old  and  upward,  7£  ;  3  year  ould  5£  ; 
betwixt  2  and  3  year  ould,  3£  ;  yearlins  2£  :  sheope  above  a  year  ould, 
20s  ;  asses  above  a  year  ould,  2£." 

Houses,  lands,  and  all  other  visible  estate,  real  or  personal,  was  to  be 
valued  according  to  what  they  were  worth  in  the  several  places  where  they 
were,  proportionable  to  the  above  prices  for  cattle,  &c.  Hay  and  corn 
growing  were  not  to  be  rated.  Towns  were  required  to  choose  one  of  their 
freemen,  who,  with  the  selectmen,  should  yearly  make  a  true  valuation  of 
all  such  ratable  property  in  their  several  limits.  This  was  the  origin  of 
♦'  assessors  "  as  town  officers,  f 

Attending  town  meetings  was  evidently  considered  by  our  ancestors  as 
a  duty  each  voter  owed  to  the  community  in  which  he  lived,  and  for  the 
neglect  of  which  he  deserved  punishment.  They  even  considered  tardi- 
ness in  attending  as  meriting  rebuke,  as  we  find  by  the  record  of  February 
13,  1647,  that  John  Ayer,  sen.,  and  James  Fiske  were  fined  "  for  not  at- 
tending the  town  meeting  in  season." 

oCol.  Rec.  3—109. 

t  Choosing  Selectmen  is  of  earlier  date.  In  1636  tlie  General  Court  enacted,  that  "everj'  particular 
township  should  h:ive  power  over  its  own  aiiairs,  and  to  settle  mulcts  upon  any  offender,  upon  any  public 
order,  not  exceeding  twenty  shillings,  and  liberty  to  choose  prudential  men,  not  exceeding  seven,  to  order 
the  affairs  of  the  town." 

These  men  were  at  first  called  "the  seven  men,"  then  "towne's  men,"  then  "towne's  men  select,"  and 
finally  "  select  men."  Says  the  Rev.  Richird  Brown,  in  his  diary,  "  they  were  chosen  from  quarter  to 
quarter  by  papers  to  discharge  the  business  of  the  town,  in  taking  in,  or  refusing  any  to  come,  into  town, 
as  also  to  disjwse  of  lands  and  lots,  to  make  lawful  orders,  to  impose  fines  on  the  breakers  of  orders,  and 
also  to  levy  and  distrain  them,  and  were  fully  empowered  of  themselves  to  do  what  the  town  had  power 
for  to  do.  The  reason  whereof  was,  the  town  judged  it  inconvenient  and  burdensome  to  be  all  called  to- 
gether on  every  occasion." 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL,  65 

From  the  following  entry  in  tlie  records  of  tlie  General  Court,  May, 
1647,  it  appears  that  the  justices,  or  commissioners,  of  the  Court  of  the 
Writs,  or  courts  to  try  "  small  causes,"  were  chosen  by  the  several  towns, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  General  Court : 

"  The  town  of  Haverell  having  chosen  Robert  Clements,  Henry  Palmer, 
and  Thorn:  Hale  to  end  small  causes,  they  are  alowed." 

At  the  same  court  John  Osgood  (Andover)  and  Thom:  Hale  were  ap- 
pointed to  "lay  out  the  way  from  Audiver  to  Haverell;  and  James 
Davis,  jun.,  and  Antho:  Staniell  from  Haverhill  to  Excetter.  "  They  also 
appointed  "  a  committee  to  view  ye  ryver,  and  make  returne  to  ye  Courte 
of  ye  necessity  and  charge  of  a  bridge." 

The  river  above  referred  to  was  doubtless  the  Merrimack.  Though  the 
committee  were  instructed  to  report  to  the  next  session  of  the  Court,  we 
cannot  find  that  they  did  so,  or  that  any  report  was  ever  made  upon  the 
matter.  A  bridge  was  not  built  at  Haverhill  until  nearly  a  century  and  a 
half  afterward.-' 

The  inhabitants  this  year  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  tract  of 
land  to  enlarge  the  town.  The  following  is  the  answer  of  the  Court,  which 
was  holden  at  Boston,  27th  October :  —  "In  answer  to  the  petition  of 
Haverhill,  ye  Courte  concieving  such  vast  grants  to  be  greatly  prejudicial 
to  ye  publick  good,  and  little  if  at  all  advantageous  to  particular  townships, 
apprehending  4  miles  square,  or  such  a  proportion,  will  accommodate  a 
sufficient  tract  of  land ;  in  such  a  case  thinke  meete  a  Committee  be  chosen 
to  view  the  place  and  returne  their  apprehensions  to  ye  next  General 
Courte,  to  which  end,  with  the  petitioners  consent,  they  have  nominated 
Mr.  Dummer,  Mr.  Carlton.  John  Osgood,  and  Ensign  Howlet,  or  any  two 
of  them,  provided  Ensign  Howlet  be  one  to  do  it."f 

At  the  same  court  it  was  ordered  that  every  township  in  the  jurisdic- 
tion numbering  "  fifty  householders,  shall  then  forthwith  appoint  one 
within  their  towne  to  teach  all  such  children  as  shall  resort  to  him  to 
write  and  reade,  whose  wages  shall  be  paid  either  by  ye  parents  or  masters 
of  such  children,  or  by  ye  inhabitants  in  general,  by  way  of  supply,  as  ye 
.  major  part  of  those  that  order  ye  prudentials  of  ye  towne  shall  appoint ; 
provided  those  yt  send  their  children  be  not  oppressed  by  paying  much 
more  yn  they  can  have  ym  taught  for  in  other  towns ;  and  it  is  further 
ordered,  yt  where  any  towne  shall  increase  to  ye  number  of  100  families 
or  householders,  they  shall  set  up  a  grammar  school,  ye  mr  thereof  being 

°  1794. 

t  Richard   Dummer,    of  Newbnrj";  Edward   Carleton,   of   Rowley;  John   Osgood,   of   Andover:  and 
Ensign  Howlet,  of  Ipswich. 

9 


66  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

able  to  instruct  youth  so  farr  as  they  may  be  fitted  for  ye  university,  pro- 
vided, yt  if  any  towne  neglect  ye  performance  hereof  above  one  yeare,  yt 
every  such  towne  shall  pay  5£  to  ye  next  schooll  till  they  shall  perform 
this  order." 

This  order  of  the  General  Court  was  the  beginning  of  our  now  world- 
renowned  system  of  common  schools.  Haverhill  did  not  at  that  time  con- 
tain the  specified  number  of  householders,  and  was  consequently  exempt 
from  the  requirement.  We  do  not  find  that  a  school  was  commenced  here 
until  fourteen  years  afterward,  and  for  many  years  subsequent  to  that  time 
a  teacher  was  not  regularly  employed,  according  to  law. 

At  the  same  court  town  marks  were  assigned  to  each  town,  for  marking 
cattle,  &c.  That  of  Haverhill  was  the  letter  H,  which  was  to  be  put 
upon  the  near  quarter. 

The  following  order  was  also  passed:  "Ye  court  being  informed  that 
the  soldiers  of  Haverhill  are  destitute  of  any  officer  to  exercise  them,  it 
is  therefore  ordered  by  this  court,  that  all  ye  inhabitants,  who  have  a  right 
to  vote  in  ye  election  of  officers,  to  meet  and  choose  some  meet  person  for 
the  place  of  Sergeant  to  exercise  them." 

This  is  the  first  notice  we  find  of  a  military  company  in  this  town, 
though  a  company,  or  *' train  band,"  was  doubtless  organized  soon  after 
the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  —  the  laws  of  the  Colony  requiring  such  a 
company  in  every  town.  As  early  as  1631,  such  companies  were  obliged 
to  train  every  Saturday.  Not  only  were  the  able-bodied  men  required  to 
take  part  in  this  duty  and  exercise,  but,  by  a  law  of  1645,  all  youth  from 
ten  to  sixteen  years  of  age,  were  ordered  to  be  "instructed  upon  ye  usual 
training  days,  in  yc  exercise  of  armes,  as  small  guns,  halfe  pikes,  bowes 
and  arrowes,  &c."  Soldiers  were  obliged  to  furnish  their  own  arms,  for 
which  they  were  allowed  to  exchange  produce  in  lieu  of  money.  If  any 
under  thirty  years  of  age  were  destitute  of  means  to  purchase,  they  could 
be  bound  to  service  to  earn  and  pay  for  the  same  The  constant  danger  of 
attacks  and  surprises  from  the  Indians,  compelled  the  Colony  to  adopt 
these  vigorous  measures,  and  provide  every  possible  means  for  their  defence. 
Every  town  had  its  train-band,  and  its  arrangements  and  signals  for  alarms, 
rendevous,  and  organization  in  case  of  sudden  attack ;  watches  and  scouts, 
were  almost  constantly  employed ;  and  so  imminent  was  the  danger,  that  the 
inhabitants  never  ventured  to  church  without  their  arms.  The  men  were 
the  last  to  enter  the  church,  and  the  first  to  come  out  after  service,  and  always 
occupied  seats  nearest  the  door  or  aisles,  that  they  might  the  more  readily 
repulse  an  attack.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  present  almost  universal 
New  England  custom  of  allowing  the  wives  and  daughters  that  part  of  the 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  67 

pew  farthest  from  the  entrance,  and  their  remaining  after  service  until 
the  fathers  and  sons  have  first  retired.  The  custom  is,  however,  slowly 
becoming  obsolete. 

At  this  early  period  there  was  no  bell  in  town  to  call  the  people  together, 
and,  as  a  substitute,  the  town  voted  that  "  Richard  Littlehale  should  beat 
the  drum  on  the  Lord's  day  morning  and  evening,  and  on  lecture  days, 
for  which,  and  also  for  writing  public  orders,  he  is  to  have  30  shillings ; 
he  is  also  to  beat  the  drum  for  town  meetings." 

This  year  the  settlement  began  to  extend  northward.  Grants  of  land 
were  made  to  Henry  Palmer  and  others,  in  the  plain  north  of  the  Pond- 
meadow.  A  few  houses  had  been  built  near  the  spot  where  Stevens'  fac- 
tory now  stands ;  and  Gleorge  Corliss  had  erected  a  log  house  on  his  farm 
farther  west. 

Thomas  Whittier,  of  Newbury,  came  into  town  about  this  time,  'and 
brought  a  swarm  of  bees,  which  were  probably  the  first  in  the  place.  They 
were  willed  to  him  by  Henry  Eolfe,  of  Newbury,  who  calls  them  "his  best- 
swarm  of  bees."  At  that  time  they  were  no  mean  legacy,  and  their  arri- 
val was  doubtless  the  "  town  talk." 

Job  Clement  was  this  year  (January  30,  1647)  made  a  freeman  at  the 
Ipswich  Court,  and  sworn  constable  for  Haverhill.  He  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  constable  in  the  town. 

Up  to  this  time  the  town  had  no  house  for  public  worship.  Tradition 
says  that  on  pleasant  -Sabbaths  they  assembled  beneath  the  branches  of  a 
large  tree  that  stood  near  the  burial  ground,  and  at  other  times  they  doubt- 
less assembled  in  private  houses.  The  population  had  now  become  so 
numerous  that  it  was  decided  to  build  a  house  for  worship,  and  at  the 
March  meeting,  1(348,  it  was  "  voted  that  the  Meeting  House  shall  stand 
on  the  lower  knowle  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Mill  Lot." 

What  was  then  called  the  Mill  Lot,  was  the  ground  now  occupied  by 
Pentucket  and  Linwood  cemeteries.  The  house  was  erected  and  finished 
in  the  following  autumn.  It  was  twenty-six  feet  in  length,  twenty  feet 
r^-j — V  wide,  and  one  story  in  height.  It  had  neither 
gallery  nor  cupola.  It  stood  facing  the  river, 
upon  the  slight  elevation  or  knoll,  about  midway 
between  the  south  and  the  north  bounds  of  Pen- 
tucket Cemetery.  It  was  underpinned  with  rough 
stones,  and  several  persons  now  living  can  remember  of  seeing  the  ruins  of 
the  foundation.  Mr.  Eobert  Willis  informs  us,  that,  in  his  early  years, 
he  could  distinctly  trace  the  size  and  position  of  the  building  by  these 
foundation  stones. 


68 


HISTORY    OF   nAVERHILL. 


At  the  September  Court,  1647,  the  town  was  presented  for  not  having 
a  ferry,  and  at  the  next  March  term  it  was  "  enjoyned  to  provide  a  boat 
for  the  couvcuience  of  passengers  "  within  a  reasonable  time,  "  under  a 
penalty  of  -iOs  and  fees."  The  town  immediately  appointed  Thomas  Hale 
to  keep  the  ferry.  The  price  for  feiTying  was  fixed  at  "  one  penny  for  a 
passenger,  two  pence  for  cattel  under  two  years  old,  and  four  pence  for 
such  as  were  over  that  age."  The  ferry  was  established  at  the  place  still 
called  the  "  old  ferry-way,"  a  little  east  of  the  foot  of  Kent  Street.  The 
inhabitants  had  from  the  first  passed  over  the  river  at  this  place,  but  no 
regular  ferryman  was  appointed  until  this  year. 

At  the  town  meeting  March  3d,  1648,  it  was  "  voted  that  all  men  shall 
have  liberty  to  fell,  or  to  let  stand,  any  tree  or  trees  which  standeth  at  the 
end  of  his  lot,  next  the  street  or  gxeat  river:  and  if  any  man  shall  fell 
any  such  tree  unto  whom  it  doth  not  belong,  he  shall  pay  for  every  tree 
five  shillings,  to  be  paid  unto  him  at  the  end  of  whose  lot  it  did  grow." 

What  is  now  Water  Street,  was  the  first  highway  laid  out.  It  was  laid 
out  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  lots  were  bounded  on  the  south  by 
the  highway.  The  above  vote  allowed  the  owners  of  lots  to  fell  any  trees 
that  stood  at  the  end  of  their  lots ;  i.  e.,  any  trees  in  this  highway  opposite 
to  their  lots.  Some  years  subsequently,  the  owners  of  these  lots  were 
permitted,  during  the  pleasure  of  the  town,  to  make  use  of  the  river  as  a 
fence  to  the  end  of  their  several  lots.  In  the  original  grants,  these  lots 
were  bounded  •'  on  the  highway  and  the  great  river,"  or  to  the  river,  "  the 
highway  excepted."  We  find  no  grants  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  this 
street  until  long  after  this  time,  and  therefore  believe  that  our  ancestors 
did  not  intend  it  should  be  built  upon.  Robert  Clement  was  this  year 
chosen  Deputy  to  the  General  Court  at  Boston,  and  was  the  first  one  sent 
from  the  town. 

From  the  records  of  Jan.  7,  1649,  we  learn  that  there  had  been  com- 
plaint made  by  some  that  had  had  land  out  in  the  plain  (between  the 
village  and  chain  ferry),  that  it  was  "  not  fit  for  improvement."  The 
town  therefore  gave  them  liberty  to  "lay  it  down,"  and  take  up  in  some 
other  place. 

At  the  meeting  of  February  18,  "  Thomas  Hale  was  chosen  Constable 
by  the  Freemen."  This  is  the  first  constable  mentioned  in  the  town 
records,  though,  as  we  have  seen.  Job  Clement  was  sworn  into  that  office  in 
1647,  at  the  Ipswich  Court.  Hale  was  probably  the  first  one  chosen  by 
the  town. 

At  the  meeting  of  April  16,  "it  was  acknowledged  by  John  Eobinson 
that  Daniel  Lad  had  bought  six   acres  of  accommodations  of  him,  which 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  69 

the  town  granted  liim.  Approved  on  hj  the  Selectmen."  From  this  vote 
we  learn,  that  at  that  time  a  settler  could  not  sell  the  land  which  the 
town  had  granted  him,  without  its  consent. 

The  town  was  this  year  ordered  by  the  General  Court  to  erect  a  watch- 
house,  a  pound,  and  stocks,  immediately.  We  can  find  no  vote  in  the 
Town  Eecords  relating  to  the  stocks,  or  whipping  post ;  but  that  such 
means  of  punishment  were  erected,  and  often  made  use  of,  is  a  fact,  as 
persons  now  living  can  testify.  They  stood  at  the  east  end  of  the  old 
meeting  house  on  the  common,  about  ten  rods  north  of  the  present  south- 
ern entrance  to  the  park,  on  the  easterly  side.  The  whipping  post  is  de- 
scribed to  us  as  being  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  and  set  in 
the  ground  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees.  Upon  the  upper  side 
of  this  post  the  culj)rit  was  tied,  and  the  lashes  applied  with  a  "  cat,"  of 
stout  leather  thongs.  Mrs.  Stebbins,  now  82  years  old,  distinctly  remem- 
bers witnessing  the  whipping  of  a  man  who  broke  into  the  store  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  about  the  year  1784.  His  groans  and  cries  made  a  deep  im- 
pression upon  her  mind.  She  thinks  it  must  have  been  about  the  last 
case  of  public  whipping  in  the  town.  Moses  Wingate,  Esq.,  now  91 
years  old,  but  hale  and  lively,  remembers  the  whipping  of  a  man,  by 
Sheriff  David  Bradley.  After  it  was  over,  the  culprit  coolly  offered  to 
"take  as  many  more  for  a  half-pint  of  rum."  We  do  not  learn  that  the 
offer  was  accepted. 

The  stocks  stood  near  the  whipping  post,  the  latter  forming  one  end  of 
the  former. 

This  year,  that  part  of  Eowley  called  Merrimack,  was  settled  by  John 
and  Robert  Haseltine,  and  William  Wild.  It  was  incorporated  by  the 
name  of  Bradford,  in  1673.  What  is  now  Boxford,  was  then  called 
"Rowley  village. ";•■' 

An  effort  was  made  this  year  to  induce  Job  Clement  to  remove  to  New- 
bury. The  town  of  Newbury  granted  him  a  freehold  "  conditionally  yt 
he  live  with  us  heere  in  Newbury  exercising  his  trade  four  years,  or  as 
long  as  he  shall  live  within  that  tearme,  and  also  let  the  shoemakers  of 
this  town  have  the  first  proffer  on  the  forsaking  of  his  leather,  making  him 
as  good  pay  as  others."  Job  concluded  to  stay  in  Haverhill,  notwith- 
standing the  liberal  offer. 

•  A  few  years  since  Bradford  was  divided,  the  easterly  portion  taking  tlie  name  of  Grovelaud. 


70  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


1650  TO  1659. 


The  year  1650,  the  tenth  after  the  first  blow  had  been  struck  in  the 
wilds  of  Pentucket,  found  the  settlers  well  established  in  their  new  home. 
Their  numbers  had  increased  more  than  five-fold,  and  included  men  of 
character,  wealth,  and  influence.  They  had  their  cattle,  and  horses,  their 
meadows  and  cultivated  fields,  their  mills  and  mechanics,  their  houses, 
their  church,  their  minister,  their  town  organization,  and,  in  brief,  were 
now  fairly  settled  and  pi'osperous. 

About  this  time  two  orchards  were  planted,  one  by  John  Clement,  and 
the  other  by  Stephen  Kent.  As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  former 
was  situated  a  little  north  of  the  Cemetery,  probably  under  the  shelter  of 
the  adjacent  hill ;  and  the  latter  near  the  house  where  the  late  Samuel  W. 
Ayer  lived. 

The  necessity  of  definite  bounds  between  the  town  and  its  neighbor, 
Salisbury,  induced  the  inhabitants  to  prefer  a  request  to  the  General  Court, 
at  Boston,  to  that  efiect,  and  the  Court  appointed  a  commission  for  the 
settlement  of  the  same.'-' 

At  the  same  sessiou,  Henry  Palmer,  Thomas  Davis,  and  Job  Clements, 
were  appointed  to  "  end  small  causes"  in  the  town,  and  at  the  next  ses- 
sion (May  22)  Robert  Clements  was  appointed  and  empowered  to  give  the 
oath  of  fidelity  in  the  town.  Both  these  appointments  were  made  at 
the  request  of  the  town.f  A  petition  was  also  presented  to  the  Court  by 
the  inhabitants,  for  "  the  graunt  of  an  iland  lying  in  the  Rieur  Meri- 
macke  agaynst  some  parte  of  theire  towne,  coutayning  about  20  or  30 
acors."  In  answer  to  the  petition,  the  Court  ordered  "  that  theire  request 
be  graunted  for  the  sajd  iland,  vnless  Mr  Ward  or  any  other  shall  make 
any  cleare  title  from  this  Court,  to  appear  vnto  this  Court  within  three 
years,  to  the  sayd  iland." 

Among  the  votes  of  the  town  this  year  is  one  requiring  that  the  name  of 
every  freeholder  should  be  kept  in  the  town's  book,  and  that  he  be  compelled 
to  attend  town  meetings,  when  lawfully  warned: —  "  and  having  lawful 
warning  he  is  to  come  within  half  an  hour  after  the  meeting  is  begun,  and 
continue  till  sunset  if  the  meeting  hold  so  long,  under  the  penalty  of  halfe 
a  bushel  of  Indian  corn  or  the  value  of  it." 

o  Col.  Eec.,  3,— 196— t,  6,  19.  t  Ibid. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  71 

Considerable  land  was  this  year  granted  to  individuals  west  of  Little 
Eiver,  on  the  Merrimack ;  and  Hugh  Sherratt,  Bartholomew  Heath,  James 
Fiske,  and  John  Chenarie,  had  liberty  to  lay  down  their  land  in  the  plain, 
"  and  have  it  laid  out  over  Little  Kiver,  westward."  We  are  unable  to 
account  for  the  frequent  taking  up  and  laying  down  of  land  about  this 
time,  except  upon  the  ground  of  mere  fancy,  or  notion  ;  as,  about  the  same 
time  that  the  above  named  persons  made  the  change  referred  to,  Joseph 
Peasley  had  leave  to  lay  down  his  land  over  Little  Eiver,  and  take  up  in 
the  plain,  and  Samuel  Gild  also  made  choice  of  land  at  that  place. 

John  Hoitt,  a  brick  maker,  removed  from  Ipswich  to  Haverhill  some 
time  during  this  year,  the  town  granting  him  three  fourths  of  an  acre  of 
land,  and  the  "clay  pitts,"  on  condition  that  he  become  an  inhabitant 
of  the  town.  The  clay  pits  alluded  to,  are  situated  in  the  West  Parish, 
near  the  late  Ephraim  Corliss's,  and  are  still  known  by  that  name.  It 
would  seem  that  the  pits  were  already  dug,  and  perhaps  bricks  made,  when 
Hoitt  came,  but  by  whom  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  Many  of  the  bricks 
used  in  building  the  first  houses  in  Massachusetts,  were  brought  from 
Holland,  and  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  town  should  consider  the  settle- 
ment of  a  brick-maker  worth  a  strong  effort. 

In  one  of  the  land  grants  of  this  year  we  find  mention  of  a  "  wigwam" 
in  the  town.  It  is  also  mentioned  in  1660  and  1685.  '  These  are  the  only 
mentions  or  hints  of  the  Indians,  or  of  anything  belonging  to  or  done  by  them, 
that  we  can  find  in  the  early  records  of  the  town,  save  an  "  Indian  wire  "  in 
Fishing  Eiver  (1664)  and  the  "Indian  Bridge"  over  Spicket  Eiver.''* 
The  wigwam  wa§  an  old  and  dilapidated  affair,  as  in  one  of  the  places 
stated,  it  is  spoken  of  as  the  "  old  wigwam  that  is,  or  toas,''  in  or  near  a 
certain  swamp.  It  was  located  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  "  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  far  west  meadow." 

The  first  mention  we  find  of  an  ox-common,  is  in  a  vote  of  January  13, 
of  this  year,  which  declares  that  "  the  ox-common  already  appointed  shall 
for  the  present  be  continued."  About  this  time  a  dispute  arose  between 
the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  and  Salisbury,  in  relation  to  the  bounds 
between  the  two  towns.  The  latter  (which  then  included  what  is  now 
Amesbury)  claimed  more  land  than  the  former  were  willing  to  allow  ;  and, 
at  a  meeting  in  December,  1650,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  meet  a  similar 
committee  on  the  part  of  Salisbury,  and  endeavor  to  agree  upon  the 
matter  in  dispute.  The  following  is  the  vote: — "Voted,  That  Thomas 
Hale,  John  Clement,  and  John  Davis,  should  meet  with  Salisbury  men  to 

"  There  is  an  allusion  in  the  records  of  the  General  Court,  of  1662,  to  "  Old  Wills  planting  ground," 
which  must  have  been  near  the  mouth  of  Spicket  River,  and  on  the  east  side  of  it.  Old  Will  was  probably 
one  of  the  Wameset  Indians,  whose  principal  settlement  was  then  near  the  mouth  of  the  Concord  River. 


72 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


consult  ■with  them  concerning  the  bounds  between  them  and  us :  and  the 
town  doth  hereby  give  them  power  to  agree  with  them  if  they  can,  and  to 
lay  out  the  bounds  between  us." 

This  year  there  were  forty-three  freemen  in  town,  nineteen  of  whom  had 
taken  the  oath  of  fidelity.  The  following  table  contains  the  names  found 
in  the  recorc^s  of  1650  and  previously,  with  the  year  in  which  the  name 
first  appears :  and  also  the  valuation  of  each  man's  property,  according  to 
the  vote  of  November  6,  1643.  Neither  the  date  or  valuation  should, 
however,  be  considered  as  more  than  an  approximation  to  the  truth  :  — 


1641  John  Favor," 

1646  Thomas  Davis, 

100 

"      John  Eobinson, 

"      Thomas  Davis, 

100 

1642  John  Ward.f 

£  80 

"      James  Fisk, 

"      Tristram  Coffin, 

•'      William  Butler, 

"      Hugh  Sherratt, 

50 

"      Bartholomew  Heath. 

140 

"      William  White, 

50 

1647  Samuel  Gile, 

40 

"      Thomas  Davis, 

1648  Thomas  Linforth, 

"      John  Williams, 

80 

"      John  Eaton,. 

80 

1643  Abraham  Tyler, 

60 

"      Thomas  Whittier, 

80 

"      Eichard  Littlehale, 

40 

1649  George  Goldwin 

1644  Henry  Savage, 

"      Goodman  Moice  &  3  Sons, 

'«      Job  Clement, 

"      Abraham  ilorrill, 

1645  Christopher  Hussie, 

"      Christopher  Lawson, 

"      Daniel  Hendrick, 

120 

"      Eichard  Ormsby, 

70 

"      Henry  Palmer, 

60 

"      Wm.  Hoklridge, 

"      George  Corliss, 

1650  Eobert  Ayer, 

40 

1646  Thomas  Hale, 

"      John  Ayer  jun,^  . 
"      Thomas  Ayer,  yn\ 
"      John  Chenarie^'^^^t' '-^ 

80 

"      James  Davis, 

200 

'«      John  Ayer, 

160 

»>Ai'A' 

"      Daniel  Lad, 

£  40 

"      George  Browne, 

80 

"      Joseph  Peasley, 

"      John  Hoit, 

"      John  Davis, 

"      Goodman  Hale. 

The  following  table  contains  the  valuation  of  those  to  whom  house  lots 
were  laid  out  at  various  times,  but  whose  names  do  not  appear  previous 
to  1650:  — 


I,  Eobert  Clement,  Sen, 

£  50 

Thomas  Eaton, 

£40 

*  John  Clement, 

35 

Edward  Clarke, 

40 

-'Matthias  Button, 

60 

Eobert  Swan, 

30 

Steven  Kent, 

200 

John  Haseltine, 

40 

James  Davis  Jr, 

130 

John  Johnson, 

90 

Peter  Ayer, 

60 

John  Carleton, 

90 

Eichard  Singletary, 

60 

Joseph  Johnson, 

50 

John  Huckins, 

480 

John  Page  jun, 

40 

o  Nnraes  asainst  which  no  amount  is  placed,  are  those  of  persons  for  whom  we  can  find  no  record  of  a 
house  lot  being  laid  out.     Some  of  them,  if  not  all,  probably  purchased  the  right  of  others  to  lands. 

t  We  do  not  know  whether  these  pounds  were  the  English  pounds  sterling  (sixteen  ounces  of  silver)  or 
the  pound  of  Troy  weight,  (sixty-two  shillings)  but  presume  they  were  the  latter.  If  so,  each  pound  was 
equivalent  to  S<i.33. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  73 

Among  the  early  settlers,  were  four  brothers  by  the  name  of  Ayer,  John, 
Eobert,  Thomas,  and  Peter.  The  former  settled  near  the  house  of  the  late 
Capt.  John  Ayer,  2d,  who  was  the  sixth  generation  who  lived  on  the  same 
spot.  The  latter  settled  in  the  northwesterly  part  of  the  town,  in  the 
West  Parish.  Their  descendants  are  very  numerous,  and  are  scattered 
throughout  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union.  In  1700,  it  was  supposed 
that  nearly  one  third  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  of  that  name. 
They  were  mostly  farmers.  =•■= 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  January  1,  1651,  "It  was  agreed  upon  that 
such  as  have  land  in  the  plain  or  below  the  plain,  butting  upon  the  great 
river,  should  have  liberty  to  make  use  of  the  bank  next  the  river  for  a 
fence  for  the  space  of  four  years :  and  also  such  as  have  land  over  the 
little  river,  west,  shall  have  the  same  liberty  so  far  as  Thomas  Hale's  lot. 

The  plain  here  alluded  to,  was  the  one  east  of  the  village.  Under  date 
of  January  12,  1651,  we  find  the  following:  —  "  It  was  this  day  ordered 
that  the  ox-common  which  was  formerly  an  ox-common,  shall  be  for  the 
use  of  them  who  live  upon  the  east  side  of  the  mill  brook,  and  for  as  many 
as  will  join  with  them." 

"  Ordered  that  they  that  live  upon  the  west  side  of  the  mill  brook,  shall 
have  liberty  to  have  an  ox-common  westward  for  them,  and  as  many  as 
will  join  with  them,  which  common  is  to  be  laid  out  in  a  convenient  place, 
as  shall  be  judged  meet  by  the  major  part  of  the  town. 

That  the  town  were  anxious  to  have  their  numbers  increased  may  be 
judged  from  the  following  vote  of  the  same  year:  —  "It  was  this  day 
agreed  that  James  Pecker  should  be  an  inhabitant  with  us,  and  that  he 
shall  have  a  four  acre  lot  with  accommodations  proportionable  to  it,  which 
lot  is  to  be  bought  of  Bartholomew  Heath  for  eight  pounds.  James  Pecker 
doth  promise  to  come  and  be  an  inhabitant  with  us  by  June  1653."     We 


**  The  following  notes,  taken  from  the  Essex  County  Records  and  papers,  will  doubtless  be  of  interest 
to  the  many  persons  of  that  name  in  the  town:  — 1656.  John  Ayer,  or  Eyer,  of  Haverhill,  made  a  will 
March  12,  1656-7,  He  died  March  31,  1657,  and  his  will  was  proved  October  6th  of  the  same  year.  His 
children  were  John,  Nathaniel,  Hannah,  Eebeca,  Mary,  Eobert,  Thomas,  Obadiah  and  Peter.  He  left  a 
wife,  named  Hannah.  1668.  Mary  Ayers,  aged  34;  and  Samuel  Ayers,  aged  45.  1671.  Inventory  taken 
of  the  estate  of  Benjamin  Ayeo-s.  1672.  John  Ayer,  late  of  Ipswich,  was  now  of  Quaboag.  (There  was  a 
John  Ayres  in  Ipswich  as  early  as  164S.)  1679.  John  Ayer,  or  Eyer,  late  of  Haverhill,  now  of  Ipswich. 
Had  a  wife  Mary.  1693.  Samuel  Ayers,  aged  43  years,  1704.  Jonathan  Ayer,  aged  65  years.  1711 . 
Eobert  Ayres,  of  Haverhill,  aged  86  years. 

In  1754,  Major  Ebenezer  Ayer,  of  Haverhill,  married  Hannah,  widow  of  James  Scammon,  of  Saco,  Me;, 
where  he  continued  to  reside.     He  had  several  children. —  Vide  Hist.  Saco  and  Biddeford,  p.  268. 

For  the  names  of  many  others  of  this  numerous  family,  see  the  Appendix  to  this  volume. 

10 


74  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

presume  that  Pecker  accepted  the  town's  oflPer,  as  he  came  here  soon  after 
and  continued  to  reside  here  until  his  death,  in  1696.-' 

At  the  May  session  of  tlie  General  Court,  on  petition  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Haverhill,  a  new  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out  the  bounds  of  the 
town.  Joseph  Jewett  was  chairman  of  the  committee.  At  a  meeting  of 
May  30th,  the  town  voted  "  that  Mr  Clement,  Jno  Davis,  Tho  "VVhittier, 
and  John  Robinson  shall  go  with  Joseph  Jewett  about  the  laying  out  of 
the  bounds  of  the  plantation." 

It  seems  that  the  town  committees  chosen  the  previous  year,  had  been 
unable  to  agree  upon  the  bounds,  and  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
Greneral  Court  at  that  time  had  done  nothing ;  therefore,  that  body  ap- 
pointed a  new  committee,  who  attended  to  the  duty,  and  reported  at  the 
next  October  Court.     Their  report  was  approved. 

The  only  clue  we  have  to  the  bounds  thus  confirmed,  is  contained  in 
the  following  record  of  the  General  Court :  —  "  This  Courte  haveinge  for- 
merly grauntcd  fowcr  miles  square  for  the  boundes  of  Haverill,  or  such  a 
ti*act  of  land,  and  did  appoynt  Joseph  Jewett,  John  Haseltine,  Robert 
Haseltine,  and  William  Wilder,  or  any  two  of  them,  to  lay  out  theire  said 
boundes,  which  Joseph  Jewett  and  William  Wilder  haveinge  done  accord- 
inge  to  the  Courtes  graunt,  this  Court  (at  the  request  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Haverill)  doth  confirme  theire  said  boundes,  as  they  are  now  layd  out 
by  the  persons  above  mentioned."! 

We  regret  that  a  more  definite  account  of  this  first  laying  out  of  our 
town  cannot  now  be  found.  It  will  be  seen,  however,  (unless  we  empha- 
sise the  phrase  "  or  such  a  tract  of  land" )  that  it  allowed  a  much  less 
area  than  was  covered  by  the  Indian  deed ;  and  we  wonder  that  the  inhab- 
itants should  so  readily  request  the  General  Court  to  confirm  the  bounds 
reported. 

It  was  voted  this  year  by  the  town,  "  that  all  the  meadows  shall  be  laid 
out  by  the  12th  of  June  next,  to  each  man  his  proportion  according  to  his 
house  lot."  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  "  Ordered  that  Hugh  SheiTatt, 
Theophilus  Satchwell,Bart  Heath,  James  Fiske,  and  Daniel  Ladd,  shall  view 
the  upland  that  is  fit  to  plough,  by  the  last  of  March  or  the  tenth  of  April 

'  The  only  children  of  his  recorded,  are  Mary,  b.  Sept.  5,  1652 ;  Susanna,  b.  Dec.  17,  1054 ;  A  Daugl^- 
ter,  b.  Jan.  25,  1604,  and  d.  Feb.  10,  1664.  Some  of  their  descendants  are  still  to  be  found  in  the  town, 
though  their  number  is  small. 

One  John  Pecker  kept  tavern  in  this  town  for  many  years,  and  was  succeeded  at  his  death,  in  1757,  by 
his  widow.  About  1760,  the  sanle  tavern  was  kept  by  Matthew  Soley  for  a  short  time,  when  it  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Jeremiah  P(  ••kcr.  Rartholomew  Teckcr,  a  native  of  Haverhill,  was  one  of  Washington's 
"Life  Guards."     "Pecker's  Hill,"  and  "  Pecker  Street,"  will  long  perpetuate  this  name  in  the  town. 

t  Col.  Rcc,  .3—246. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  75 

next,  and  that  they  bring  in  their  intelligence  to  the  town  by  that  time." 
It  was  also  ordered  "  that  all  the  undivided  land,  after  all  the  meadows 
and  second  division  of  plough  land  is  laid  out,  shall  remain  to  the  same 
inhabitants  the  proprietors  of  the  three  hundred  and  six  acres,  to  every  one 
according  to  honest  and  true  meaning,  all  commons  remaining  in  general 
to  them." 

This  last  vote,  it  will  be  seen,  plainly  and  unequivocally  declares  who 
were  the  proprietors  of  the  common  or  undivided  lands  in  the  town,  "  ac- 
cording to  honest  and  true  meaning."  They  were  the  original  purchasers, 
or  grantees,  of  the  township.  Years  afterward,  when  the  number  of  in- 
habitants had  greatly  increased,  the  question  of  proprietorship  in  the 
undivided  lands  became  a  troublesome  one,  and  for  a  long  period  was  a 
prominent  "  apple  of  discord"  in  the  town.  Frequent  disputes  occurred 
between  the  "  commonors  "  and  the  "  non-commonors,"  which  sometimes  ' 
led  to  bloody  noses  and  shaded  eyes.  The  commoners  held  meetings  by 
themselves  for  many  years,  and  there  are  three  large .  books  of  about  two 
hundred  and  sixty  pages  each,  nearly  filled  with  their  proceedings. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  George  Brown  and  Daniel  Hendrick  were  ap- 
pointed to  lay  out  the  highway  between  this  town  and  Salisbury ;  and 
Theophilus  Shatswell  was  appointed  to  join  the  men  from  Kowley,  and  lay 
out  a  road  between  that  town  and  this.  This  road  was  approved  of  by  the 
Court  at  Ipswich,  in  1686, 

Up  to  this  time,  the  town  Were  destitute  of  a  saw  mill,  and  were  com- 
pelled to  hew  all"  the  boards  and  planks  used  for  building ;  unless,  as  is 
quite  probable,  these  were  brought  from  Newbury.  In  either  case,  the 
expense  and  inconvenience  was  very  great,  and  attention  was  early  directed 
to  the  establishment  of  a  saw  mill  in  this  town,  where  both  timber  and 
water-power  were  abundant. 

The  following  votes  fully  reveal  how  important  this  matter  was  consid- 
ered by  the  inhabitants,  and  how  anxious  they  were  to  have  a  mill  of  the 
kind  erected:  Dec.  1,  1651.  "  Voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  inhabitants, 
that  there  should  be  a  saw-mill  set  up  by  Isaac  Cousins,  and  such  others  of 
this  town  as  shall  join  with  him  :  The  town  and  they  agreeing  upon  terms, 
viz. :  That  they  shall  not  make  use  of  any  timber  within  three  miles  of 
the  meeting  house  :  Item.  That  all  timber  without  the  compass  of  three 
miles  from  the  meeting  house  should  be  free  for  the  use  of  the  sawmill : 
they  paying  the  twelfth  hundred  to  the  use  of  the  town  in  general.  Item. 
That  the  town  for  their  use  shall  have  boards  and  planks  at  three  shillings 
per  hundred  for  such  pay  as  is  merchantable.  The  town  also  reserving  to 
themselves  a  liberty  to  make  use  of  what  timber  they  stand  in  need  of, 
though  it  be  without  the  three  miles  compass  from  the  Meeting  House," 


76  HISTOEY   OF   HATEKHILL. 

Dec.  15,  1651.  "  Granted  by  the  major  part  of  the  inhabitants,  that 
Isaac  Cousins  shall  have  a  sixth  part  of  a  saw  mill  or  mills :  and  that 
Mr.  Clement,"  Job  Clement,  Stephen  Kent,  William  White,  and  Theophi- 
los  Satchwell  shall  join  with  him,  together  with  any  others  that  they  shall 
agree  with,  Provided  that  Mr.  Coffin  f  have  liberty  to  have  a  sixth  part  of 
it,  if  he  come  to  be  an  inhabitant  in  this  town.  This  mill  is  to  be  set  up 
upon  the  river,  called  Thomas  Hale's  river :  "J  "  They  are  to  make  use  of 
no  timber  that  is  within  three  miles  of  the  meeting  house  ;  except  it  be 
pines  or  hemlock :  They  are  to  pay  to  the  use  of  the  town  every  twelfth 
hundred :  The  inhabitants  are  to  have  what  boards  and  planks  they  stand 
in  need  of,  for  their  use  for  building  and  flooring  at  three  shillings  per 
hundred,  in  merchantable  pay :  This  mill  is  to  be  set  up  by  April  fifty 
and  three :  They  have  liberty  also  if  they  see  fit,  to  set  up  a  second  mill 
by  April,  fifty  and  four :  If  they  set  them  not  up  by  these  times  above 
mentioned,  then  this  grant  is  to  be  disannulled :  They  have  liberty  to 
make  use  of  any  timber  that  is  without  the  three  miles  compass  from  the 
meeting  house :  Also  the  town  hath  liberty  to  make  use  of  any  timber 
that  is  without  the  three  miles  compass  for  building  or  feuceing,  or  what 
else  soever :  The  proprietors  have  power,  if  they  see  cause,  to  remove  one 
or  both  of  these  mills  up,  or  down  the  river." 

Dec.  16,  1651.  "  Voted  and  Granted  by  the  inhabitants  that  there 
shall  no  saw  mill  be  setup  whilst  these  forementioned  sawmills  are  going." 

At  the  same  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  lay  out  ground  for  the 
use  of  the  saw  mill,  "for  a  Pen,"  which  was  to  be  "  returned  to  the  town 
when  the  saw  mills  are  done."  "  A  six  acre  house  lot,  with  all  accommo- 
dations proportionable,"  was  granted  to  the  above  mentioned  Isaac  Cousins, 
"  provided  he  live  in  the  town  five  years  following  his  trade  of  a  Smith.'' 

Cousins  did  not,  however,  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  grant,  and  in 
1653,  the  town  voted  to  give  the  land  to  John  Webster,  upon  similar  con- 
ditions.    Cousins  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  town. 

About  this  time  the  road  now  known  as  Mill  Street  was  laid  out  ;  and 
for  more  than  a  century  it  was  "  the  great  road  "  which  led  into  the 
village. 

The  second  division  of  plough-land  was  laid  out  on  the  7  th  of  June, 
1652.  The  proportion  was  four  acres  to  one  acre  of  house  lot.  This 
division  commenced  at  the  head  of  Pond  Meadow,  and  extended  north, 
east,  and  west.  Forty-one  persons  received  a  share  in  the  division.  The 
lot-layers  who  laid  it  out,  received  the  sum  of  two  pence  an  acre  for  their 
services,  or  ten  shillings  each.     Not  a  very  extravagant  sum,  surely. 

«  Robert  Clement.        f  Peter  Coffin,  of  Exeter.        t  Little  River. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 


77 


Following  are  the  names  of  those  who  received  a  share  in  this  division : 
"  The  lots  or  draughts  for  the  second  division  of  plough-land,  with  the 
number  of  each  man's  accommodation :  — 


Acres. 

Acre< 

1 — John  Davis, 

6 

22- 

— Daniel  Hendrick, 

2 — James  Fiske, 

4 

23- 

—Thomas  Davis, 

8 

'3 — Matthias  Button, 

6 

24- 

-Eichard  Ormsbie, 

5 

4 — Bartholomew  Heath, 

25- 

-Eobert  Ayer, 

5 

5 — Abraham  Tyler, 

4 

26- 

-Henry  Savage, 

4 

6 — John  Ayer,  sen.. 

8 

27- 

—George  Browne, 

10 

7 — Henry  Palmer, 

9 

28- 

—William  Holdridge, 

5 

8 — Edward  Clarke, 

4 

29- 

-Mr  John  Ward, 

8 

9 — ^Kobert  Clement, 

6 

30- 

—George  Corlis, 

7 

10 — Hugh  Sherratt, 

12 

31- 

-Theophilus  Satchwell, 

6- 

11 — John  Woodin, 

4 

32- 

-John  Williams, 

8 

12 — Thomas  Perry, 

5 

33- 

-John  Chenarie, 

4 

13— Thomas  Whittier, 

7i  34- 

-James  Pecker, 

4 

14 — Stephen  Kent, 

22i 

35- 

-Thomas  Ayers, 

9 

15 — Joseph  Peasley, 

12 

36- 

—Samuel  Gild, 

10 

16 — John  Ayer,  jun., 

8 

37- 

—Daniel  Ladd, 

6 

17 — Thomas  Linforth, 

6 

38- 

-James  Davis,  jun.. 

10 

1 8 — Eichard  Littlehale, 

4 

39- 

-Job  Clement, 

0 

19 — Isaac  Cousins, 

Si 

40- 

-John  Clement, 

8 

20— AVilliam  White, 

7 

41- 

-James  Davis,  sen., 

10 

21 — John  Eaton, 

10 

In  the  above  division  each  man  had  "  his  proportion  either  in  the  quality 
or  quantity  of  his  lot,  according  to  the  discretion  of  the  lot  layers." 

At  the  September  meeting  of  the  same  year,  the  town  voted  Mr.  Ward, 
their  "  Teacher,"  a  salary  of  fifty  pounds.  This  sum,  though  a  mere  pit- 
tance, when  compared  with  modern  salaries,  was  really  a  very  liberal  salary 
for  those  times,  and  shows  the  strong  attachment  of  the  inhabitants  to 
their  pastor,  and  their  readiness  to  give  him  an  adequate  support. 

The  following  liberal  vote  was  also  passed  at  the  same  meeting :  — 

"  Voted  that  if  any  one  or  more  shall  be  disenabled  from  paying  his  pro- 
portion, that  then  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  shall  pay  it  for  him  or  them 
to  Mr.  Ward."  The  town  evidently  intended  that  fifty  pounds  should 
mean  fifty  pounds. 

AVhether  the  town  had  become  dissatisfied  with  the  drum  or  the  drummer, 
does  not  appear,  but  it  seems  that  instead  of  having  Eichard  Littlehale 


78  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

beat  his  drum  to  call  the  people  together,  it  was  voted  "  that  Abraham 
Tyler  shall  blow  Ids  horn  in  the  most  convenient  place  every  lord's  day 
about  half  an  hour  before  the  meeting  begins,  and  also  on  lecture  days ; 
for  which  he  is  to  have  one  peck  of  corn  of  every  family  for  the  year 
ensuing." 

The  tooting  of  Abraham's  horn  did  not,  however,  come  up  to  their  ex- 
pectations, for  the  next  year  the  town  fell  back  upon  first  principles,  and 
ordered  Edward  Clark  to  beat  the  drum  on  the  "  Lord's  days  and  lecture 
days."  Perhaps  the  tone  of  Abraham's  horn  was  not  sufi&ciently  musical, 
or,  more  likely.  Abraham  was  not  a  skilful  player  upon  that  ancient  in- 
strument. But  as  to  whichever  it  might  have  been,  we  are  left  entirely 
free  to  conjecture,  as  the  records  maintain  the  most  dignified  silence  upon 
the  subject. 

The  (xeneral  Court  this  year  changed  the  time  for  town  elections  from 
November  to  March  of  each  year,  and  the  latter  month  has,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  single  period,  continued  to  be  the  month  of  the  annual  town 
meetings  down  to  the  present  time. 

The  County  Court  at  Hampton,  this  year,  fined  Stephen  Kent,  of  Haver- 
hill, £10  "  for  suffering  five  Indeans  to  be  druncke  in  his  house,  and  one 
of  them  wounded."  He  was  also  to  pay  for  the  cure  of  the  wounded 
Indian.  Stephen  evidently  considered  the  penalty  too  severe,  and  declined 
to  pay  it ;  and  the  town  petitioned  the  General  Court  upon  the  subject. 
The  Court  thereupon  ordered  "  that  Stephen  Kent  within  one  month  shall 
pay  the  said  tenne  pounds  to  the  selectmen  of  Hauerill,  who  shall  there- 
with satisfy  for  the  cure  of  the  Indean."  Even  this  did  not  satisfy  Stephen, 
and  he  petitioned  to  have  his  fine  reduced,  but  the  Court  was  inexorable. 
Doubtless  Stephen  was  careful  afterward  not  to  have  any  drunken  "  red 
skins  "  about  his  pi*emises. 

Among  the  list  of  donations  this  year  to  Harvard  College  is  £4  7s  from 
this  town. 

A  prison  was  this  year  built  at  Ipswich.  It  was  the  second  in  the 
colony. 

A  mint  was  about  the  same  time  established  at  Boston,  for  coining  sil- 
ver ;  the  pieces  had  the  word  Massachusetts,  with  a  pine  tree  on  one  side, 
and  the  letters  N.  E.  1652,  and  III,  VI,  or  XII,  denoting  the  number  of 
pence,  on  the  other.  The  same  date,(lG52)  was  continued  upon  all  the 
coin  struck  for  thirty  years  afterward.  Massachusetts  was  the  only  colony 
that  ever  presumed  to  coin  metal  into  money.  A  very  large  sum  was 
coined,  and  the  mint-master  made  a  large  fortune  out  of  the  commission 
allowed  him  for  coining. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  79 

At  a  town  meeting  July  4,  1653,  it  was  voted  that  "  John  Webster 
should  enjoy  that  six  acres  of  accommodation  which  was  formerly  granted 
unto  Isaac  Cousins,  and  is  now  returned  into  the  Town's  hands ;  provided, 
that  the  said  John  Webster  live  here  five  years  from  the  last  of  March 
next,  following  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  doing  the  town's  work,  when 
they  have  occasion."  Mr.  Webster  was  the  second  blacksmith  in  town; 
he  followed  the  trade,  however,  but  four  years,  when  he  returned  to  New- 
bury. His  brother,  Stephen,  a  tailor,  came  into  town  soon  after,  from 
Newbury ;  and  is  probably  the  ancestor  of  the  AVebsters  in  this  place.  He 
was  born  in  Ipswich,  and  moved  with  his  mother,  who  married  John  Emery, 
sen.,  to  Newbury.  He  had  three  brothers  and  four  sisters.  His  brothers, 
John  and  Israel,  remained  in  Newbury,  and  Nathan  settled  in  Bradford. 
His  mother,  Mary,  was  a  sister  of  Theophilus  Shatswell ;  John,  his  father, 
died  in  Ipswich,  about  164r2.=-=  The  descendants  of  Stephen  are  very 
numerous  ;  they  are  found  in  almost  every  city  and  village  in  the  Union. 

This  year,  the  second  division  of  meadow  land  was  ordered  to  be  laid 
out.  There  were  forty-eight  lots  drawn.  The  names  are  the  same  as 
those  given  under  date  of  1652,  except  the  following:  —  John  Webster, 
Isaac  Cousins,  John  Wooddin, 

The  Island  just  below  the  village  was  also  divided  about  the  same  time. 
The  number  of  persons  who  drew  lots  in  the  division,  was  forty-five.  The 
names,  and  the  bounds  of  each  man's  lot,  are  given  in  the  Commoners' 
book  of  Records,  under  date  of  1727,  which  speaks  of  the  plan  as  begun 
in  1653,  and  finished  in  the  above  year. 

A  third  division  of  upland,  or  ploughland,  was  also  ordered  to  be  laid 
out ;  it  was  situated  west  and  north  of  west  meadow,  in  the  West  Parish. 

The  wife  of  John  Hutchins  of  this  town  was  presented  to  the  Court  this 
year,  for  wearing  a  silk  hood  ;  but,  "  upon  testimony  of  her  being  brought 
up  above  the  ordinary  way  was  discharged."  The  wife  of  Joseph  Swett 
was  also  presented  at  the  same  time  and  for  the  same  ofi'ence,  and  was 
fined  10s.  f 

It  was  a  general  custom  of  the  inhabitants  at  this  early  period,  to  turn 
their  flocks  together  into  one  pasture ;  and  we  find  that  James  George  was, 
in  1652,  appointed  herdsman  of  the  town,  His  salary  was  twelve  shillings 
and  six  pence  per  week,  to  be  paid  in  Indian  corn  and  butter.     He  was 

*  Coffin,  Hist.  Newbury. 

t  Among  the  laws  passed  by  the  General  Court  in  1650,  was  one  against  "  intolerable  excess  and  brav- 
ery in  dress."  No  person  whose  estate  did  not  exceed  £200  was  permitted  to  wear  any  gold  or  silver  lace 
or  buttons,  great  boots,  silk  hoods,  ribbons  or  scarfs,  under  a  penalty  of  ten  shillings.  Swett  was  not,  it 
seems,  worth  the  £200;  and  his  wife  could  not,  therefore,  be  allowed  the  extravagance  of  a  silk  hood. 


80  HISTORY   OF   nAVERHILL. 

"  to  keep  ye  beard  faithfully  as  a  heard  ought  to  be  kept ;  if  any  be  left 
on  the  Sabbath  when  ye  towne  worship,  they  who  keepe  are  to  goe  ye  next 
day,  doing  their  best  indeavore  to  find  them."  He  was  not  permitted 
to  turn  his  flock  into  the  pasture  on  the  Sabbath,  until  the  "  second  beat- 
ing of  ye  drum." 

A  lot  of  land  not  exceeding,  four-score  acres,  was  the  same  year  granted 
to  the  proprietors  of  the  saw-mill,  so  long  as  they  kept  it  in  use. 

It  was  voted  that  hereafter  the  selectmen  should  "give  in  their  account 
what  they  have  received,  and  what  they  have  disbursed."  The  voters 
evidently  wished  to  know  where  their  money  went,  in  which  laudable  curi- 
osity they  have  a  very  few  imitators  at  the  present  day. 

Among  the  note-worthy  incidents  of  this  year,  may  be  mentioned  the 
case  of  Robert  Pike,  of  Salisbury.  The  Court  had  prohibited  Joseph 
Peasley  and  Thomas  Macy,  of  Salisbury,  from  exhorting  the  people  on  the 
Sabbath,  in  the  absence  of  a  minister.  Pike  declared  that  "  such  persons 
as  did  act  in  making  that  law,  did  break  their  oath  to  the  country,  for  it 
is  against  the  liberty  of  the  country,  both  civil  and  ecclesiatical."  For 
expressing  himself  in  this  manner,  he  was  disfranchised  by  the  General 
Court,  and  heavily  fined.  At  the  next  May  Court,  a  "petition  was  pre- 
sented from  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hampton,  Salisbury, 
Newbury,  Haverhill,  and  Andover,  praying  that  Pike's  sentence  might  be 
revoked.'-' 

The  Court  was  highly  indignant  that "  so  many  persons  should  combine 
together  to  present  such  an  unjust  and  unreasonable  request,"  and  ap- 
pointed a  commission  to  call  the  petitioners  together  "  and  require  a  reason 
of  their  very  unjust  request."  At  the  next  November  Court,  orders  were 
issued  to  summon  sixteen  of  the  petitioners  to  give  bonds  in  the  sum  of 
ten  pounds  each  to  appear  and  answer  for  their  offence  before  the  County 
Court.  None  of  the  Haverhill  signers  were  however  included  in  the  order. 
They  had  achioioledged  their  offence.  Three  years  afterward.  Pike  "  hum- 
bly desired  the  Court,  his  fine  being  paid,  to  release  him  from  the  other 
part  of  his  sentence,"  which  it  was  pleased  to  do.     The  whole  case  is  an 

°  The  following  arc  the  names  of  the  Haverhill  signers,  as  copied  from  the  original  petition  in  the 
State  Archives :  — 

Haverill.  Kichard  Littlehale  Robbert  Eres 

James  Davis  "  John  Ileth  George  Corlis 

Joseph  Peasly  Jol)  Clenionts  Bartholomew  Heth 

Tristram  Coffin  Abraham  Tylar  Edw.  Clarke 

rfctc-  Coflin  John  Williams  James  Davis  Jr 

John  Davis  John  Williams  Thcophilus  Sachwell 

John  Eaton  Thomas  Davis  Tho:  Whittier 

Thomas  Katon  Joh:  Eyerea  Tho:  Dow 

"■  Robert  Clements  James  tiiske  Joseph  Davis 

Thomas  Belfore  Dan:  Hendrick  Peter  Ayre 

John  Webstar  Stephen  Kent  Samuel  Gild 

•^  George  Brown  Richard  Singltnry  Robbert  Swan 

Epbraim  Pavig  Henry  Pnhner 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  81 

instructive  one,  and  throws  much  light  on  the  public  religious  opinions  of 
the  times. 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  February  9,  1654,  liberty  was  granted  to 
Stephen  Kent  to  place  a  wear  in  Little  River,  to  catch  alewives,  or  any 
other  fish,  if  he  would  sell  to  the  inhabitans  of  the  town  "  what  alewives 
they  stood  in  need  of."  This  is  the  first  notice  we  have  of  these  fisheries, 
which  were  afterward  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court,  a  new  petition  was  received 
from  Haverhill,  touching  the  bounds  between  that  town  and  Salisbury,  as 
a  "great  mistake"  was  made  in  the  previous  running  of  the  line.  The 
Court,  after  hearing  both  parties,  appointed  a  committee  to  look  into  the 
matter  thoroughly.  At  the  next  Court  the  committee  made  their  return, 
which,  as  a  matter  of  curiosity  as  well  as  interest,  we  copy  entire  :  — 
"  September:   23:   1G54. 

In  obedense  to  the  generall  cortes  order  we  haue  vewed  the  line  con- 
cluded by  Salesberry  and  Hauerill  to  deuid  the  land  betwene  them :  and  we 
find  that  as  it  is  expressed  in  the  petission  there  was  a  gret  mistake  in  the 
first  Ruing  of  the  line  this  we  find  accnolaged  by  both  partes  :  for  he  that 
carred  the  compas  at  the  first  from  the  plase  concluded  one  from  mcremack 
Reuer  a  but  one  mile  and  a  quarter  tow  a  stompe  of  a  pipestave  tree :  he 
said  he  had  Rine  nor  west :  which  moued  the  men  chose  by  Hauerill  to 
yeld  vnto  Sallsberry  one  point  more :  but  we  haue  gone  nor  west  from  the 
place  one  merremack  Reuer  formerly  concluded  one :  and  we  find  that  nor 
west  Cometh  a  boue  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  going  a  mile  a  quarter  nerrer 
to  hauerell  then  the  line  first  Rune  so  we  find  that  nor  west  as  according 
to  the  true  vnderstanding  of  ther  first  agreement  doth  yeld  vnto  Salsberre  : 
and  if  the  liae  nor  west  and  by  west  shold  stand  a  gret  part  of  the  med- 
dowes  lyiag  one  that  quarter :  wold  be  cut  of  from  hauerrell  to  ther  gret 
preludes  and  the  not  cnoing  of  that  mistak  mad  them  yeld  one  point  more 
we  thinke  if  the  plesuer  of  the  Cort  bee  so  :  that  it  may  bee  well  for  this 
honerred  cort  to  order  that  a  nor  west  line  may  part  the  land  be  twext 
them  (onely  this)  if  any  of  the  meddowes  laid  out  to  any  of  Hauerrell 
shall  be  cut  of  from  Hauerrell :  by  this  line,  that  those  meddows  shall 

Remane  to  hauerrell  (or  those  men  to  home  it  is  laid :  fore  euer 

youers  in  all  diitefoll  obedense 
further  we  thinke  meeete  that  Hen:  Short 

Silsbury  shall  haue  liberty  ouer  Joseph  Jowett 

hauerill  commons  if  the  swamp  ,    John  Stevens 

stop  the  way  the  sd  way  to  be 
forty  Rod  broade 

11 


82  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

The  Deputyes  accept,  of  the  Eetume  of  those  Comissionsrs  appoynted 
to  lay  out  the  bounds  herein  exprest  and  desire  the  Consent  of  the  honord 
magists  herevnto. 

Consented  to  by  ye  magists.     Edw:  Rawson  Secret.     24  Octob.  54." 

It  seems,  however,  that  even  this  did  not  permanently  settle  the  vexed 
dispute.  Both  parties  again  became  dissatisfied,  and  the  matter  continued 
to  trouble  the  General  Court  until  1667,  when  the  Court  finally  disposed 
of  it  as  follows :  — 

"  As  a  final  issue  of  all  differences  between  the  two  towns  of  Haverhill 
and  Salisbury  Newtown,--  in  reference  to  their  bounds,  the  Court  having 
heard  what  all  parties  could  say  therein,  judge  meet  to  confirm  the  line 
which  was  run  by  the  committee  and  the  agi*eement  of  both  towns,  begin- 
ning at  a  tree  near  Holt's  Rocks,  near  Merrimack  river's  side,  and  running 
up  on  the  N  W  line,  as  they  apprehended,  to  Brandy  Brow,  and  from  thence 
to  Darby  Hill,  and  so  to  a  Avhite  pine  about  a  mile  further,  marked  H.  S. 
and  this  is  to  be  the  dividing  line  between  them." 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1654,  Thomas  Dow  died.  He  was  the  first  adult 
that  had  died  in  the  town  since  its  settlement.  Thirteen  children  had 
died  previously,  but  no  grown  person.f 

Some  additions  were  made  to  the  ox-common  this  year,  and  the  whole 
was  ordered  to  be  fenced.  The  town  also  voted  "  that  all  those  that  will 
join  in  the  fencing  of  it,  shall  have  a  proportion  in  it  according  to  the 
fence  they  make  and  maintain,  provided  that  none  shall  keep  more  than 
four  oxen  in  it."  Thirty-four  persons  assisted  to  build  the  fence,  and  were 
entitled  to  keep  ninety-two  oxen  within  the  enclosure.  It  was  then  voted 
that  "  the  cattel  that  shall  goe  in  the  ox-common  this  day  gi-anted,  shall 
be  only  oxen,  steers,  and  horses,  and  no  other  cattel." 

This  ox-common  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  Kenoza  I^ake,  and  a 
part  of  it  is  still  known  by  that  name.  Several  other  ox-commons  were 
subsequently  laid  out  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  but  they  were  much 
smaller  than  the  first.  Some  of  them  were  only  a  few  acres  in  extent 
being  laid  out  for  a  single  person,  while  others  were  intended  for  several 
persons.  The  one  above  mentioned,  however,  was  the  most  extensive  ox- 
common  ever  laid  out  in  the  town. 

At  the  December  meeting  of  the  town,  a  parcel  of  land,  not  exceeding 
four-score  acres,  was  laid  out  to  the  saw-mill  owners  "to  plant  and  im- 

°  Salisbury  Xewtown  (now  Amesbury)  was  settled  in  1012,  liy  order  of  the  freemen  of  Salisbury,  that 
"  there  shall  thirty  families  remove  to  the  west  of  Pow-wow  Iliver,  to  form  a  settlement."  It  was  called 
Salisbury  Xe.w  Trnvn  until  some  time  after  it  was  set  ofTas  a  separate  town,  in  lt3r)4. 

t  Previous  to  March  30,  1003,  there  were  forty-seven  deaths  in  town,  forty  of  which  were  children. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  83 

prove,  so  long  as  the  sawmill  shall  go."  The  lot  was  on  the  west  side  of 
saw-mill  river.  The  next  June,  eight  acres  were  laid  out  on  the  further 
side  of  Fishing  Kiver,  "  toward  the  sawmill,"  from  which,  and  one  or  two 
other  allusions,  we  conclude  there  was  also  a  saw-mill  on  that  stream  at 
that  time,  or  one  about  to  be  erected. 

In  February,  1656,  the  town  voted  to  cancel  all  grants  and  privileges, 
if  the  present  saw-mill  or  some  other,  did  not  cut  boards  enough  for  the 
town  by  the  next  midsummer.  But  it  seems  that  the  saw-mill  was  not  to 
be  hurried,  and  the  town  in  1658  lost  all  their  patience,  and  declared  all 
former  grants  and  privileges  forfeited.  At  the  same  time  Thomas  Davis, 
(who  was  one  of  the  principal  owners  of  the  old  mill)  John  Hutchins,  and 
Daniel  Hendricks,  were  granted  the  privileges  formerly  allowed  to  the  old 
saw-mill,  if  they  put  up  a  mill  .and  supplied  the  town  within  twelve 
months.  But  even  this  did  not  prove  sufficiently  stimulating  to  those  in- 
terested, j^o  mill  was  erected,  and  the  next  year  the  town  declared  the 
privilege  forfeited. 

Among  the  acts  of  the  G-eneral  Court  this  year,  IGo-i,  was  one  providing 
that  ministers  should  be  respectably  maintained  in  the  several  towns  ;  and 
in  case  the  latter  neglected  to  do  it,  the  county  courts  were  empowered 
ajid  directed  to  cause  a  regular  tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  oifending  towns, 
for  that  purpose. 

A  law  was  passed  at  the  November  Court,  prohibiting  all  persons,  ex- 
cept those  specially  lisenced,  from  selling  "  any  Indian  or  Indians,  either 
wine  or  strong  liquors  of  any  sort,"  under  a  penalty  of  20s  per  pint,  and 
in  that  proportion  for  all  quantities,  more  or  less.  Henry  Palmer  of  this 
town,  and  Roger  Shaw  of  Hampton,  were  the  only  ones  thus  lisenced  in 
the  County  of  Norfolk. 

During  the  year  1655,  some  repairs  were  made  on  the  meeting-house,  as 
it  appears  by  a  town  vote  of  March  3d,  that  "  Thomas  Davis  shall  have 
three  pounds  allowed  him  by  the  towne,  for  to  ground-pin  and  dawb  it  j 
provided  that  Thomas  Davis  provide  the  stones  and  clay  for  the  underpin- 
ings  ;  the  town  being  at  their  own  expense  to  bring  ye  clay  into  place  for 
ye  plastering  of  ye  walls  up  to  the  beams."  Lime  mortar  had  not  yet 
come  into  common  use.  It  was  not  until  more  than  fifty  years  afterward 
that  limestone  was  discovered  in  the  Colony.  It  was  first  found  in  New- 
bury, in  1697,  by  ensign  James  Noyes,  and  occasioned  a  great  excitement. 
For  nearly  a  century  after  its  discovery,  large  quantities  were  annually 
made  in  that  town  for  export  as  well  as  for  home  use.  Prior  to  that  time, 
what  little  lime  was  used  was  manufactured  from  oyster  and  clam-shells 

In  1648,  Thomas  Hale  was  appointed  fen-yman,  probably  for  that  year 


84  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

only ;  and  it  does  not  appear  that  any  was  afterward  appointed ;  for,  at  the 
September  term,  KJa"),  "  Ye  Court  being  informed  yt  there  is  no  fery  over 
Merrimack  river,  at  Haverill,  the  courte  orders  Eobert  Haseltine  to  keepe 
a  fery  over  the  said  river ;  and  to  have  of  strangers  4d  a  person,  if  they 
pay  presently ;  and  Gd  if  bookt ;  and  to  keepe  entertaynement  for  horse 
and  man,  for  one  yeare,  unless  the  General  Court  take  further  orders." 
Haseltine  lived  on  the  Bradford  shore  of  the  river. 

About  this  time  considerable  difficulty  arose  between  Mr.  Ward  and  a 
part  of  his  people  concerning  his  salary,  which  was  thought  by  the  latter 
to  be  exorbitant.  It  seems  that  the  difficulty  had  become  so  great,  it  was 
deemed  necessary  to  call  a  council  of  the  neighboring  clergymen.  The 
following  is  the  order  of  the  council  of  the  Commonwealth,  touching 
the  matter :  — 

"  Att  a  Council  held  at  Boston  the  14th  of  Augiist  1656." 

The  Councill  being  Informed  by  the  Honnored  Govnr  and  Deput  Govnr 
of  the  vncomfortable  differences  that  of  late  haue  fallen  out  in  the  churches 
of  Christ  at  Hauerill  and  Salisbury  notwthstanding  seuerall  Indeavors  to 
Compose  the  same,  which  yett  haue  binn  fruitelesse,  out  of  theire  tender 
care  to  preserve  &  procure  peace  &  vnitje  amongst  them  lately  wrote  to 
the  said  church  in  an  Amicable  way  to  Advise  &  Counsell  them  forthwith 
to  call  in  to  theire  help  such  counsell  from  theire  Neighboring  churches, 
as  the  Eule  prescribes ;  from  whose  labors  thro  the  blessing  of  God  a 
blessing  might  haue  bin  expected  wch  too  great  a  part  of  those  churches 
as  they  vnderstand  is  farr  from  Inclyning  vnto  The  Councill  Judging  it  to 
be  theire  duty  to  take  an  effectuall  Course  for  the  healing  of  theire  breaches 
Doe  Order  and  Desire  that  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  Boston  Cambridg 
and  Ipswich  doe  each  of  them  respectively  send  two  messengers  to  meete 
at  Hauerell  &  Salisbury  as  hereafter  is  exprcst  i  e.  to  meete  at  Hauerill 
on  the  twenty  seventh  day  of  this  Instant  August  by  eight  of  the  clock  in 
the  morning  to  consider  &  Advise  in  the  primisses  viz  to  endeavor  to  com- 
pose &  sitle  the  distractions  at  Hauerill  to  give  theire  Judgments  in  the 
Cases  of  differences  there  And :  at  Salisbury  the  day  after  theire  Issuing 
or  Rising  from  Hauerill  for  ye  ends  aboue  exprst  And  It  is  expected  & 
desired  that  the  churches  of  Hauerell  &  Salisbury  and  all  persons  con- 
cerned therein  in  either  of  the  sajd  places,  give  this  Councill  at  the  time 
&  place  aforesajd  the  opportunity  of  meeting  wth  them  to  declare  what 
shall  Concerne  themselves  or  the  Councill  see  cawse  to  Enquire  of  them 
in  reference  to  this  buisnes.  And  It  is  Ordered  that  mr  Eobert  Cleaments 
for  Hauerill  mr  Samuell  Hall  for  Salisbury  shall  take  Care  for  the  en. 

e  Bute  ArchiTeSi  Eccl.  Vol.  10,  p.  36. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  85 

tertajnement  of  the  sajd  Councill  &  all  persons  concerned  therein  wch  shall 
he  sattisfied  by  the  Tresurer.  And  It  is  ordered  the  sajd  Councill  haue 
liberty  to  Adjourne  to  some  other  place  if  they  shall  see  cawse  making 
theire  retourne  to  the  Councill  of  this  Jurisdiction  what  successe  theire 
endeavors  through  the  blessing  of  God  haue  procured  and  where  the  fault 
hath  binn  or  is  that  so  if  necessity  Require  such  further  Course  may 
be  taken  therein  as  may  most  conduce  to  ye  Glory  of  God  the  vniting  of 
theire  harts  to  vnity  in  truth  &  peace  accordingto  the  Eule  of  the  Gospell 

By  ye  Councill  Edward  Eawson  Secret 

The  difficulties  were  not,  however,  wholly  confined  to  the  matter  of 
salary,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the 
above  ordered  Coancil:  — 

Haverill  August  28  1656 

Quest.  1.  AVhether  Henry  Palmer  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Haverill, 
being  by  publike  arbitration  censured  as  a  delinquent  in  point  of  Defama- 
tion of  Rob.  Swan  a  member  also  of  Rowley  church,  it  be  ye  duty  of  ye 
Church  of  Haverill  to  take  church-notice  thereof,  &  if  thereupon  it  shall 
appear  also  to  the  church  that  He  is  an  offender,  then  to  proceed  with  him 
in  a  church- way  ? 

Ans.  1.  The  sentence  of  ye  Arbitration  being  publicke  there  was  Just 
cause  why  ye  church  should  orderly  inquire  into  ye  matter  ;  whose  duty 
it  is  to  see  to  ye  inoffensivenes  of  their  members. 

2.  1.  The  Censure  of  ye  Arbitratours  as  such  was  not  a  sufficient 
Ground  why  the  church  should  censure  Henry  Palmer,  1.  because  the 
Church  Judicature  is  distinct  from  &  not  depending  upon  the  Ciuill  Judi- 
cature: Those  two  polities  are  coordinate  not  subordinate.  2.  The  church 
is  to  Act  1.  her  owne  faith,  &  not  to  be  led  by  example  further  then  shee 
finds  it  conformable  to  rule.  2.  Henry  Palmers  satisfaction  to  civil  order 
was  not  as  such  satisfaction  to  the  church :  As  satisfaction  to  the  church 
in  case  of  offence  is  no  satisfaction  to  ye  Coui*t.  Because  their  Institution, 
meanes  &  ends  are  Divers. 

3.  1.  Goodman  Palmer  did  well  in  presenting  the  case  unto  the  rever- 
end Teacher,  &  in  desireing  that  by  him  it  might  be  brought  unto  the 
Church.  2.  We  also  conceive  that  there  was  too  gTcat  appearance  of  much 
iniquity  on  Goodman  Swans  part  in  this  matter.  8.  Yet  in  regard  the  wit- 
nesses are  detected  of  such  falsehood  in  point  of  Testimony  concerning  this 
Business  as  renders  them  incompetent  to  establish  a  matter  before  the 
church  ;  Therefore  Goodm.  Palmer  his  charging  of  Goodm  Swan  with  Sin 
(especially  of  such  nature)  thereupon,  was  not  without  Sin  because  with- 
out sufficient  ground  before  the  church.     The  acknowledgement  whereof 


86  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

as  we  commend  to  &  hope  it  will  not  be  grievous  unto  our  Broth,  palmer ; 
so  we  desire  it  may  be  accepted  of  the  Church,  &  that  in  such  manner  as 
his  Infirmity  herein  (too  common  unto  ye  Best)  being  forgiven  all  regular 
zeale  against  sin  both  in  Him  and  others  may  yet  receive  due  incourage- 
ment. 

Quest.  2.  Whether  Kobert  Hazleton  did  in  the  case  between  Henry 
Palmer  &  Eobert  Swan  give  Testimony  upon  oath,  yea  or  no  ? 

Ans.  The  scope  of  this  Question  being  whether  as  to  man  the  oath  was 
Taken  yea  or  not ;  to  pronounce  positively  concerning  the  taking  or  not 
taking  thereof  the  Case  requireth  not.  But  that  it  wa^  taken  is  not  a 
Truth  as  to  the  Church,  Before  which  a  matter  is  not  to  stand  without  two 
or  three  witnesses.  There  beeing  therefore  as  concerning  this  Question,  so 
much  for  ye  negative  &  no  positive  Testimony  save  only  that  of  of  Thomas 
Aires  for  the  affirmative  ;  the  Church  cannot  receive  it  as  a  Truth  nor  may 
admit  any  further  debate  about  it,  without  the  Hazard  of  her  peace  & 
prejudice  to  edification 

Hence  wee  conceive  the  Act  of  Thomas  Aires  in  Charging  &  urging 
the  prosecution  of  those  Brethren  in  a  church  way  who  said  it  was  not 
Taken,  &  that  to  the  Hindrance  of  the  celebration  of  ye  Lords  Supper 
then  intended  to  be  iiTegular  &  in  the  nature  of  it  of  much  ill  consequence. 

The  Council  subsequently  reported  that  "through  the  blessing  of  God, 
the  differences  were  in  a  good  measure  composed,  and  their  ministers  set- 
tled amongst  them,"=-  They  decided  that  Mr.  Ward  should  be  paid  fifty 
pounds  per  annum  ;  which  were  to  be  paid  in  wheat,  rye,  and  Indian  corn. 
They  also  specified  how  Mr.  Ward's  rate  should  be  made,  and  collected. 
Men  were  to  be  appointed  yearly  "  to  cut,  make,  and  bring  home  his  hay 
and  wood,"  who  were  to  be  paid  out  of  his  salary. 

The  next  Court  ordered  the  Constable  of  Haverhill  to  levy,  by  way  of 
Kate,  on  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill,  the  sum  of  £12.  19s.  "  for  the  satis- 
fying of  Mr.  John  Clements  for  the  charges  expended  in  Haverhill"  by 
the  Council. 

This  year  Michael  Emerson  moved  into  town,  and  settled  near  the 
White  house,  on  Mill  Street.  The  grantees  offered  that  if  he  would  "go 
back  into  the  woods,"  they  would  give  him  a  tract  of  land.  He  accepted 
the  offer,  and  settled  not  far  from  the  corner  of  Primrose  and  Winter 
Streets.  The  "Emerson  Estate,"  on  the  south  side  of  the  latter  street^ 
is  a  part  of  the  original  tract  granted  to  Michael  Emerson. 

"  The  Council's  return  to  the  General  Court  was  "only  a  verbal  return."— C.  li.  4 — 210. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  87 

In  July  of  this  year,  the  first  Quakers  arrived  in  the  colony,  and  soon 
was  commenced  what  is  generally  called  the  persecution  of  the  Quakers. 
Their  books  were  burned,  and  a  sentence  of  banishment  passed  upon  them. 
Severe  penalties  were  prescribed,  even  to  maiming  and  death,  for  all 
such  as  should  return  into  the  jurisdiction  after  their  banishment.  Under 
this  law,  four  pei-sons  were  executed.  In  1661,  the  King  issued  an  order 
requiring  that  this  punishment  of  his  subjects,  called  Quakers,  should 
cease.     The  order  was  obeyed,  and  all  disturbances  by  degrees  subsided. 

Early  in  the  year  1657,  "Goodman  Simons"  was  appointed  to  keep  the 
ferry  on  the  "  G-reat  Eiver."  If  he  had  only  a  canoe,  he  was  to  ferry  sin- 
gle persons  for  two-pence,  and  cattle  for  four-pence  each  ;  but  if  he 
provided  a  suitable  boat,  his  price  was  to  be  six-pence  a  head  for  cattle 
two-pence  for  sheep  and  hogs,  and  three-pence  for  strangers. 

At  the  town  meeting  of  March  6th,  John  Hutchins,  of  Newbury,  was 
granted  liberty  to  set  a  wear  in  the  Merrimack,  "  at  the  little  island  above 
the  town  by  the  falls."  He  was  to  have  the  use  of  the  island  and  the 
flats  to  dry  his  fish.  For  these  privileges,  he  was  to  "  sell  fish  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  for  such  pay  as  the  town  can  make;"  (that  is, 
exchange  for  such  produce,  &c.,  as  they  could  spare).  He  was  also  "  to  sell 
them  dry  fish  at  merchants  prices,  for  their  own  spending,  before  any 
other."  The  town  also  granted  him  a  houselot  and  other  land.  Hutchins 
agreed  to  have  his  works  finished  within  two  years,  and  doubtless  did  so. 

Previous  to  this  time,  no  one  was  required  to  pay  public  rates,  or  taxes, 
unless  he  was  a  freeholder.  From  the  first,  there  were  some  in  town  who 
did  not  own  any  real  estate,  and  as  their  number  increased  with  the  gen- 
eral increase  of  the  inhabitants,  it  was  at  length  obvious  that  as  they 
'•  partook  of  the  benefits  of  the  church  and  commonwealth,"  they  ought 
also  to  share  in  the  labor  of  maintaining  them.  Accordingly  the  town 
voted  that  if  any  person  moved  into  town  who  was  not  a  freeholder,  he 
should  be  taxed  for  these  purposes  according  to  his  "  visible  estate,"  or  by 
estimation  of  the  selectmen. 

In  January,  1658,  a  third  division  of  meadow  was  granted,  and  ordered 
to  be  laid  out  before  the  15th  of  May  next,  at  the  rate  of  half  an  acre  to 
an  acre  of  accommodation.  Forty-one  persons  drew  lots  in  this  division. 
The  only  new  name  we  find  among  them,  is  that  of  William  Simmons. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that,  if  any  person  had  no  convenient 
road  to  his  upland,  or  meadow,  upon  his  complaint  to  the  town,  two  men 
were  to  be  chosen  to  lay  one  out,  whose  charges  should  be  defrayed  by  the 
town. 

There  seems  to  have  been  a  great  deal  of  laying  down  and  taking  up  land 
this  year,  by  the  inhabitants.     At  one  time  it  appears  as  if  "  the  plain  " 


88  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

was  the  favorite  spot  for  locating ;  and,  anon,  the  ovmers  in  the  plain  are 
suddenly  laying  down  their  land,  and  rushing  "  over  the  Little  Eiver  west- 
ward." No  sooner  have  they  done  this,  than  the  Little  Eiver  people  make 
haste  to  take  up  the  land  in  the  plain.  A  study  of  these  cross-cut  move- 
ments among  the  early  settlers,  leads  us  to  the  sage  conclusion  that  "hu- 
man nature  is  human  nature,"  the  world  over. 

It  appears  that  the  inhabitants  suffered  considerably  for  the  want  of  a 
blacksmith.  To  obviate  this  difficulty,  a  contract  was  signed  by  Mr. 
Ward  and  nineteen  others,  in  which  each  agi*ee  to  pay  Mr.  Jewett  his 
proportion  of  twenty  pounds,  to  purchase  his  house  and  land,  which  the 
contractors  gave  to  John  Johnson,  "  provided  he  live  here  seven  years, 
following  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  doing  the  town's  work ;  also,  the 
said  John  Johnson  doth  promise  to  refuse  to  work  for  any  that  refuse  to 
pay  towards  this  purchase,  untill  they  bring  under  the  Selectmen's  hands 
that  they  will  pay."  This  house  stood  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by 
the  Exchange  building.  Water  Street.  Until  recently,  this  land  has  been 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett,  a  lineal  descendant  from  the 
above  John  Johnson.  He  was  also  the  ancestor  of  most  of  the  Johnsons  in 
the  town. 

Johnson  came  from  Charlestown,  where  he  married,  October  15,  1656, 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elias  Maverick,  and  had  one  child,  John  (born 
Augusts,  1657)  previous  to  his  removal  to  Haverhill.  It  is  worthy  of 
note,  that  the  same  trade  has  been  almost  or  quite  constantly  carried  on 
in  this  town,  since  that  time,  by  his  lineal  descendants.  Washington 
Johnson,  son  of  John,  (who  was  also  a  blacksmith,)  still  exercises  the 
trade,  and  his  shop  stands  on  land  once  belonging  to  the  oiiginal  John 
Johnson. 

The  following  arc  the  names  pf  those  who  entered  into  the  above  agree- 
ment with  Johnson  :  — • 

•'  Mr.  John  Ward,  John  Heath,  for  himself  &  Thomas 
Joseph  Jewett,  Lilford, 

John  Eaton,  James  Davis,  jun, 

James  Davis  sen,  Thomas  Whittier, 

Henry  Palmer,  William  Simons, 

William  White,  Hugh  Sherratt, 

Thomas  Daivis,  Samuel  Guile, 

Robert  Swan,  Daniel   Ella  promised    to    give  five 
Theoj)hilus  Satchwell,  shillings  towards  this  purchase. 

-  George  Browne,  Steven  Kent  12  shillings," 
Bartholomew  Heath, 


HISTORY   OP    HAVERHILL.  89 

The  first  regular  deed  of  Eeal  Estate  in  the  town,  that  we  can  find  re- 
corded, is  that  of  Thomas  Sleeper  and  wife,  to  Wm.  White,  under  date  of 
October  11,  1659.     The  form  is  very  nearly  that  in  present  use. 

The  same  year,  a  fourth  division  of  upland  was  laid  out,  beyond  Spig- 
got  River,  (in  what  is  now  Salem,  X.  H.)  It  was  ordered  to  be  bounded 
south  by  the  Merrimack,  north  by  Shatswell's  Pond,  west  by  the  town's 
bounds,  and  to  run  eastward  until  the  lots  were  all  drawn.  It  was  divided 
into  forty-nine  lots,  all  but  three  of  which  were  drawn.  They  were  laid 
out  one  mile  in  length,  and  at  the  rate  of  twenty  acres  to  one  acre  of 
accommodation  land. 

At  the  meeting  of  November  23d,  it  was  voted  that  if  a  town  meeting 
was  publicly  warned  on  a  Lecture  day,  it  should  be  considered  a  sufiicient 
notice.  It  was  also  voted  that  no  man  should  be  taken  into  town  as 
an  inhabitant,  or  "  town  dweller,"  without  the  consent  of  the  town. 
As  the  inhabitants  were  proprietors  of  the  soil,  and  had  a  flourishing  set- 
tlement well  established,  we  surely  cannot  blame  them  for  exercising  their 
undoubted  right  to  say  who  should  be  their  associates,  and  share  in 
their  important  advantages  and  privileges.  It  was  also  voted  that  none 
should  be  allowed  to  vote  in  town  aifairs,  without  consent  from  the  town, 
except  as  the  law  gave  them  that  privilege. 

The  population  of  the  town  now  began  to  increase  more  rapidly.  The 
beauty  of  the  location,  the  sober  industry  and  thrift  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  their  liberality  toward  new  comers  generally,  were  inducements  that 
ere  this  were  widely  known,  and  many  were  eager  to  become  an  inhabitant 
of  the  town. 

Under  such  circumstances,  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  meeting-house 
had  already  been  found  too  small  to  accommodate  the  worshippers.  To 
remedy  the  inconvenience,  the  town  appointed  a  committee  to  enlarge  and 
repair  the  house,  according  to  their  best  discretion;  and  "to  finish  it, 
and  make  seats  in  it,  and  also  to  sell  land  for  to  pay  the  workmen,  not  ex- 
ceeding twenty  acres  in  the  cow-common. "=•■= 

Daniel  Ladd  and  Theophilus  Shatswell,  having  received  liberty  from 
the  town,  erected  a  saw-mill  on  Spiggot   (Spicket)   Elver.     It  was  built 


<*  This  is  the  first  notice  we  find  of  a  cow-common,  though  it  appears  one  had  previously  heen  laid  out. 
Like  many  other  matters,  no  record  had  been  made  of  it.  The  common  alluded  to,  was  that  situated 
nearly  due  north  from  the  bridge,  on  the  south  and  west  of  Round  Pond.  A  part  of  it  is  still  known  as 
the  "  Commons." 

12 


90  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

within  the  present  limits  of  Salem,  N.  H.,  and  was  the  first  one  erected 
upon  that  stream.  The  proprietors  were  required  to  pay  the  town  five 
pounds  per  annum  for  the  privilege. 

Sometime  this  year,  John  Clement  sailed  for  England,  and  on  his  out- 
ward voyage  was  cast  away  and  drowned.  At  the  September  term, 
Eobert,  his  brother,  applied  to  the  Court  to  be  appointed  administrator  of 
his  estate.  This  is  the  first  notice  we  have  of  an  administratorship  in  the 
town.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Eecord :  — ■• 

"  John  Clements  late  of  Haverhill,  being  by  God's  providence  cast  away 
and  dying  intestate,  the  worshipful  Mr.  Samuel  Symonds,  and  Major  Gen- 
eral Denizen  the  Clarke,  being  present,  granted  administration  unto  Eobert 
Clements  of  the  estate  of  John  Clements  deceased,  he  to  bring  an  inven- 
tory to  Ipswich  Court  next,  and  then  the  Court  to  take  further  orders." 

In  the  following  year,  Eobert  Clement  "brought  in  an  accompt  to  this 
court  of  his  charges  expended  in  his  voiage  to  England  and  Ireland,  his 
brother  John,  his  wife  and  children  ;  and  upon  the  request  of  his  brother 
Job  and  Sisters,  the  court  confirmed  the  administration  unto  Eobert 
Clements  of  the  estate  of  his  brother  John  Clements.  "=•■- 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court  in  October,  1659,  asking 
for  the  grant  of  "  a  tract  of  land  twelve  miles  square,  in  a  place  called 
Pennacooke."  The  petitioners  were  from  Newbury,  Mass.,  and  Dover, 
N.  H.  The  court  granted  them  eight  miles  square,  on  certain  conditions, 
which  were  not,  however,  complied  with.  Pennacook,  now  Concord,  N.  H., 
was  not  settled  till  1726. 

In  these  days  of  rapid  movements,  it  seems  almost  incredible  that  nearly 
a  century  should  intervene  between  the  settlement  of  this  town  and  the 
rich  and  extensive  intervales  of  Penacook,  only  forty  miles  distant.  But 
so  it  was.     Haverhill  was  a  frontier  town  for  more  than  seventy  years. 


<*  John  Clements  was  the  son  of  Robert,  senior.    He  married  Saxab,  daughter  of  John  Osgood,  of  Ando- 
yer,  by  whom  he  had  four  danghters. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL,  91 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


1660  TO  1669. 


The  early  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  seem  to  have  had  a  strong  desire  for 
a.  large  town.  We  have  seen  that  as  early  as  1644,  they  petitioned  for 
more  land;  and  again  in  1648 ;  and  for  a  long  series  of  years  they  were 
disputing  with  Salisbury  about  a  few  acres  of  meadow  ;  and  when  the 
General  Court  granted  Major  Dennison  a  tract  of  land  "  on  the  other  side 
of  Merrimack,  about  sixe  miles  above  Andover,"  in  1660,  it  was  found 
that  Haverhill  claimed  the  land  as  within  the  bounds  of  their  town !  The 
Court  evidently  thought  that  this  was  claiming  altogether  too  much,  and 
they  accordingly  ordered  "that  the  townsmen  of  Haverhill  be  required 
by  warrant  from  the  secretary  to  appear  at  the  next  sessions  of  this  Court, 
to  show  a  reason  why  they  have  marked  bound  trees  at  so  great  a  distance 
from  their  town  up  Merremacke  River  and  also  to  give  an  account  of  the 
bounds  of  their  town,  and  upon  what  right  they  lay  claim  to  so  long  a 
tract  of  land. 

The  town  chose  James  Davis  and  Theophilus  Shatswell  "  to  answer  the 
warrant  of  the  General  Court  concerning  the  bounds."  They  were  voted 
to  be  paid  "  ten  groats  per  day  "  each,  for  their  services. 

At  the  November  meeting,  it  was  ordered  that  the  land  "behind  the 
meeting  house  should  be  reserved  for  a  burial  ground."  This  is  the  first 
mention  we  find  in  relation  to  a  burial  ground,  but  as  the  old  English 
custom  was  to  appropriate  a  spot  near  the  church  for  that  purpose,  which 
they  called  "  Grod's  acre,"  we  presume  that  from  the  first  settlement,  the 
dead  had  been  buried  near  the  meeting  house,  and  that  this  vote  was 
merely  the  formal  setting  apart  of  the  place  for  that  purpose.  The  spot 
referred  to,  was  the  central  part  of  the  old  burial  ground,  now  called 
■"Pentucket  Cemetery." 

lit  the  same  meeting,  ten  acres  of  meadow,  and  two  hundred  acres  of 
upland,  were  granted  for  a  parsonage  to  Mr.  Ward  and  his  successors. 

A  second  ox-common  was  also  granted,  on  the  petition  of  six  persons. 
It  was  situated  between  Merrie's  Creek  and  a  small  brook  which  issues 
from  West-meadow.     Eighteen  oxen  were  kept  upon  it. 

The  first  public  school  in  the  town  was  established  about  this  time  ;  the 
instructor  was   Thomas  Wasse,  whose  salary  was  ten  pounds  per  year. 


92  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

He  also  taugLt  school  in  Ipswich,  (Chebaco  Parish)  and  at  Kewhury.  He 
died  at  Newbury  May  18,  1691.  "\Yassc  kept  the  school  in  Haverhill  from 
1G60  to  1073,  and  perhaps  later. 

It  seems  that  the  inhabitants  were  still  troubled  about  their  mills.  At 
the  above  meeting,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  request  the  executors  of  Mr. 
(John)  Clements  to  repair  the  mill,  or  "  desert  the  place."  If  they  re- 
fused, the  committee  were  to  "force  them  by  law." 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  recorded  nineteen  marriages,  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  births,  and  thirty  deaths. 

At  the  town  meeting  of  February  28,  IGGl,  a  fourth  division  \)f  meadow 
was  ordered  to  be  laid  out.     Fifty-three  lots  were  drawn.''' 

The  road  near  "  hucklebery  hill  "  was  laid  out  this  year;  ana  the  ox- 
common  was  divided  into  two  parts  ; — the  division  line  running  nt^rth  and 
south.  Those  who  lived  east  of  Mill  Brook  were  to  occupy  the  eastern 
part  of  the  ox-common,  and  those  who  lived  west  of  the  brook,  the  west- 
ern part. 

At  the  same  meeting,  the  following  vote  was  passed: — "Toted  and 
granted  that  there  shall  be  laid  out  to  every  one  that  will,  either  now,  or 
hereafter,  to  evcrj'  four  acres  of  commonage,  two  ox-pastures,  proportion- 
able to  the  first  ox-common,  provided  they  make  their  title  appear  to  the 
town." 

These  two  votes  indicate  the  change  already  taking  place  in  the  town. 
The  settlers  were  fast  approaching  the  present  individuality  in  property. 
Each  man  desired  to  be  lord  over  his  own  domains,  —  king  in  his  own 
castle.  The  latter  vote  allowed  each  man  to  have  his  ox-pasture  by  him- 
self, if  he  so  desired,  and  at  the  next  annual  meeting  the  large  ox-commou 
laid  out  in  1654,  was  divided,  and  parceled  out  to  the  persons  entitled  to 
shares  in  it ;  and  various  persons  had  private  ox-commons,  or  pastures, 
laid  out  for  them. 

The  settlers  had  already  begun  to  form  their  lands  into  farms,  by  "  lay- 
ing down,"  "  taking  up,"  buying,  selling,  and  exchanging  lots  ;  many  had 
built  themselves  houses,  and  removed  their  families  on  to  their  farms ; 
and  the  best  part  of  the  town's  territory  was  fast  becoming  dotted  with 
the  cottages  of  the  settlers. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  town,  the  following  vote  was  passed :  — 
"  Voted  and  granted  that  all  such  grants  of  land  which  the  inhabitants  of 
Haverhill  are  already  legally  possessed  of  or  may  hereafter  be  legally 

<*  Amonjr  the  names,  we  notice  the  following,  not  before  mentioned  in  the  divisions  of  land:  —  John 
Johnson,  Ephraim  Davis,  John  Carleton,  James  Pecker,  John  Eemington,  William  Deale,  Michael  Emer- 
son, Daniel  Ela,  Joseph  Johnson,  John  Eaton. 


HISTORY    01"    HAVERHILL.  93 

possessed  of  in  the  town  of  Haverhill,  shall  remain  to  them,  their  heirs, 
executors,  administrators  and  assigns  forever,  excepting  such  gi'ants  as 
are  or  shall  be  made  to  some  men  during  the  towns  pleasure,  or  for  a  set 
time." 

This  vote  was  but  another  step  in  the  direction  already  indicated,  and 
shows  us  still  more  plainly  the  prevailing  desire  for  independent  land 
ownership.  The  laying  out  of  highways  now  became  nearly  as  frequent 
as  the  laying  out  of  lots  had  been  previously  ;=•■'  the  land  rapidly  increased 
in  value  and  productiveness,  and  the  town  in  population  and  wealth. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  town  records,  though  they  do  not  give 
a  list  of  all  the  houses  built  in  the  years  mentioned,  yet  show  that  the 
town  was  increasing  with  great  rapidityf  :  — 

"  Cottages.  Whereas  the  law  provides  for  the  prevention  of  the  great 
inconvenience  and  damage  that  otherways  would  accrue  by  those  persons 
that  have  built  houses  or  cottages  upon  the  common,  or  their  own  land, 
since  1660,  that  have  not  lawful  right  thereunto,  to  the  great  prejudice  of 
the  house  proprietors.  Thereof  we  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed, 
do  judge  it  meet  for  the  prevention  as  abovesaid,  and  do  here  set  down  the 
names  of  those  that  have  built  houses  upon  the  Common  of  Haverhill,  or 
their  own  land,  since  the  year  above-said. 

Samuel  Davis,  Thomas  Whittier,  Stephen  Webster, 

James  Davis  jun,  Abraham  Whiticker.  James  Peacker, 

John  Swaddock,  Samuell  Coulby,  Daniel  Ladd  jun, 

Samuel  Gilde  sen.  Samuell  Currier,  Mathias  Button, 

Bartholomew  Heath,  Benjamin  Page,  Stephen  Dow, 

Nathaniel  Smith  John  Page  jun,  John  Eyer, 

Will:  Neff,  Joshua  Woodman. 

(Signed)  George  Browne,  Daniel  Lad  sen,  John  Haseltine,  Joseph  Davis, 
Selectmen  of  Haverhill,  in  the  year  1668." 

'^  The  highway  between  this  town  and  Newbury  was  formally  laid  out  this  year. 

•f  On  the  15th  of  March,  1660,  the  town  of  Ipswich  adopted  the  following  order :  — 

"For  as  much  as  it  is  found  by  experience,  that  the  common  lands  of  this  town  are  overburdened  by 
the  multiplying  of  dwelling-houses,  contrary  to  the  interest  and  me.-ning  of  the  first  inhabitants  in  their 
granting  of  house  lots  and  other  lands  to  such  as  came  among  them  :  to  the  end  such  inconveniences  may 
be  prevented  for  the  future,  it  is  ordered  that  no  house,  henceforth  erected,  shall  have  any  right  to  the 
common  lands  of  this  town,  nor  any  person,  inhabiting  such  house,  make  use  of  any  pasture,  timber,  or 
wood,  growing  ujion  any  of  said  common  lands,  on  pretest  of  any  right  or  title  belonging  to  any  such 
house  hereafter  built,  without  express  leave  of  the  town.  It  is  further  ordered,  that  the  Seven  men,  in 
behalf  of  the  town,  petition  the  nest  General  Court  for  the  confirmation  of  this  order." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  petition,  the  General  Court  passed  a  law.  May  30,  1G60,  that  "no  cot- 
tage or  dwelling  shall  have  commonage,  except  those  now  built,  or  which  may  be  by  consent  of  the 
commoners  or  towns."  It  was  this  law  which  occasioned  a  record  of  the  erection  of  these  cottages  to  be 
made. 


94  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

"  A  list  of  more  houses  that  are  and  fall  under  the  law  made  in  '60, 
prohibiting  them  from  privileges  in  Common  lands. 
Joseph  Davis,  Kobert  Ford,  John  Kingsbury, 

Daniel  Lad  sen,  Isaac  Colbie,  Thomas  Ayers, 

Joseph  Johnson, 
As  attest,  Henry  Palmer,  George  Brown,  James  Pecker,  Robert  Swan,  Steven 
Webster,  Selectmen  in  1669." 

"  A  list  of  more  houses  built  which  fall  under  the  law  made  1660  which 
prohibits  them  from  privileges  in  Common  lands. 

James  Kingsbery  Gilbert  Wilford,  Phillip  Eastman, 

Thomas  Duston,'-'  Math.  Harriman,  Josiah  Gage, 

Dan  Lad  jun.  2d,  Eob.  Emerson,  Jno.  Hartshorn, 

Thomas  Davis,  Joseph  Peasly,  Tho.  Hartshorn, 

'  Peter  Green,  Joseph  Page,  Widdow  Ayers, 

Joseph  Hutchins,  Josiah  Heath,  James  Sanders, 

Samll,  Hutchins,  Nicholas  Browne,  Jno.  Heath  jun, 

Steph.  Webster  2ud,  Samll.  Ladd,  Samll.  Bilknap, 

Thomas  Eastman,  Nath.  Singletcrry,  Peter  Brewer. 

"  This  account  was  entered  Jan  25:  75,  by  the  Selectmen. 
AVilliam   White,    George    Brown,   Daniel     Hendricks,    Thomas    Eatton, 
Selectmen  in  1675." 

"Feb  the  1st  1677.     An  account  of  more  Cottages  erected  since  Janu- 
ary 25,  75. 

Thomas  Duston,  Ptob.  Hastings,  James  Saunders  2d 

Jno.  llobie,  Ezra  Eolf. 

As  attest  Henry  Palmer,  Andrew  Guile,  George  Brown." 

"  More  cottages  erected  since  Feb  1.  77. 
Sam:  Ayers,  Thomas  Duston  2nd,t  John  AVhittier, 

Joseph  Kingsbery,  John  Williams,  John  Haseltine  jun 

Amos  Singletery,  Benj  Singletery. 

This  account  was  entered  January  13th  1679,  by  order  of  Henry  Palmer, 
George  Browne,  Daniel  Hendricks,  Robert  Emerson,  Selectmen." 

"  More  cottages  erected,  entered  Feb.  27.  81. 
Nath.  Haseltine,  Jno  Stockbridge,  Samll  Dalton, 

Jno  Johnson  jun,  Jno  Clement." 


o  This  was  probably  the  house  Dnston  sold  to  Peter  Green,  iu  1076. 

t  As  Duston  was  murried  December,  1C77,  it  is  probable  this  house  was  built  in  the  summer   of  that 
year,  and  was  the  one  in  which  he  resided  at  the  time  liis  wife  was  tal^eu  prisoner,  in  1097. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL,  95 

The  better  sort  of  Houses  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  years  ago,  were  two  stories  high,  with  upper  story  jutting  out 
a  foot  or  so  over  the  lower.  The  roofs  were  generally  high  and  steep,  and 
hipped,  or  gambreed.  The  frames  were  of  white  oak,  and  much  larger 
than  used  in  our  day,  and  the  beams  of  each  finished  room  were  left  con- 
siderably in  sight.  The  windows  were  from  two  and  a  half  to  three  feet 
long,  one  and  a  half  to  two  wide,  with  squares  like  the  figure  of  a  diamond, 
set  in  lead  lines,  and  from  three  to  four  inches  long.  These  windows  were 
sometimes  entire  and  sometimes  in  halves,  and  opened  outwardly  on  hinges. 
They  were  fashionable  until  after  about  1734.  Those  with  four  by  six 
glass  succeeded ;  then  five  by  seven ;  then  six  by  eight ;  then  seven  by 
nine,  set  in  wooden  frames,  —  which  began  to  be  used  about  1750. 

Lime-stone  was  little  known,  and  less  manufactured,  for  more  than  a 
century  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  and  the  walls  of  houses 
were  daubed  with  clay,  mixed  with  straw,  or  plastered  with  a  sort  of  lime 
made  in  great  part  of  clam-shells.  Paper  was  not  put  on  walls  until 
about  a  hundred  years  ago,  and  very  little  until  1783,  —  whitewash  being 
used  in  its  stead. 

Each  side  of  a  dwelling  had  bricks  laid  against  the  inner  partition,  be- 
ing then  covered  with  clay,  and  then  with  clay-boards,  (since  coiTupted  to 
clap-boards) ,  thus  making  them  comfortable  in  cold  weather,  as  well  as 
durable.  While  the  better  kind  of  buildings  were  shingled  on  the  top, 
others,  such  as  cottages  of  one  story,  had  thatched  roofs,  until  after  about 
1690.  The  latter  was  an  imitation  of  a  custom  in  England,  where  it 
still  exists  in  country  villages. 

Previous  to  1700,  very  few  if  any  houses  had  more  than  one  chimney. 
This  was  in  the  middle,  and  of  very  large  dimensions  ;  and,  besides  other 
fire-places,  had  a  mammoth  one  for  the  kitchen,  where  a  whole  family 
could  sit  conveniently  on  the  two  forms,  or  "  settles,"  placed  in  the  corners. 
The  writer  distinctly  remembers  sitting  in  such  a  fire-place,  gazing  at  the 
sky  above,  and  watching  the  upward  curling  smoke  from  the  huge  loos  be- 
fore him.  Thirty  cords  of  fire-wood  annually  was  not  then  thought 
extravagant  for  a  family. 

Paint  was  but  little  used  for  houses,  either  inside  or  outside,  before 
about  1734,  and  even  fifty  years  later  it  was  not  common  for  even  the 
"best  room  "to  be  thus  ornamented,  much  less  the  whole  house.  Very 
few  houses  were  painted  outside  as  late  as  1800. 

Mirick  says,  that  the  first  militia  company  was  organized  in  town  this 
year  (1662).  We  think  he  is  mistaken,  as  a  military  organization  most 
certainly  existed  in  town  as  early  as  1 648,  and  the  laws  of  the  colony  re- 


96  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHTLI,. 

quired  sucli  an  organization  to  be  kept  up  in  every  town.  ••*  It  is  true  that 
the  town  records  make  no  mention  of  a  company  previous  to  this  year,  but 
we  must  remember  that  but  a  small  part  of  the  transactions  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, even  in  their  collective  capacity,  are  recorded.  This  is  especially 
the  case  with  matters  regulated  by  the  General  Court,  of  which  this  under 
consideration  was  one. 

This  year,  William  White  was  chosen  Captain,  and  Daniel  Ladd  Lieu- 
tenant, and  we  presume  their  successors  were  regularly  chosen  for  many 
years  afterward. 

The  settlers  were  much  troubled  about  these  times  with  wolves,  which 
destroyed  large  numbers  of  sheep.  The  colony  and  the  county  had  offered 
large  premiums  for  every  wolf 's  head,  but  so  serious  were  their  depreda- 
tions that  the  town  offered,  as  an  addition  to  the  State  and  County  premium, 
a  bounty  of  forty  shillings  for  every  wolf  killed.  The  following  is  the 
vote:  "  If  any  Indian  shall  kill  a  wolf  in  Haverhill  bounds,  he,  or  they 
shall  have  for  every  wolf  so  killed,  forty  shillings." 

This  reference  to  Indians  does  not  prove  us  wrong  in  our  previous  spec- 
ulations as  to  Indians  in  the  toAvn,  or  weaken  our  position.  They  were 
undoubtedly  "  converted  "  Indians,  of  whom  there  were  at  this  time  hun- 
dreds in  the  colony,  scattered  among  the  several  towns  and  plantations,  as 
well  as  collected  in  Indian  villages.  We  well  know  that  one  of  these 
"  praying  "  Indians,  made  his  home  in  this  town  for  some  time,  and  was 
the  author  of  several  cold-blooded  murders  during  the  wars  that  followed. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  persons  engaged  in  the  work  of  converting 
the  aborigines  of  Massachusetts  to  the  Christian  faith,  was  liev.  John 
Elliott,  of  Koxbury.  He  commenced  his  active  labors  in  1646,  visiting 
the  different  tribes,  and  persuading  them  to  imitate  the  manners  and 
habits  of  their  civilized  neighbors.  In  1651,  his  converts  united  and 
built  a  town,  which  they  called  ISTatick.  In  166-1,  Mr.  Elliot  completed 
the  translation  of  the  Bible  into  the  Indian  language,  and  the  work  of  con- 
version increased,  until,  in  1695,  it  was  estimated  that  in  Martha's  Vine- 
yard alone  there  were  over  three  thousand  Indian  converts.  In  1674, 
there  were  fourteen  "  praying  towns  "  of  Indians  in  Massachusetts  alone. 
One  of  these  was  Wamesit,  (a  part  of  Tewksbury,  or  Lowell)  containing 
seventy-five  souls. 

Many  of  these  praying  Indians  lived  in  the  families  of  the  settlers,  and 
labored  for  them ;  and  were  allowed  many  privileges  previously  denied 

'■5  In  1616  the  militia  were  divided  into  thre«  rcsriments.  The  Court  appointed  the  Colonel  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel ;  the  regiments  elected  their  field  ollicers,  and  "  the  several  towns  "  were  to  make  choice  of 
some  suitable  persons  to  present  to  the  General  Court  for  •'  Captains  and  Lieutenants." — Col.  Rcc  1, 187. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  97 

them,  as,  for  instance,  the  possession  and  use  of  fire-arms.  It  \vas  these 
Indians  that  the  vote  of  the  town  evidently  referred  to,  and  not  the  origi- 
nal inhabitants  of  the  town. 

By  a  vote  of  the  town  the  same  year,  William  Simmons  received  "  the 
overplus  in  the  Constable's  hands  of  the  Country  rate,  to  satisfy  him  for 
his  curing  of  Matthias  Button."='-=     This  is  the  first  hint  we  can  find  of  any     \/ 
physician  being  in  town.     Simmons  was  at  this  time,  and  for  the  five 
years  previous,  the  town's  ferryman,  as  well  as  physician. 

We  mentioned,  under  date  of  1660,  that  the  town  laid  claim  to  land 
some  distance  west  of  Spicket  Kiver,  and  were  summoned  to  the  General 
Court  to  prove  their  claim  to  such  extensive  bounds.  The  following  which 
we  copy  from  the  Records  of  the  Court,  for  1664,  throws  light  upon  the 
result  of  that  investigation  :  — 

"  This  Court  hauing  in  October,  1660,  graunted  Major  Gencrll  Dennis- 
son  sixe  hundred  acres  of  land,  (formerly  graunted)  to  be  layed  out  be- 
yond Merrymack  Riuer,  a  litle  above  Old  Wills  planting  ground,  which 
land  was  then  clajmed  by  the  towne  of  Hauerill,  as  within  their  bound, 
for  which  they,  by  their  atturnays,  sumoned  to  appeare  at  that  Court,  did 
alleadg  seuerall  pleas,  which  the  Court  then  judged  invalid,  &  notwith- 
standing the  same,  they  then  graunted  the  six  hundred  acres,  provided  it 
were  not  within  seaven  miles  of  Hauerill  meeting  house,  which  sajd  sixe 
hundred  acres  being  since  laid  out,  as  above  exprest,  by  George  Abbot  & 
Thomas  Chandler,  &  retui'ned  to  this  Court  is  allowed  and  confirmed." 

This  does  not  seem  to  have  settled  the  matter  of  the  western  bounds  of 
the  town,  as  we  find  the  following  in  the  Records  for  October,  (1664)  :  — 

"  For  an  issue  in  the  case  in  difference  between  Mnjor  Generall  Den- 
nison  &  the  towne  of  Haverill,  relating  to  their  bounds,  the  Court 
judgeth  it  meete  to  confirme  the  bounds  of  Haverill,  not  extending  vpon 
the  river  above  eight  miles  from  their  meeting  house,  &  doe  confirm  unto 
Major  Generall  Dennison  his  farme  as  it  is  now  lajd  out." 

Though,  in  1662,  the  Court  would  only  allow  the  town  to  extend  seven 
miles  westward,  in  1664,  it  seems,  they  consented  to  add  another  mile. 
Reckoning  by  the  river,  this  would  make  the  western  bound  of  the  town 
at  least  four  viiles  west  of  its  ^present  hounds,  and  not  far  from  the  mouth 
of  Spicket  River  in  the  city  of  Lawrence. 

The  town  had,  however,  already  laid  out  land  to  some  of  its  inhabitants 

«  Matthias  Button  came  over  with  the  first  Governor  of  Massachusetts  (Endicott)  in  1628.  He  was 
living  in  a  thatched  house  in  Haverhill  as  late  as  1670,  and  gave  the  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbett  (of  Ipswich) 
some  of  the  facts  communicated  to  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  of  the  early  troubles  with  the  Indians.  He 
died  in  1672. 

13 


98  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL, 

still  further  west,  and  when  the  Major's  farm  was  finally  laid  out,  it  was 
obliged  to  lay  out  new  lots  instead  of  them,  in  another  place. 

From  the  Koxbury  church  records,  we  learn  that  there  was  a  severe 
drought  in  the  early  part  of  1662;  and  from  the  Hampton  Court  records, 
that  the  following  winter  was  very  moderate,  the  ground  not  freezing  un- 
til the  twentieth  of  December. 

In  1663,  the  town  voted  that  there  should  be  a  general  Town-Meeting 
holden  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  March,  annually,  "  for  the  granting  and 
selling  &  exchanging  of  lands  or  commonages,  if  the  town  see  cause,  & 
therefore  it  is  hereby  ordered,  that  all  the  other  town  or  other  meetings 
whatever,  after  this  day  is  ended,  shall  be,  &  are  hereby  prohibited  from 
acting  upon  those  grants  of  lands  or  commonages. "=■■' 

Previous  to  this,  there  was  no  regular  time  for  holding  town  meetings, 
or  acting  upon  land  matters.  The  day  above  designated  continued  to  be 
the  time  for  the  annual  meetings  until  1675,  when  it  was  changed  to  the 
last  Tuesday  in  February. 

Previous  to  this  time,  grants  of  land  were  seldom  recorded  in  the  town 
books  at  the  time  they  were  laid  out ;  —  thus,  Samuel  Gild's  grant  of 
1663,  was  not  entered  until  1690.  The  evil  tendency  of  this  loose  prac- 
tice was  too  glaring  to  escape  notice,  and,  in  1664,  a  step  was  taken  in 
the  right  direction,  by  requiring  all  future  grants  to  be  recorded  when  laid 
out.  This  was  followed  two  years  after,  by  an  order  requiring  that  all 
who  claimed  to  own  land  in  town,  should  bring  in  their  title  to  the  same, 
that  it  might  be  duly  examined  and  approved. 

At  a  meeting  in  December  1663,  it  was  voted  to  lay  out  the  way  "  for- 
merly called  Goodman  Ayers  cartway,"  and  leading  "from  Coflin's  Ordi- 
nary to  the  country  highway,"  as  a  public  highway,  and  twelve  rods  wide. 
This  "twelve  rod  way"  afterward  caused  the  town  considerable  trouble 
as  will  be  seen.  It  commenced  at  the  foot  of  "  Sander's  Hill  "  (near  the 
present  residence  of  Eichard  Stuart)  and  run  in  a  direct  line  to  the 
Merrimack,  striking  the  latter  about  one  fourth  of  a  mile  above  the  Eocks 
Bridge. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  in  1664,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  sell  a 
quantity  of  land,  to  pay  the  expense  of  building  a  pound.  This  was  the 
first  building  of  the  kind  erected  ;  it  was  built  of  wood  and  stood  near  the 
meeting  house. 

The  town  still  continued  to  be  troubled  with  wolves,  and  so  gi-eat  was 
the  damage  done  by  them,  that  the  town  again  offered  a  bounty  of  forty 

"  The  word  farm,  is  found  in  the  town  records  of  this  year  for  the  first  time. 


HISTORY    0¥    HAVERHILL.  99 

shillings  for  eaeh  one  killed,  in  addition  to  the  large  bounty  offered  by 
the  County. 

Mr.  John  Carleton  was  this  year  chosen  Town  Eecorder  and  Clerk  of 
the  Writs,  in  which  offices  he  continued  until  1668. 

An  old  manuscript  states  that  there  were  sixty-four  freemen  in  town 
this  year.     The  list  begins  with  "  Mr.  Ward  our  preacher." 

Another  cow-common  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out ;  it  extended  from 
Little  Eiver  to  a  place  then  called  North-meadow,  and  from  thence  to 
East-meadow. 

The  owners  of  the  saw-mill  were  this  year  allowed  the  use  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  to  pasture  their  oxen,  by  paying  an  annual  rent  of  "100 
boards." 

The  General  Court,  in  1664,  remitted  to  John  Hutchins,  late  constable 
of  Haverhill,  several  pounds,  for  coi-n  which  he  had  collected  for  taxes, 
but  which  was  consumed  by  fire,  while  yet  on  his  hands.  The  Court  also 
granted  him  twenty  shillings  "for  his  pains  in  executing  a  warrant  for 
the  apprehending  of  an  Indian  for  killing  his  squaw." 

At  the  annual  meeting* of  1665,  a  road  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out  from 
"  Holt's  Rocks,""'  just  below  the  present  Eocks  Bridge,  to  the  Country 
bridgb,  in  the  East-meadow. 

It  was  also  voted  that  Mr.  Ward,  with  three  others,  "  should  plan  and 
seat  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  in  the  seats  built  in  the  meeting  house." 

Nathaniel  Saltonstall  was  chosen  Captain  of  the  Militia  company,  and 
George  Browne,  Ensign.  The  flag  of  this  company  was  a  ground  field 
green,  with  a  red  cross,  "  with  a  white  field  in  ye  angle  according  to  ye 
antient  custom  of  our  own  English  Nation,  and  the  English  plantations  in 
America,  &  our  own  practice  in  our  ships  &  other  vessels,  by  order  of  ye 
Major  General."  The  military  forces  of  the  town,  and,  in  fact,  of  the 
whole  colony,  seem  to  have  been  well  organized  at  this  period. 

The  inhabitants  about  this  time  seem  to  have  been  much  troubled  for 
want  of  sufficient  mill  accommodations,  as  we  find  "  that  taking  into  con- 
sideration that  the  corn  mill  now  in  Haverhill  is  not  sufficient  to  answer 
the  town's  end  for  to  gi'ind  the  town's  corn,"  a  committee  was  chosen  to 
treat  with  John  Osgood  and  Andrew  Grealey,  the  owners  of  the  mill,  "  to 
know  whether  they  will  maintain  a  sufficient  mill  or  mills  for  to  answer 
the  end  of  the  town."  In  case  the  owners  should  neglect  or  refuse  to  do 
it,  the  committee  were  empowered  "  to  agree  with  any  other  men  that  will 
build  &  maintain  a  sufficient  mill  or  mills,  that  may  answer  the  end  of 
the  town  for  to  grind  the  town's  corn  sufficiently." 

"  Holt's  Rocks  were  so  called  from  one  Nicholas  Holt,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Newbury,  and  who 
sttcrward  settled  in  Audover.     He  kept  the  first  ferry  near  the  Eocks. 


100  HISTORY    07   HAVERHILL. 

This  vigorous  action  on  the  part  of  the  town  had  the  desired  effect.  An 
•agrecuient  was  entered  into  with  the  committee,  by  Bartholomew  Heath 
and  Andrew  Grealey,  to  the  following  eflFect :  — 

"  First,  to  repair  the  mill  that  now  is,  by  Sept  next :  &  if  this  mill 
proves  insufficient  to  answer  the  town's  end,  then  to  build  another  by 
September  following  ;  &  so  to  keep  &  maintain  from  time  to  time  a  suffi- 
cient corn  mill  or  mills,  suitable  for  all  sorts  of  grain  that  the  inhabitants 
of  Haverhill  shall  have  occasion  to  grind :  and  also  to  keep  a  sufficient 
skilful  miller,  or  millers,  such  as  the  town  shall  approve  of  from  time  to 
time  ;  &  further  do  engage  to  provide  good  millstones ;  and  convenient 
room  for  the  laying  of  the  bags,  with  sufficient  housing  with  lock  and  key  : 
&  also  we  do  engage  not  to  grind  for  any  other  town  or  towns  to  the  hin- 
drance of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill." 

In  consideration  of  the  above,  the  town  agreed  that  Heath  and  Grealey 
should  "  have  so  much  privilege  of  the  land  in  the  street  on  both  sides  of 
the  brook  at  the  end  of  Michael  Emerson's  lot  as  may  be  convenient  to 
set  another  mill  on,  or  any  other  place  on  the  town's  land.  And  also  we 
do  engage  that  no  other  man  shall  set  up  a  mill  or  mills  upon  any  land 
that  is  the  town's  with  any  order  from  the  town."  The  agreement  ia 
dated  November  4,  1665. 

Among  the  names  met  with  in  the  records  of  this  year,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing new  ones :  —  William  Compton,  Roger  Lanceton. 

With  the  increase  of  population  came  the  necessity  of  more  extensive 
meeting  house  accommodations,  and  after  due  deliberation  it  was  voted  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  1666,  "yt  John  Hutchins  shall  have  libertie  to 
beuld  a  gallerey  at  ye  westend  of  ye  meeting  house,  and  to  take  any  of  ye 
inhabitants  of  ye  town  to  joyne  with  him,  provided  yt  he  give  nottise  to 
ye  towne  whether  he  will  or  noe  ye  next  training  day,  soe  yt  any  of  ye 
inhabitants  of  ye  towne  yt  hath  a  minde  to  joyne  with  him,  may  give  in 
their  naimes  ;  and  yt  there  is  none  but  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  towne  is  to 
have  any  interest  in  ye  said  gallery." 

At  the  same  meeting,  it  was  voted,  that  the  "  Selectmen,  chosen  for  the 
year  ensuing,  shall  have  power  to  act  in  any  prudential  affairs  according 
to  the  laws  of  the  country,  excepting  in  the  disposing  of  lands."  For 
years  afterward  this  vote  was  renewed  annually. 

From  the  records  of  the  County  Court,  we  learn,  that  John  Carleton  of 
this  town  was  fined  three  pounds  for  striking  Eobert  Swan  several  blows, 
&  Eobert  Swan  30s  for  striking  John  Carleton  several  blows."  We  com- 
mend the  wisdom  of  the  Court  in  punishing  both  parties. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL,  101 

The  bounds  of  the  town  were  not,  it  seems,  yet  fully  settled,  but  con- 
tinued to  occupy  the  attention  both  of  the  town  and  the  General  Court, 
until  the  latter  evidently  considered  it  high  time  the  matter  was  finally 
disposed  of. 

Accordingly,  at  the  May  session  of  1666,  "  Left  Thomas  Noyes,  of 
Sudbury,  John  Parker  of  Billirrikey,  &  Left  Challice,  of  Salisbury  New- 
toune,"  were  "  appointed  a  committee  to  run  the  bounds  of  the  town  of 
Haverill,  &  make  returne  thereof  to  the  next  session  of  the  Court." 

At  the  session  of  the  succeeding  May,  the  following  report  was  submit- 
ted to  the  court :  — 

"  In  obedience  to  an  order  of  the  honored  Generall  Court,  dated  the 
23d  of  May,  1666,  Thomas  Noyes,  of  Sudbury,  Lieftenant  Challice,  of 
Salisbury,  New  towne,  John  Parker,  of  Billirrikey,  did  meete  at  Haverill, 
the  31st  day  of  October  1666,  to  runn  the  bounds  of  Haverill,  according 
to  order  committed  unto  us.  Wee  began  at  the  meeting  house,  and  runne 
a  due  west  Ijne  just  eight  miles ;  there  wee  reared  up  a  heape  of  stones,  & 
from  thence  runn  a  due  south  Ijne  to  Men-ymacke  River,  &  stated"-^  a  due 
north  Ijne  from  the  sajd  heape  of  stones  to  meet  with  &  close  the  Ijne 
northwest  from  the  bound  at  Merrimack  Eiver  that  divides  between  Hav- 
erill &  Salisbury,  which  bound  is  just  two  miles  &  fowerteen  score  poles 
from  Haverill  meeting  house,  which  lyeth  about  east  north  east,  &  there 
we  cease  our  worke  at  that  time  for  want  of  the  order  wherein  that  Ijne 
was  prefixt  betwene  Siilisbury  &  Haverill  from  the  sajd  bounds  at  Holts 
Eocks;  then  the  sajd  commitee  did  appointe  to  meete  again  to  finish  the 
work  about  the  bounds  vpon  the  first  second  day  of  May  next  following. 
This  worke  was  donne  by  Thomas  Noyse,  deceased,  &  refused  to  be  sub- 
scribed vnto  by  Lieftennant  Challice,  being  left  alone  to  make  his  returne 
to  the  honord  Court  by  him,  who  is  your  servant  wherein  you  shall  com- 
mand, John  Parker." 

The  Court  approved  of  this  report  in  the  following  words :  — 

"  The  Court  doe  approoue  of  this  returne  of  the  bounds  of  Haverill,  so 
farr  as  the  same  was  statedf  by  Ensign  NoysC  &  the  rest  of  the  comittee 
appointed  therevnto  before  the  death  of  Ensigne  Noyse ;  but  as  for  the 
bounds  between  Haverill  &  Salisbury  New  toune,  it  is  settled  as  this 
Court  hath  determined  this  session."! 

This  being  the  first  regular  survey  and  marking  of  the  west  line  of  the 
town,  and,  as  we  shall  see,  the  fixing  of  its  whole  boundary  line,  by  the 

«  started.        t  Ibid. 

X  We  have  already  copied  the  order  of  the  Court  here  referred  to,  under  date  of  1(454. 


102  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

General  Court,  it  is  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  notice.  The  bounds 
established  at  this  time  remained  unchanged  until  the  setting  oflF,  or  lay- 
ing out,  of  Methuen,  in  1725,  — a  period  of  nearly  sixty  years. 

We  have  taken  special  pains  to  collect  a  complete  history  of  our  town 
bounds,  and  have,  fortunately,  been  successful.  We  have  made  thorough 
search  in  the  archives  of  this  State,  and  also  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
brought  to  light  much  interesting  and  important  information  upon  the  sub- 
ject. We  have  found,  and  taken  copies  of,  every  plan  and  map  of  the 
town,  taken  by  Colonial  and  State  authority,  from  its  first  survey,  in  1667, 
to  1832. 

Among  them  is  the  first  plan  of  the  town  ever  drawn  —  that  of  Ensign 
Noyes,  as  finished  by  Jonathan  Danforth,  in  1667,  — and  which  we  have 
had  engi'aved  for  this  work. 

As  early  as  October,  1640,  (within  a  few  months  of  the  first  settlement 
of  the  town)  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  General  Court  to  "  view  the 
bounds  between  Colchester  (Salisbury)  &  Mr.  Ward's  plantation ; " 
which  we  presume  was  done.  At  the  next  June  Court,  commissioners  were 
appointed  "  to  set  out  the  bounds  of  Salisbury  &  Pentucket,  alias  Haver- 
hill," and  "  to  determine  the  bounds  which  Mr  Ward  &  his  company  are 
to  enjoy  as  a  toune  or  village."  We  can  find  no  report  of  the  doings  of 
either  of  these  committees,  and  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  their 
doings  extended  no  further  than  a  "viewing,"  or  indefinite  location,  of 
the  line  between  these  two  towns.  We  are  confident  that  they  did  not 
determine  the  boimds  which  Mr.  Ward  and  his  company  icere  to  enjoy  as  a 
town  or  village. 

In  1647,  the  town  petitioned  for  a  large  tract  of  land  somewhere  to  the 
northwest  of  the  present  town  limits,  to  which  the  General  Court  made 
answer  that  they  thought  four  miles  square  was  enough  for  them.  Whether 
this  four  miles  square  referred  to  the  whole  area  they  should  have  as  a 
town,  or  to  the  tract  of  land  then  granted  them,  does  not  clearly  appear 
from  the  record,  but  we  are  confident  that  it  referred  to  the  latter.'"' 

In  1650,  another  committee  was  appointed  to  "lay  out  the  bounds  be- 
tween Haverhill  and  Salisbury,"  which  fact  strengthens  the  opinion  that 
the  previous  committees  merely  "  viewed"  the  bounds,  and  did  not  regu- 
larly survey  and  mark  the  line.  This  last  committee,  however,  did  make 
such  a  survey,  and  we  hear  nothing  more  about  the  matter  until  1654, 
when  the  town  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  new  surve}^  on  the 

=  The  Indian  deed  conveyed  fourteen  miles  on  the  River,  and  six  miles  back  from  the  River,  and  it 
docs  not  seem  to  us  consistent  with  the  usages  of  the  times,  that  the  Court  should  cut  them  down  to  a 
mere  four  miles  square. 


HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL,  103 

ground  tliat  a  "  great  mistake  was  made  in  the  former.  The  request 
was  granted,  and  the  result  proved  that  a  mistake  had  been  made.  The 
decision  of  the  last  appointed  surveyors  was  not,  it  seems,  satisfactory  to 
either  party,  (clearly  showing  that  it  was  about  right)  and  the  subject 
continued  to  occupy  and  trouble  the  minjs  of  the  inhabitants  of  both 
towns,  until  the  General  Court  approved  the  survey  of  1667,  and  firmly 
decided  that  the  line  agreed  upon  in  1654,  "  should  be  the  dividing  line 
betwene  them." 

When  the  General  Court  ordered  its  gi-ant  to  Major  General  Daniel 
Dennison  to  be  laid  out,  in  1660,  it  was  found  that  the  Haverhill  men 
claimed  some  of  the  land,  and  objected  to  its  being  laid  out  to  the  Major." 
Upon  this,  the  Court  summoned  the  town  "  to  shew  a  reason  why  they 
have  marked  bounds  trees  at  so  great  a  distance  from  their  towne  vp 
Meremacke  Eiver,  &  also  to  give  an  account  of  the  bounds  of  theire  towne, 
&  vpon  what  right  they  lay  clajme  to  so  long  a  tract  of  land/'  It  would 
seem  from  this,  that  the  western  line  of  the  town  had  been  previously  run, 
and  marked,  though  we  can  find  no  record  of  its  being  ordered,  or  done, 
except  those  already  mentioned.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  it  was 
done  by  the  toion,  a  few  years  previously,  when  the  lands  in  that  section 
were  lAid  out  by  them  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.  Their  Indian  deed 
gave  them  "  eight  miles  from  ye  Little  Eiver  westward  ;  "  but  the  General 
Court  declared  it  should  be  eight  miles  upon  the  river  westward  from 
their  meeting  house.     This  made  a  difference  of  three-fourths  of  a  mile. 

The  easterly  bound  of  the  town  was  now  (1666)  a  due  northwest  line 
from  Holt's  Eocks,  (the  present  bound),  and  when  the  commissioners  came 
on  to  lay  out  the  western  bounds,  they  commenced  at  the  meeting  house, 
and  run  a  line  due  west,  eight  miles,  according  to  their  interpretation  of 
the  order  of  the  General  Court.  That  order,  however,  says  "  not  extend- 
ing upon  the  river  above  eight  miles  from  their  meeting  house."  By  run- 
ning due  west  from  the  latter  point,  instead  of  following  the  river,  it  gave 
the  town  a  much  larger  area  than  it  would  have  given  them  by  following 
the  crooked,  or  general  southwesterly  course  of  the  river.  This  difference 
was  not  less  than  four  miles,  upon  the  river ;  thus  giving  the  town  a  tract 
of  land,  equal  to  about  four  miles  by  twelve,  more  than  a  strict  interpreta- 
tion of  the  order  of  the  General  Court  would  have  allowed  them. 


»  Since  the  above  was  m-itten,  we  have  found,  under  date  of  1741,  a  petition  from  John  Denison,  a 
descendant  of  the  Major  above  mentioned,  to  the  proprietors  of  the  common  and  undivided  lands  in 
Haverliill,  in  which  it  is  m.ade  to  appear  that  thirty  acres  of  the  land  laid  out  to  the  Major  in  1660,  actu- 
ally fell  within  Haverhill  bounds  when  the  west  line  of  the  town  was  run  in  1667  ;  and  that,  in  1740,  one 
Lyndly  petitioned  the  Haverhill  proprietors  to  purchase  this  thirty  acres  of  them.  To  such  a  sale  the 
petitioner  (J.  D.)  objected,  and  to  avoid  all  future  trouble,  requested  the  proprietors  to  give  him  their 
quit  claim  to  the  land, — which  they  did. 


104 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 


We  do  not  learn  that  the  Haverhill  people  made  any  objection  to  this 
course,  and  as  it  more  than  made  up  the  difference  between  their  bounds 
as  o-iven  in  the  original  deed,  and  that  in  the  order  of  the  Court,  we  pre- 
sume they  were  quite  willing  to  keep  quiet. 

From  the  point  eight  miles  west  of  the  meeting  house,  a  line  was  run 
due  north  and  south,  extending  to  the  Merrimack  on  the  south,  and  to  the 
intersection  of  the  northwest  line  from  Holt's  Rocks  on  the  north.  This 
gave  the  township  nearly  the  form  of  a  triangle.  The  length  of  the  north- 
east ancle  was  about  fifteen  miles  ;  of  the  west  line  rather  more ;  and  an 
air  line  from  Holt's  Rocks,  to  the  southwest  cOmer,  would  have  been  also 
about  fifteen  miles. 

The  following  engraving  is  made  from  the  original  plan,  as  drawn  by 
Jonathan  Danforth,  from  this  survey  by  Ensign  Noyes. 


"thi3  platform  of  the  town  of  hanerill  began  by  ensign  Noise  of  Sudbury  and  finished  by  Jonathan 
Danforth  16.  3d  m.  1607." 

The  General  Court  approved  of  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  and, 
for  the  first  time,  the  bounds  of  the  town  were  apparently  well  defined 
and  understood. 

From  the  foregoing,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  original  area  of  the  town 
was  much  greater  than  the  present.     This  difference  is  not.  however,  gen- 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 


105 


erally  known  by  its  present  inhabitants ;  and  even  those  who  do  know 
something  of  former  changes  in  its  bounds,  have  but  a  vague  idea  of  their 
extent.  The  following  map  shows,  uot  only  its  past  and  present  bounds, 
but  also  those  portions  that  have  been  from  time  to  time  taken  off,  in 
forming  new  towns,  and  in  running  the  present  State  line.  There  are 
several  inaccuracies  in  the  map,  which  were  not  noticed  in  season  for  their 
correction.  The  most  important,  is,  the  representing  of  the  west  line  of 
Methuen  and  the  old  west  line  of  Haverhill,  as  touching  the  Merrimack 
at  the  same  point,  whereas  the  distance  between  them  should  have  been 
about  one  and  a  half  miles.  With  this  exception,  the  map  is  sufficiently 
correct  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  here  introduced. 


MAP  or  HAVEBHILL,  AND  ADJACENT  TOWNS. 

If  we  start  from  the  site  of  the  first  meeting  house,  (in  the  old  burying 

ground,)  and  run  a  line  due  west,  eight  miles,  it  will  bring  us  to  a  point 

about  four  miles  northwest  of  Methuen  village.     A  line  due  south  from 

this  point,  will  pass  a  little  over  two  miles  to  the  west  of  the  above  village, 

14 


106  HISTORY    OF   HAVKRHILL. 

and  strike  the  Merrimack  River  about  three  and  a  half  miles  above  the 
upper  bridge  at  Lawrence,  and  within  about  one  and  a  half  miles  of 
the  present  southwest  coi-ner  of  Methuen.  This  last  named  line,  was  the 
old  western  bound  of  Haverhill,  as  confirmed  in  16(37,  and  continued 
until  1725. 

A  glance  at  the  foregoing  map,  will  show,  that  the  town  then  included 
the  largest  part  of  Methuen ;  a  large  part  of  Salem  and  Plaistow  ;  all  of 
Atkinson ;  and  a  good  share  of  Hampstead. 

In  1667,  the  highway  "  down  the  vallay  to  Holt's  Rocks  "  was  ordered 
to  be  laid  out ;  but,  with  the  impression  that  it  would  not  be  much  used, 
the  town  considerately  accompanied  the  order  with  a  proviso  that  those 
who  used  the  highway  should  keep  it  in  repair. 

At  the  same  time  a  vote  was  passed  declai-ing  that  the  inhabitants 
should  keep  the  places  assigned  them  by  the  committee  in  the  meeting 
house,  andcr  a  penalty  of  two  shillings  six-pence.  The  selectmen  were 
ordered  to  see  that  the  rule  was  attended  to.  John  Hutchins  was,  how- 
ever, excepted ;  —  probably  on  account  of  his  large  interest  in  the  house, 
for  building  the  gallery. 

Another  lot  of  "  accommodation  "  land  was  laid  out  in  July  of  the  same 
year.  The  following  are  the  names  and  the  number  of  acres  laid  out  to 
each  man :  — 


"  Mr  AYard   six  &  twenty 

acres. 

Job  Clements^ 

5 

James  Davis  sen  &  jun 

20 

Hugh  Sherratt 

8 

George  Browne 

14 

John  Robinson 

4 

John  Eaton  sen 

10 

Goodman  Butler 

4 

Henry  Palmer 

9 

Henry  Savage 

4 

Robert  Eyre 

4 

Joseph  Merrie 

5 

Oldgood  Eyre 

8 

George  Corley 

5 

John  Ayres 

8 

Mill  Lotf 

6 

Wm  White 

5 

James  Pecker 

2 

Goodman  Peasley 

12 

Richard  Littlehale 

4 

Goodman  Guile 

4 

Mr  Coffin 

10 

Goodman  Tiler 

4 

John  Remington 

4 

Mr  Clements,  John,  &  Job 

40 

Robt  Swan 

2 

Old  Goldwine 

8 

John  Hutchings 

6 

Goodman  Heath 

10 

Daniel  Ella 

2 

Andrew  Grealey 

6 

Joseph  Johnson 

2 

Goodman  Moise 

4 

John  Davis 

6 

Thos  Haile 

20 

Job  Clements^'-' 

3 

Thos  Davis 

18 

Daniel  Hendricks 

3 

Goodman  Ladd 

6 

John  Robinson 

6 

Goodman  "Williams 

6 

•  It  will  be  noticed  there  were  three  of  this  name. 

t  In  all  the  drafts  and  diviaions  of  land,  the  "Mill  Lot"  is  mentioned  as  receiving  a  portion,  or  lot. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  107 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1668,  "John  Johnson  was  chosen  Mod- 
erator for  the  present  meeting."  This  is  the  first  mention  we  find  of  such 
an  officer,  in  the  records,  though  one  was  regularly  chosen  afterward. 

At  the  same  time,  a  committee  was  chosen,  to  whom  the  inhabitants 
were  to  "  make  known  by  what  title  they  lay  any  claim  to  anj'^  land  in 
the  town." 

Several  absentees  from  town  meeting  were  fined  for  the  oflFence.  This 
illustrates  one  of  the  marked  characteristics  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
colony.  Not  to  do  that  which  ought  to  be  done,  was  considered  as  worthy 
of  punishment,  as  to  do  that  which  ought  not  to  be  done.  It  was  neces- 
sary that  there  should  be  town  meetings,  to  transact  the  business  of  the 
town;  therefore  every  voter  ought  to  attend,  and  do  his  part  of  the  labor; 
and,  hence,  if  he  did  not,  he  neglected  his  duty ;  and  a  neglect  of  duty 
was  considered  deserving  of  punishment ;  and  being  so  considered,  they 
never  failed  to  administer  it  when  occasion  called  for  it.  This  is  the  key 
to  much  in  their  history  that  at  first  seems  strange  and  inconsistent.  They 
believed  that  extravagance  in  dress  was  not  only  foolish,  but  wrong ;  — 
and  they  punished  the  offender.  They  believed  the  Sabbath  to  be  a  day 
set  apart  for  a  rest  from  secular  labors  ;  —  and  they  punished  him  who 
would  not  so  observe  it.  They  considered  worship  a  duty,  and  religious 
meetings  a  part  of  worship  ;  therefore,  every  man  was  obliged  to  attend 
religious  services,  and  help  pay  for  their  support.  They  were  stern  men, 
—  those  old  Puritans,  —  and  did  some  hard  things  ;  but  they  were  men  of 
inflexible  fidelity  to  their  convictions  of  right  and  duty  ;  and  though  we 
may  dissent  from  their  judgment,  we  cannot  but  honor  them  for  their  good 
intentions,  and  their  uncompromising  hostility  to  what  they  believed  to 
be  wrong. 

The  town  continued  to  be  exceedingly  jealous  for  the  timber  ;  almost 
every  year,  a  vote  was  passed  for  its  preservation,  and  this  year,  a  fine  of 
ten  shillings  was  imposed  upon  any  person,  who  should  fall  a  white,  red, 
or  black-oak  tree,  within  the  town's  limits,  "for  staves,  heading,  logs  for 
boards,  or  any  thing  else  for  transportation,  without  leave  from  the  Select 
men  from  year  to  year." 

At  the  same  meeting,  Nathaniel  Saltonstall  was  chosen  Town  Eecorder 
and  Clerk  of  the  ^Vrits ;  in  which  offices  he  continued  until  1700,  —  a 
period  of  thirty-two  years.  At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court, 
♦'  Capt  Nathaniel  Saltonstall "  was  (in  answer  to  a  petition)  authorized  to 
join  persons  in  marriage." 

°  Mr.  James  Savage,  who  has  made  extensive  historical  and  genealogical  researches,  stated  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  some  time  since,  that  he  had  discovered  no  record  of  a  mar- 
riage  performed  by  a  clergyman  in   New  England   prior   to   1686,  except  in  George's  Province  by  a 


108 


HISTOBY    OP    HATERHILt. 


Nathaniel  Saltonstall  was  descended  from  an  ancient  and  highly  re- 
spectable family  in  Yorkshire,  England.  His  grandfather,  Sir  Eichard 
Saltonstall,  was  the  first  named  associate  of  the  six  original  patentees 
of  Massachusetts,  and  one  of  the  first  Assistants,  and  was  present  at  their 
court,  August  23,  1630.  He  came  over  in  the  same  ship  with  Governor 
Winthrop,  in  1630,  and  was  the  leader  among  the  first  settlers  of  Water- 
town.  He  brought  over  with  him  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  He 
returned  to  England  in  the  spring  of  1631,  taking  with  him  his  two 
daughters  and  his  youngest  son.  He  did  not  return  to  America.  His 
father,  Richard,  was  born  in  1610,  and  came  to  America  with  his  father,  in 
1630.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1631.  In  November  of  the  same 
year,  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  remained  about  four  years  and  a 
half,  and  married  Mericll  Gurdon,  daughter  of  Brampton  Gurdon,  of  Suf- 
folk, with  whom  he  again  embarked  for  America,  in  1635.  Upon  his 
arrival,  he  settled  in  Ipswich,  and  was  elected  Deputy  to  the  General 
Court  in  the  same  year.  He  was  elected  Assistant  in  1637,  and  continued 
to  be  elected  annually,  until  1649,  when  he  again  returned  to  England. 
He  was  in  America  twice  afterward,  and  returned  to  England  finally  in 
1683,  and  died  at  Hulme,  April  29,  1694,  aged  84. 

Nathaniel,  was  born  in  Ipswich,  and  graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1659. 
He  married  Elizabeth  AVard,  daughter  of  Eev.  John  Ward,  of  Haverhill, 
December  28,  1G63,  and  settled  in  this  town  about  the  same  time,  upon 
that  beautiful  estate  half  a  mile  east  of  the  village,  which  was  conveyed 
to  him  by  his  father-in-law,  on  the  occasion  of  his  marriage.  In  1664, 
his  father  also  deeded  him  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  "  on  his  marraige." 
In  1665,  he  was  chosen  Captain  of  the  military  company  in  town;  was 
afterward  appointed  Colonel ;  and,  still  later,  was  elevated  to  the  impor- 
tant post  of  Major.  He  was  regularly  chosen  Assistant  from  1679  to 
1686,  when  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  Bay  was  taken  away,  and  he  was 
named  in  the  commission  as  one  of  "  the  council  of  the  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay."     As  he  had  a  few  days  before  taken  the  oath  of  Assistant 

m — ' 

clergrman  of  the  Church  of  Ena;hind.  The  statement  elicited  some  discussion.  It  was  accounted  for  hy 
the  fact  that  marriage  was'considered  by  the  Puritans  to  be  a  civil  contract  and  not  a  religious  rite.  In 
abjuring  the  forms  and  ceremonies  of  the  Established  Church  as  oflshoots  of  Popery,  the  marriage  sacra- 
ment was  also  abandoned.     Wintlirop's  History  of  New  England  contains  the  following :  — 

"  1647,  4,  -ith  day,  Gth  month.  There  was  a  great  marriage  to  be  solemnized  at  Boston.  The  bride- 
groom being  of  Hingham,  Mr.  HubbanVs  thurih,  hf  was  procured  to  preach,  and  cnme  to  Boston  to  that 
end.  But  the  mugistintis,  hearing  of  it,  si'Dt  to  him  to  forbcr.r.  The  re:;sons  were  :  1.  For  that  his 
spirit  had  been  discovered  to  be  averse  to  our  ecclesiastical  and  civ'l  government:  and  he  was  a  bold  man 
and  would  speak  his  mind.  2.  We  were  not  willing  to  bring  irf  the  English  custom  of  ministers  pirfoim- 
ing  the  solemnities  of  marriage,  which  sermons  at  such  times  might  induce;  but  if  any  ministers  were 
presint,  and  would  bestow  a  word  of  exhortation,  Ac.,  it  was  permitt«d," 


HISTOKY    OF    HATERHILL.  109 

under  the  old  charter,  he  refused  the  latter  appointment,  and,  upon  the 
deposition  of  Sir  Edmund,  he  became  one  of  the  Council  which  took 
the  government  of  the  Colony  into  their  hands.  He  continued  in  this 
office  until  the  arrival  of  the  Charter  of  William  and  Mary,  wherein  he 
was  appointed  one  of  their  Majesty's  Council. 

In  1680,  he  went  with  the  Deputy  Governor  and  others,  "  with  60  sol- 
diers, in  a  ship  and  sloop  from  Boston,  to  still  the  people  at  Casco  Bay, 
&  prevent  Gov  Andres's  usurpation."  In  1683,  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Crown  one  of  the  Commissioners  "  to  examine  &  enquire  into  the  claims 
&  titles,  as  well  of  his  Majesty  as  others,  to  the  Narraganset  country,"  to 
which  important  mission  he  attended. 

He  was  a  man  of  superior  powers  of  mind,  and  rare  talent.  In  1692, 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  judges  in  a  special  commission  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer,  for  the  trial  of  persons  accused  of  witchcraft,  at  Salem.  With  a 
high-minded  liberality,  and  freedom  from  the  bigotry  and  superstition  of  the 
time,  worthy  of  his  immediate  ancestry,  he  refused  to  serve  in  that  com- 
mission, from  conscientious  scruples.  Brattle,  in  his  account  of  the  witch- 
craft, says  :  "  Maj  N  Saltonstall  Esq,  who  was  one  of  the  judges,  has  left 
the  court,  &  is  very  much  dissatisfied  with  the  proceedings  of  it."  His 
bold  stand  was  powerful  for  good.  It  opened  the  eyes  of  the  masses  to 
the  enormity  and  fearful  tendency  of  the  delusion;  —  the^ charm  was 
broken,  and  the  excitement  soon  subsided.  It  is  no  small .  honor  to  his 
memory,  and  satisfaction  to  his  descendants,  that  he  was  not  carried  away 
by  this  dreadful  fanaticism. 

Mr.  Saltonstall  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  died  May  21st,  1707.  He 
left  three  sons,  Gurdon,  Kichard,  and  Nathaniel.  His  only  daughter  mar- 
ried (1st)  Eev.  John  Dennison,  and  (2d)  Kev.  Eolland  Cotton,  of 
Sandwich. 

The  town  voted,  in  1668,  that  one  of  the  former  Selectmen  should  be 
re-elected  each  year  ;  but  the  very  next  year  it  was  "  set  aside  for  this 
year,"  and  in  the  year  following,  it  was  repealed  altogether.  Why  this 
obviously  sensible  and  important  rule  should  have  been  so  soon  abolished, 
seems  somewhat  surprising.  Perhaps  it  should  be  referred  to  their  well 
known  opposition  to  succession  in  office,  or,  most  probable,  to  4;he  fact, 
that  the  office  of  Selectman  in  those  days,  included  "  hard  work  and  poor 
pay,"  and  it  was  not  easy  to  find  men  willing,  or  even  able,  to  accept  the 
onerous  position  two  years  in  succession. 

The  Selectmen  of  this  year  were  directed  "'to  provide  a  herdsman  or 
herdsmen,  and  bulls,  for  the  use  of  the  town."     Those  who  lived  without 


110  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

the  compass  of  Pond  Eiver  and  the  Great  Plain'"'  fence,"  were  to  "  pay 
6d  a  head  for  privileges  of  herdsmen  &  bull." 

It  was  also  ordered  "  that  what  papers  shall  be  brought  to  the  Eecorder, 
to  be  entered  in  the  town  book  of  Eecords,  it  shall  be  in  his  power  to  rec- 
ord them,  provided,  that  Ensign  Browne,  James  Davis  Jun,  &  Bobert  Cle- 
ments Jr,  give  their  assent."  The  Eecorder  was  sometimes  troubled,  it 
seems,  by  persons  wanting  papers  recorded  on  the  town  books,  which 
properly  belonged  elsewhere,  or  were  not  worth  recording,  and  he  fre- 
quently drops  a  hint  to  that  effect  in  his  record.  Thus,  he  introduces  his 
record  of  several  deeds  with  the  following  note :  —  "  The  copy  of  several 
Deeds,  which  to  satisfy  the  grantees,  are  entered,  who  they  are  told  that 
it  is  no  legal  County  Eecord  of  Deeds," 

The  only  new  names  met  with  this  year  in  the  records,  are  Henry 
Kingsbcry,  and  John  Eemington. 

The  highway  from  Haverhill  Ferry  to  Topsfield  was  accepted  in  the 
spring  of  1669,  as  we  learn  from  the  Ipswich  Court  Eecords. 

That  town  ofl&ces  were  not  much  sought  for  in  those  times,  may  be 
judged  from  the  fact  that  the  town,  having  chosen  Thos.  "VVhittier  con- 
stable, voted,  that  he  should  be  excused,  provided  he  presented  some  one 
to  take  his  place  whom  the  Selectmen  should  declare  satisfactory. 

Upon  a  complaint  made  by  Mr.  Ward  for  want  of  wood,  it  was  voted 
to  add  ten  pounds  to  his  salary  (which  was  fifty  pounds) ,  and  that  the 
Selectmen  should  annually  expend  it  in  procuring  him  cord- wood,  at  six 
shillings  per  cord. 

Among  the  votes  passed  at  the  same  meeting,  we  find  the  following 
curious  one  :  —  "  The  town,  by  a  major  vote,  did  make  choice  of  Andrew 
Greely,  sen.,  to  keep  the  ferry  at  Haverhill;  provided  that  he  agree  and 
will  carry  over  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  I\Ierrimack,  [Bradford]  over  against  us,  for  three  pence  an  horse, 
and  a  penny  a  man ;  and  that  he  will  carry  all  Ministers  over  free  that 
come  upon  visitation  to  us,  and  in  particular  Mr  Symes  ;f  &  that,  if  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  over  against  us  do  come  over  to  meet  with  us  on 
the  sabbath  days,  they  shall  have  the  free  use  of  the  ferry  boat,  or  boats, 
for  the  occasion,  without  paying  anything."  They  also  stipulated  that 
he  should  pay  the  widow  of  the  former  ferryman^  forty  shillings. 

0  Pond  River,  wna  the  outlet  to  Great  Pond  ;  and  the  Great  riain,  was  the  phiin  east  of  the  village, 
t  The  person  here  referred  to,  was  Rev.   Zachariuh  Synimcs,  of  Bradford,  a  man  of  considerable  note 

and  learning,  and  much  beloved  by  his  own  people,  as  well  as  esteemed  by  his  neighbors  across  the  river.  ' 
Mr.  Symmes  was  educated  at  Cambridge,  and  graduati'd  in  16.")7-     He  came  to  Bradford  somttime  pre- 
vious to  1663,  at  which  date  he  was  their  minister,  though  he  was  not  ordained  until  1682.     He  remained 
with  them  until  his  death,  in  1707. 

1  Mr.  Sinionsi, 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  Ill 

This  year  a  new  bridge  was  built  over  Little  Eiver,  where  the  present 
Winter  Street  Bridge  stands.  The  old  bridge  had  become  much  out  of  re- 
pair, and  though  it  was  considered  that  the  "  present  sawmill  owners  were 
engaged  to  do  it,"  yet  when  the  question  was  put  to  Thos.  Davis,  in  town 
meeting,  he  plainly  answered,  "  I  will  not."  Upon  this,  the  meeting 
voted  to  prosecute  him,  but  the  next  vote  declared  this  vote  to  be  "nulled 
and  void."  Finally,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "compound  the  matter 
with  Davis,  &  to  build  a  new  bridge."  The  inhabitants  were  each  obliged 
to  contribute  a  portion  of  labor  toward  constructing  it. 

From  a  vote  passed  this  year,  we  learn  that  the  first  half  of  Mr.  Ward's 
yearly  salary  was  paid  by  a  "collection  of  estates,"  in  August,  and  all 
other  charges  and  debts  were  paid  by  "  a  collection  of  estates,  in  Novem- 
ber, or  December,  annually."  Upon  notice  by  the  Selectmen,  every  man 
was  obliged  to  bring  in  to  them  an  account  of  his  estates.  If  any  man  ne- 
glected or  refused  to  do  this,  or  bi'ought  in  a  false  account,  it  was  "  in  the 
power  of  the  Selectmen  to  rate  such  persons  by  will,  and  doom  as  they 
please  upon  account  of  their  defect." 

The  town  still  continued  to  be  troubled  about  a  corn-mill,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  following  record  of  a  special  town  meeting,  held  September 
17,1669:  — 

"  This  meeting  being  warned  to  take  some  order  about  a  corn-mill,  the 
town  being  wholly  destitute  of  any ;  Andrew  Greeley,"  in  whose  hands  the 
mill  was,  being  about  to  carry  on  a  mill  at  the  East  meadow  river,  upon 
the  motion  &  desire  of  the  town,  did  promise  to  take  the  frame  down  at 
the  little  river,  &  bring  it  up  &  raise  it  at  the  place  where  the  former  mill 
was  ;  f  many  of  the  inhabitants  at  the  same  time  promising  to  allow  him 
freely  some  help  towards  the  taking  the  frame  down  &  raising  it  again." 

The  powers  of  the  Selectmen,  as  defined  by  the  town  the  same  year, 
were  as  follows:  — 

"  That  the  Selectmen  shall  carefully  endeavour  the  strict  observation  of 
all  orders  made  by  the  town,  and  shall  take  all  fines,  if  not  peaceably 
paid,  by  distress,  which  shall  be  due  upon  the  breach  of  said  order,  unless 
they  shall  see  good  ground  to  the  contrary,  &  shall  make  return  to  the 
town,  at  the  general  yearly  march  meeting,  of  what  they  have  done  in 
this  matter,  &  how  they  have  disposed  of  the  fines. 

"  That  the  Selectmen  shall  see  to,  &  pay  all  debts  due  from  the  town  in 
their  year,  or  j  list  J  arrears  according  to  their  discretion  the  fines  that  are 
due  to  the  town,  or  by  rates  in  general  upon  the  inhabitants. 

•  Andrew  Greely  was  by  trade  a  shoe-ipaker.    He  was  in  Haverhill  in  1616  and  in  1672.    At  the  latter 
date,  he  was  52  years  of  age.     He  died  previous  to  1712. 
t  The  former  mill  stood  on  Mill  Brook.  j  Adjust. 


112  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

"  That  the  Selectmen  shall  timely  make  all  rates  that  shall  be  neces- 
sary for  the  defraying  of  the  town's  debts,  upon  the  estates  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. 

"  That  the  Selectmen  have  power  to  call  town  meetings  as  they  shall 
see  necessary,  they  giving  timely  and  sufl&cient  notice  to  the  inhabitants, 
according  to  law. 

"  That  the  Selectmen  shall  take  special  care  that  all  those  laws  of  the 
country  are  observed  &  kept  by  the  neglect  whereof  the  town  may  any 
way  be  liable  to  be  fined  by  authority ;  and  also  that  the  town  be  kept 
from  all  charges." 

The  General  Court  for  October,  ordered,  "  that  George  Broune  be  left, 
and  James  Parker  ensigne,  to  Hauerill  millitary  company,  vnder  the  con- 
duct of  ^Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  capt."  =■•■' 

On  the  seventeenth  of  November,  there  was  a  "  thanksgiving  for  relief 
from  droutht  &  lengthening  out  the  harvest."  f 

The  only  new  name  we  find  in  the  Town  Kccords  of  this  year,  is  that 
of  Samuel  Colbie. 

»Col.Rec  tibid. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  lU 


CHAPTEE   IX. 


1670  TO  1675. 


In  examining  the  records  of  our  town  for  the  past  two  hundred  years, 
one  cannot  fail  to  note  the  gi*eat  changes  that  have  taken  place  in  that 
time.  Habits,  customs,  laws,  and  language,  have  all  yielded,  in  a'"grcater 
or  less  degree,  to  the  ever  active  and  never  tiring  power  of — progress. 
A  striking  illustration  of  this  fact  is  seen  in  the  history  of  our  common 
schools. 

For  several  years  previous  to  1670,  (viz. :  from  1661)  a  school-master 
had  been  employed  to  keep  a  school  in  the  town,  but  the  records,  up  to 
this  time,  give  us  no  hints  in  addition  to  that  simple  fact,  except  that  he 
was  paid  ten  pounds  per  annum  by  the  town  for  such  service.  But  in  the 
records  of  the  annual  meeting  of  1670,  we  find  the  following,  which  throws 
much  additional  light  upon  the  matter:  —  "It  is  ordered  by  a  major  or 
free  vote  of  the  inhabitants,  that  the  Selectmen  shall  agree  with  a  School  ■ 
Master  for  the  keeping  of  a  school  in  the  town  of  Haverhill,  who  shall 
allow  him  Ten  pounds  annually,  to  be  rated  upon  the  inhabitants  proportion- 
able to  their  estates  according  to  the  way  of  making  Mr  Ward's  rates ;  & 
what  children  do  come  to  him  to  be  taught,  the  selectmen  being  to  provide 
a  convenient  place  to  keep  the  school  in,  shall  pay  to  the  schoolmaster  ac- 
cording as  he  &  the  parents  or  masters  of  such  as  come  to  be  taught  can 
agree  for,  provided  that  he  do  not  ask  for  a  child  or  person  more  than  is 
usually  given  in  other  towns  by  the  year." 

From  the  above,  we  learn  that  the  ten  pounds  paid  by  the  town,  was  in 
addition  to  the  amount  received  by  the  school-master  from  the  parents  of 
his  pupils.  As  to  the  latter  sum,  we  can  find  no  definite  account,  or  even 
hint,  in  the  records.  Previous  to  this  time,  the  school  had  been  kept  in 
some  j)rivate  house,  but  the  number  of  the  scholars  had  now  become  so 
large,  it  was  considered  necessary  that  a  building  should  be  erected  ex- 
pressly for  the  purpose,  and  at  the  same  meeting  the  following  vote  was 
passed :  — 

"  Voted  that  forthwith  there  shall  be  a  house  erected  &  built  as  near 
the  meeting  house  that  now  is,  as  may  be,  which  may  be  convenient  for 
the  keeping  of  a  public  school  in,  &  for  the  service  of  a  watch-house,  & 
for  the  entertainment  of  such  persons  on  the  sabbath  days  at  noon  as 
shall  desire  to  repair  thither,  &  shall  not  repair  between  the  forenoon  & 
15 


114  HISTORY    OF    HATERniLL, 

afternoon  exercises  to  their  own  dwellings :  which  house  is  to  he  erected 
upon  that  which  is  now  the  town's  common  land  or  reserved  for  puhlic 
use." 

The  town  also  voted  that  in  case  the  contrihutions  voluntarily  offered 
were  not  sufficient  to  erect  the  school-house,  that  they  should  be  laid  aside, 
and  the  whole  charge  he  paid  by  a  public  rate  (tax)  upon  the  inhabitants 
The  charge  of  the  work  was  left  to  William  White,  Peter  Ayers  and 
Nathaniel  Saltonstall.  Thomas  Wasse  was  chosen  to  keep  the  school  the 
ensuing  year.  A  striking  illustration  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  town 
at  this  period,  is  found  in  the  fact  that  Wasse's  salary  for  1668  was  not 
paid  until  more  than  three  years  afterward. 

At  the  same  meeting,  the  "  powers  of  the  selectmen"  were  defined.  The 
following  is  the  substance.  They  had  power:  1.  To  order  and  appoint 
when  Mr.  AVard's  salary  should  be  paid,  levy  rates  for  the  same,  and  to 
take  them  by  distress  if  not  paid  otherwise.  2.  To  observe  all  orders  of 
the  town,  and  collect  all  fines.  3.  To  pay  all  debts  of  the  town,  by  fines 
due,  or  by  rates  in  general.  4.  To  make  all  rates  necessary  to  defray  the 
town's  debts.  5.  To  call  town  meetings  at  discretion.  6.  To  see  that 
all  laws  of  the  County  were  observed  and  kept.  7.  To  act  in  all  pruden- 
tial  affairs  of  the  town  according  to  law.  8.  To  observe  all  orders  of  the 
town  as  near  as  they  can. 

The  same  record  informs  us  that  Henry  Palmer  refused  to  serve  as  Con- 
stable after  being  chosen,  and  "  was  fined  according  to  law  !  " 

Our  ancestors  must  have  been  early  risers,  as  we  notice  that  the  town 
meetings  often  commenced  at  seven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  were  never  adjourned 
to  a  later  hour  than  eight,  A.  M. 

If  any  suppose  that  "  talking  in  town  meeting  "  has  increased  in  these 
latter  days,  we  would  remind  them  that  as  early  as  the  time  of  which  we 
now  write,  it  frequently  took  three  days  to  transact  the  business  at  the 
annual  meetings,  notwithstanding  they  commenced  at  such  an  early  hour 
as  above  mentioned.  The  time  occupied,  and  the  small  number  of  votes 
usually  passed,  clearly  indicate  that  our  early  townsmen  were  not  at  all 
deficient  in  the  "gift  of  gab." 

One  of  the  noticable  peculiarities  of  the  Town  Eecords  about  this  time, 
is,  that  the  Recorder  gives  the  names  of  those  who  "  dissented  "  from  any 
vote  passed  by  the  town.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  but  very  few 
names  are  thus  recorded  :  especially  when  we  consider  that  so  much  time 
was  spent  in  discussions,  and  that  nearly  all  town  matters,  large  and 
small,  were  acted  upon  directly  by  the  inhabitants,  in  Town  Meeting 
assembled. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  115 

About  this  time  the  town  resolved  that  no  vote  should  be  valid  that  was 
passed  after  sunset  —  an  excellent  regulation. 

From  the  Court  Eecords  we  learn,  that,  in  1671,  a  thatched  house,  be- 
longing to  one  Matthias  Button,  and  situated  somewhere  near  the  present 
house  of  Mr.  Thomas  West,  (one  mile  northeasterly  from  the  village)  was 
burnt.  The  incident  is  worthy  of  mention,  principally,  from  the  fact  that 
it  was  a  "  thatched  "  house,  and  we  find  but  few  intimations  in  the  records 
of  the  time,  as  to  the  style  of  houses  in  the  town. 

Button  was  a  Dutchman  and  seems  to  have  been  an  unusually  moveable 
one.  He  first  lived  in  the  village,  then  in  the  western  part  of  the  town, 
then  in  the  eastern,  and  finally  settled  where  his  house  was  burned.  Eev, 
Thomas  Cobbett  say  that  Button  came  to  this  country  in  1628,  with  the 
first  governor  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  of  Ipswich  in  1639,  and  came 
to  Haverhill  in  1646,  from  that  place.     He  died  in  1672,  at  a  gi'eat  age.* 

From  the  fact  that  a  Committee  was  chosen  to  find  if  they  could,  one  of 
the  highways  which  had  been  previously  laid  out  by  the  town,  we  judge 
that  such  laying  out  was  not  as  thoroughly  done  as  it  is  at  present.  It 
may  also  be  mentioned  in  this  place,  as  a  suggestive  fact,  that  no  record 
is  made  of  any  work  whatever  done  to  highways,  (unless  we  except  two  or 
three  bridges,)  until  long  after  the  period  of  which  we  write.  Their  best 
and  only  highways  were  merely  paths,  or  tracks,  ungraded,  and  bridgeless, 
except  here  and  there  a  rude  bridge  across  the  larger  streams. 

From  the  record  of  the  same  meeting,  we  make  the  following  extract :  — 

"  Kobert  Emerson,  Ephraim  Davis,  &  John  Heath  Jun,  desiring  to  take 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  this  Colony,  it  was  administered  to  them  by  N  Sal- 
tonstal.  Commissioner." 

At  this  time,  no  one  was  allowed  to  vote  in  the  nomination  of  magis- 
trates, and  choice  of  deputies,  (Eepresentatives)  unless  he  had  taken  the 
"  freeman's  oath,"  or  "oath  of  fidelity."  A  man  might  be  a  freeholder 
and  not  a  freeman,  and  vise  versa.  He  might  be  a  voter  in  town  afi'airs, 
and  yet  neither  be  a  freeholder  nor  a  freeman.  A  freeman  was  one  who 
had  taken  the  freeman's  oath.f  A  freeholder  was  one  who,  either  by  grant, 
purchase,  or  inheritance,  was  entitled  to  a  share  in  all  the  common  and 
undivided  lands.     When  any  town  ofiicers  were  to  be  chosen,  or  money 

*  By  his  wife  Lettice,  he  had  Mary,  baptised  February  23,  1634 ;  and  Daniel,  February  22,  1G35.  By 
his  wife  Teagle,  he  had  six  children  (see  appendix).  He  married  Elizabeth  Dnston  in  1668.  Daniel, 
■  probably  a  son  of  Matthias,  was  in  Lothrop's  company,  and  was  killed  at  Bloody  Brook  battle,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1675. 

t  At  first.  (1631)  only  members  of  the  church  were  admitted  freemen  •  —  "  For  time  to  come  noe  man 
shalbc  :i<!mitted  to  the  freedome  of  this  body  poUiticke,  but  such  as  are  members  of  some  of  the  churches 
within  the  lymits  of  the  same." — Col.  Rec  1 — 87. 


■v^' 


IIG  niSTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

raised  by  way  of  rate,  all  the  inhabitants  could  vote ;  but  when  a  magis- 
trate was  to  be  nominated,  or  Deputy  to  General  Court  chosen,  only  free- 
men were  allowed  that  privilege. 

The  town  was  yet  in  want  of  more  com  mill  accommodations,  and  as 
those  to  whom  had  been  granted  the  exclusive  privilege  of  erecting  such 
mills  iu  town,  seemed,  for  some  reason,  to  be  unable,  or  disinclined,  to 
supply  them,  it  was  voted  (March  7,  1671,)  that  "John  Haseltine  or  any 
other  man,  have  free  liberty  to  build  a  mill  to  grind  corn  in  the  town  of 
Haverhill,  either  upon  the  west  river -^  called  the  sawmill  river,  or  upon 
east  meadow  river,  f" 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1672,  the  selectmen  were  ordered  "  to  pro- 
vide, at  the  town's  cost,  a  place  in  the  Meeting  House,  according  to  law, 
to  secure  the  town's  stock  of  powder,  &  other  ammunition."  At  this  meet- 
ing Robert  Emerson  and  wife  brought  to  the  town  meeting  the  orphan 
child  of  Richard  and  Hannah  Mercer,  and  desired  the  town  to  take  care  of 
it,  and  also  to  pay  them  for  nursing  it  above  a  year  past.  The  town  or- 
dered the  selectmen  to  provide  for  it,  and  to  pay  Robert  Emerson  what  they 
should  find  due  him,  and  also  to  "  address  the  County  Court  next  at  Salis- 
bery  to  have  order  from  them,  &  counsel  how  to  dispose  of  the  said  child, 
and  maintain  the  same."  Providing  for  their  poor,  as  a  town,  was  evi- 
dently a  new  business  for  them  at  this  time.  This,  we  believe,  was  the  first 
case  where  application  was  made  to  them  to  support  a  pauper.  The  next, 
was  the  case  of  Hugh  Sherratt,  in  1677,  which  we  have  already  noticed. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted,  "  that  the  Selectmen  shall  hire 
Thomas  Wasse  for  a  school  master  to  learn  such  as  shall  resort  to  him,  to 
write  &  read  as  formerly,  who  shall  be  the  settled  schoolmaster  for  the 
town,  until  the  Town  take  further  order :  provided  that  they  do  not  allow 
the  said  Thomas  Wasse  more  than  Ten  pounds  by  the  year  ;  he  having  the 
like  liberty  to  agree  with  the  parents  or  masters  of  those  that  come  to  him 
as  formerly." 

At  the  very  next  annual  meeting,  this  yearly  salary  was,  by  vote, 
"  taken  ofi",  &  no  more  to  be  allowed  or  rated  for."  Probably  the  amount 
received  from  the  parents  of  the  pupils  had  now,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
town,  become  sufficient  for  the  teacher's  support,  without  this  annual 
appropriation. 

From  the  Court  Records  of  this  year,  we  learn  that  two  Indians,  named 
Simon  and  Samuel,  were  fined  five  pounds,  "  for  stealing  Englishmen's 
horse." 

o  Little  River. 

t  "East  Meadow  river,"  was  the  stream  running  from  Peaslec's  mill,  nearly  south,  and  emptying  into 
the  Merrimack,  at  Cottle's  Kerry  ;  passing  about  one-fonrth  of  a  mile  east  ol  Uie  East  Parish  Meeting 
Ilonso. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  117 

This  Simon,  or  Symon,  was  one  of  the  "Christian,"  or  "converted" 
Indians,  many  of  whom  lived  among  the  settlers,  worked  for  them,  and 
partially  adopted  civilized  habits.  Some  of  these  demi-savages  subse- 
quently became  exceedingly  troublesome  to  the  settlers,  and  one  of  the 
worst,  was  this  very  Symon,  who  for  several  years  made  his  home  in  this 
town,  and  Amesbury.  He  is  described  by  one  of  the  writers  of  the  time, 
as  "  the  arch  villain  and  incendiary  of  all  the  eastward  Indians  "  ;  and  he 
seems  to  have  been  an  active  spirit  in  several  of  the  principal  attacks  upon 
the  English  in  this  vicinity. 

Upon  the  Files  of  the  Hampton  Court  for  this  year,  (1672)  we  find  the 
following  curious  order  of  Court :  — 

"  At  a  Courte  holden  at  Hampton,  8th  of  8th  mo.  This  Court  being 
informed  that  John  Littlehale  of  Haverhill,  liveth  in  an  house  by  himself 
contrary  to  the  law  of  the  Country  whereby  hee  is  subject  to  much  sin  ;  and 
having  had  information  of  some  of  his  accounts  which  are  in  no  way  to  be 
allow'd  of  but  disproved  and  discountenanced,  doe  therefore  order  that  the 
said  John  doe  forthwith,  at  farthest,  within  the  time  of  six  weeks  next 
after  the  date  hereof  remove  himself  from  the  said  place  and  solitary  life 
and  settle  himself  in  some  orderly  family  in  the  said  towne  and  bee  sub- 
ject to  the  orderly  rules  of  family  goverment  in  said  family  (unless  hee 
remove  out  of  the  said  towne  within  the  time)  and  if  he  doe  not  perform 
this  order  as  abovesaid  then  this  Courte  doth  order  that  the  Selectmen  doe 
forthwith  order  and  place  the  said  John  to  bee  in  some  orderly  family  as 
abovesaid,  which  if  he  shall  refuse  to  submit  unto,  then  these  are  in  his 
majesties  name  to  require  the  Constable  of  said  town  upon  his  knowledge 
of  it,  or  information,  to  apprehend  the  person  of  said  John  and  carry  him 
to  the  house  of  correction  in  Hampton,  there  to  bee  kept  and  sett  to  work 
untill  hee  shall  be  freed  by  order  of  authority  ;  and  this  order  shall  bee  a 
discharge  and  security." 

This  order  had  the  desired  effect.  John  immediately  removed  to  "  some 
orderly  family."  ■=  If,  however,  the  order  was  intended  as  a  hint  that 
he  ought  to  take  to  himself  a  wife,  John  was  not  over  hasty  in  taking  the 
hint,  as  he  did  not  give  up  a  "jolly  bachelor's  life  "  mxi\\  J  orty-four  years 
afterward,  when  he  had  attained  the  respectable  age  of  sixty-six  years. 
He  then  married  and  became  the  father  of  two  children. 

At  the  annual  meeting  for  1673,  the  Clerk  was  ordered  to  enter  "  in  the 
book"  all  the  previous  orders  and  grants  of  the  town  "  which  stand  in 
loose  papers  &  sheets."     This  vote  accounts  for  the  promiscuous  manner 

^  John  Littlehale,  son  of  Richard,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town,  was  born  November  27,  I60O. 
He  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.    His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Lancton. 


118  BISTORT    OP    HAVERHILL. 

in  which  the  votes  and  grants  of  the  town  are  recorded  in  the  old  book  of 
Kecords,  They  were  many  of  them  first  written  on  "loose  papers  & 
sheets,"  and  when  finally  recorded,  no  regard  was  paid  to  their  dates. 
Indeed,  many  of  them  are  without  date,  making  it  difficult,  and  in  some 
cases  impossible,  to  assign  them  correctly. 

At  the  same  meeting,  "  John  Hutchins,  having  built  galleries"  in  the 
meeting-house,  was  "  allowed  to  sell  seats  or  priveleges  in  the  same  to  any 
one";  Robert  Swan  was  ordered  to  ^' pull  down  ^^  a  ditch  he  had  made 
across  one  of  the  town's  highways,  or  be  prosecuted  ;  and  Abraham  Whit- 
ticker,  having  failed  to  pay  his  rent  of  "sixpense  a  year,"  for  a  certain 
piece  of  land  belonging  to  the  town,  the  latter  took  it  into  their  own  hands 
again.  Abraham  had  occupied  the  land  thirteen  years,  and  had  paid 
nothing.  He  must  have  been  poor  indeed,  as  he  candidly  told  the  town  he 
was,  when  called  on  to  know  if  he  would  pay  his  rent. 

From  the  Hampton  records,  we  learn,  that  on  the  24th  of  September  of 
this  year,  "  There  was  a  storme  of  raine  and  snow  so  that  the  ground  was 
covered  with  snow,  &  some  of  it  continued  until  the  26th." 

When  the  older  towns  on  the  Merrimack  were  first  settled,  large  quanti- 
ties of  sturgeon  were  taken  from  the  river,  which  were  not  only  used  and 
highly  valued  as  an  article  of  diet,  but  pickled  and  packed  in  kegs  for 
transportation.  Frequent  allusions  to  this  subject  are  made  in  the  State 
and  County  records,  and  in  old  account  books.  AVood,  who  visited  America 
in  1633,  says:  "  Much  sturgeon  is  taken  on  the  banks  of  the  Merrimack, 
twelve,  fourteen,  eighteen  feet  long,  pickled  and  sent  to  England."  We 
think  that  either  his  fish  or  the  story  must  have  been  somewhat  stretched, 
to  come  up  to  the  number  of  feet  given !  The  Massachasetts  Indians 
named  the  river  Monomach,  signifying  sturgeon,  of  which  they  are  said 
to  have  taken  large  quantities  annually. 

We  do  not  learn  that  many  of  these  fish  were  ever  put  up  in  this  town 
for  exportation,  but  in  the  towns  below,  (Newbury  and  Salisbury)  it  was 
at  one  time  quite  an  extensive  business.  In  1656,  "a  keg  of  sturgeon, 
ten  shillings,"  was  among  the  charges  for  entertaining  an  ecclesiastical 
council  at  Salisbury.  In  1667,  Israel  Webster  testified  "that  he  carried 
twenty  two  firkins  h  kegs  of  sturgeon  from  William  Thomas'  cellar  to 
send  to  Boston."  In  1670,  Joseph  Coker  was  licensed  by  the  County 
Court  "to  make  sturgeon  in  order  to  transport."  In  1680,  the  Court 
licensed  Thomas  Kogers  "  to  make  sturgeon,  provided  he  shall  present  the 
court  with  a  bowl  of  good  sturgeon  every  Michaelmas  court."-'     As  late 

"  Hist.  Newbury. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  119 

as  1733,  and  probably  later,  the  business  was  carried  on  quite  largely  in 
Newbury. 

While  the  towns  below  seem  to  have  nearly  monopolized  the  sturgeon 
fishery,  Haverhill  was  for  a  long  time  largely  engaged  in  the  curing  and 
exportation  of  salmon  and  alewives.  Previous  to  the  building  of  dams 
and  bridges  across  the  Merrimack,  its  falls  were  noted  for  their  salmon 
and  its  tributary  streams  for  their  alewive  fisheries. 

The  falls  of  Pentuckett,  (Haverhill)  Pawtucket,  (Lowell)  Namoskeag, 
(Manchester)  and  Pennycook,  (Concord)  were  favorite  places  of  resort  for 
the  Indians,  during  the  fishing  season,  and,  in  consequence,  became  in  time 
the  seat  of  extensive  Indian  settlements,  the  difi'erent  communities,  or 
tribes,  being  known  and  distinguished  by  their  place  of  settlement. 

Haverhill,  from  its  favorable  situation  at  the  head  of  sloop  navigation, 
and  tide  water,  and  at  the  first  falls  of  the  river,  was  not  only  one  of  the 
earliest  and  latest  engaged  in  these  fisheries,  but  also  the  largest.  From 
the  year  1654,  when  Stephen  Kent  was  granted  liberty  "to  place  Bi,ioear 
in  Little  Kiver,  to  catch  alewives,"  and  1657,  when  Thomas  Hutchins  was 
permitted  "  to  set  a  wear  in  the  Merrimack  near  the  falls."  until  within 
the  last  twenty  years,  its  fisheries  have  been  no  small  item  in  the  trade 
and  commerce  of  the  town.  Persons  aie  still  living  who  remember  when 
nice  dried  salmon  was  so  plenty  in  town,  as  to  be  a  "  drug  "  in  trade,  and 
well  nigh  unsaleable  at  the  low  price  of  four  or  five  cents  per  pound ; 
and,  in  the  fishing  season,  fine  fresh  salmon  sold  for  even  less  than  the 
price  stated.  It  is  well  authenticated,  that  at  one  time  it  was  nowise  un- 
common to  stipulate  in  the  indentures  of  apprentices,  that  they  should 
not  be  obliged  to  eat  salmon  oftener  than  six  times  a  week !  As  the 
streams  and  outlets  of  the  ponds  became  obstructed,  and  their  waters 
defiled,  by  dams,  mills,  and  bridges,  the  supply  of  salmon  rapidly 
diminished,  and  at  the  present  time  but  few  are  annually  taken  in  the 
Merrimack,  while  the  quality  of  these  is  much  inferior  to  those  of  former 
times. 

The  same  causes  which  prevented  the  salmon  from  continuing  their  an- 
nual visits  to  the  ponds  and  streams  of  the  interior,  to  deposit  their  spawn, 
also  diminished  the  number  of  alewives.  The  latter,  however,  being  less 
nice  in  their  tastes,  continued  to  "  run  "  somewhat  later  than  the  former. 
It  is  but  a  few  years  since  alewives  were  caught  in  considerable  numbers 
in  Little  Paver,  near  the  factory  on  Winter  Street. 

Next  to  salmon  and  alewives,  shad  should  be  noticed  in  an  account  of 
our  fisheries.  We  regret,  however,  that  we  have  been  unable  to  obtain 
much  definite  information  in  regard  to  this  branch  of  business      At  one 


120  HISTOKY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

time  it  was  carried  on  extensively,  and,  during  the  fishing  season,  gave 
profitable  employment  to  hundreds  of  persons  on  the  Merrimack.  Shad 
were  from  time  immemorial  used  by  the  Indians  of  New  England  to  man- 
ure their  corn,  and  from  them  the  first  settlers  learned  to  use  it  for  the 
same  purpose.  Whether  they  also  used  them  as  an  article  of  diet,  we 
have  no  means  of  knowing ;  but  from  the  fact  that  salmon,  every  way 
richer  and  superior,  were  so  plentiful,  and  easily  obtained,  we  are  confi- 
dent that  shad  were  not  at  first  considered  of  much  account  as  food.  Even 
within  the  memory  of  persons  now  living,  they  have  at  times  been  caught 
in  such  large  numbers  as  to  be  unsaleable,  except  for  manure.  It  was  no 
unusual  occurrence  to  catch  several  hundreds  at  a  single  haul,  even  in  the 
small  seines  used  in  the  last  century.  In  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette, 
for  May  13,  1760,  we  find  the  following  item,  illustrative  of  our  point: — 

"  Shad.  —  One  day  last  week  was  drawn  by  a  net  at  one  draft  Two 
Thousand  Five  Hundred  and  odd  Shad  Eish  out  of  the  River  Merrimack 
near  Bedford  in  this  Province.     Thought  remarkable  by  some  people." 

In  these  days,  when  fifty  is  reckoned  a  remarkably  large  "  haul,"  even 
with  our  double  seines,  of  twenty  rods  in  length,  the  above  number  seems 
almost  incredible. 

The  causes  we  have  already  enumerated,  also  diminished  the  number  of 
shad  in  the  river,  and  since  the  erection  of  dams  at  Lowell,  Lawrence,  and 
other  places,  this  branch  of  our  fisheries  has  ceased  to  be  profitable, 
and  will  doubtless  soon  be  abandoned  altogether.  Bass  are  still  caught 
here,  in  their  season,  but  not  in  sufficient  numbers  to  ofi"er  much  induce- 
ment to  engage  in  the  business,  or  to  have  it  reckoned  as  a  branch  of  our 
industry. 

The  town  seems  to  have  been  ever  watchful  and  jealous  of  its  timber. 
The  very  first  vote  of  the  first  recorded  meeting  of  the  town,  was  to  pre- 
vent its  unnecessary  destruction.  When  we  remember  that  the  town  was 
then  covered  with  a  tliick  and  heavy  growth  of  wood  ;  that  an  untrodden, 
and  seemingly  inexhaustable  wilderness  stretched  itself  between  here  and 
Canada,  in  which  no  smoke  curled  from  the  home  of  a  white  man ;  it 
seems  almost  unaccountably  strange  that  they  should  have  been  so  careful 
of  their  timber.  But  so  it  was.  No  man  was  allowed  to  cut  down  more 
trees  than  he  needed  to  supply  his  house  fire  for  the  season,  or  to  furnish 
lumber  for  his  own  use.  As  "pipe  staves"  became  an  article  of  trade 
and  export,  and  a  convenient  means  to  supply  a  few  shillings  of  hard 
money  to  the  settlers,  the  town  voted  that  no  one  should  have  liberty  to 
make  more  than  "one  hundred  for  every  acre  his  house-lot  contained," 
under  the  severe  penalty  of  five  shillings  for  every  tree  he  felled  more  than 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  ]21 

was  required, to  make  his  proportion.  Tkejexportation  of  lumber  was  also 
forbidden.  It  seems,  however,  that  notwithstanding  the  severe  penalties 
attached,  these  regulations  were  sometimes  violated,  and  finally,  the  thing 
was  done  so  openly,  and  extensively,  that  a  town  meeting  was  called  (Jan. 
1,  1674),  to  consider  the  matter*  The  whole  time  of  the  meeting  was  oc- 
cupied in  a  consideration  of  this  one  subject,  and  it  was  finally  voted 
unanimously,  that  timber  for  staves,  heading,  ship  timber,  or  frames  of 
houses,  should  not  be  transported  out  of  town,  or  even  "brought  to  water 
side."  At  the  ensuing  March  meeting,  a  surveyor  of  boards,  and  a  culler 
of  staves,  were  chosen  for  the  first  time.  James  Pecker  was  chosen  to 
the  first,  and  Eobert  Clement  to  the  latter  office. 

We  have  before  noticed  that  the  town  seemed  particularly  desirous  of 
securing  the  settlement  of  mechanics  among  them.  That  the  cases  men- 
tioned were  not  merely  instances  of  strong  personal  friendship  or  influence, 
is  evident  from  the  general  tenor  of  the  record.  Mechanics  were  needed 
to  assist  in  developing  the  natural  resources  of  the  town,  and  as  their 
presence  and  labor  would  add  to  the  general  comfort  and  prosperity,  the 
town  did  not  hesitate  to  offer  to  all  such  as  seemed  worthy,  every  possible 
inducement  to  settle  among  them. 

At  the  meeting  last  mentioned,  (March,  167-i,)  John  Keyzar  of  Salem, 
was  granted  a  piece  of  land,  with  privileges  on  the  common,  &c.,  if  he 
would  come  "  and  set  up  his  trade  of  tanner."  He  did  so,  and  in  1682 
the  town  confirmed  the  grant  to  him  and  his  heirs  forever. 

That  the  duties  of  the  Selectmen  were  not  only  manifold,  but  their  pay 
not  at  all  extravagant,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that,  among  other 
things,  they  were  "  to  have  some  one  to  sweep  the  meeting  house  duly, 
decently  and  orderly,"  and  that  their  annual  pay  for  all  their  services, 
was  the  sum  of  fifty  shillings,  which  was  to  be  distributed  among  them, 
"  to  each  man  according  to  his  services." 

The  subject  of  the  town  bounds,  which  had  been  permitted  to  rest  quiet- 
ly for  a  few  years  following  the  running  of  the  line  in  1667,  as  we  have 
already  noted,  was  again  brought  up  in  1674,  by  a  request  from  the  Se- 
lectmen of  Haverhill,  that  the  bounds  might  be  "  perfected." 

A  reference  to  the  report  of  John  Parker  to  the  General  Court,  under 
date  of  1667,  will  show  that  at  that  time  the  line  north  from  the  point 
due  west  of  the  meeting  house  was  started,  but  left  unfinished.  After 
waiting  nearly  seven  years,  and  finding  that  the  work  was  not  likely  to  be 
"  perfected  "  without  an  effort  on  their  part,  the  town  directed  the  Select- 
men to  attend  to  the  matter  at  once.  The  Selectmen  thereupon  employed 
IC 


122  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL, 

Jonathan  Danforth,  a  somewhat  distinguished  surveyor,  to  finish  the  work 
begun  in  1GG7.  He  did  so,  and  at  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court 
in  1675,  presented  the  following  report: 

"  Att  the  request  of  the  Selectmen  of  Hauerill,  the  bounds  of  the  sajd 
toune  were  perfected  as  followeth  :  From  Hoults  Eocks  wee  ran  due  north 
west,  according  to  the  compasse,  not  allowing  any  variations,  allowing 
Amesbury  their  full  and  just  bounds,  as  hath  binn  determined  by  the 
honoured  Generall  Court ;  all  the  other  Ijnes  on  the  west  side  of  the  plan- 
tation wee  ran  from  Merremacke  Eiuer  due  north,  vntill  it  cut  with  the 
first  Ijne,  where  wee  erected  a  great  pillar  of  stones;  this  last  Ijnewas  sett 
out  and  begun  to  run,  by  Ensigne  Noyes  and  Saijant  Jno.  Parker,  at  eight 
miles  distance  from  Hauerill  meetting  house,  vpon  a  due  west  Ijne,  which 
is  according  to  the  grant  of  the  Generall  Court ;  the  running  Ijnes  on 
both  sides  of  the  plantation  were  well  bounded  by  markt  trees,  &  heapes 
of  stones,     Lajed  out 

By  Jonathan  Danforth,  Survejer." 

The  Court  approved  of  the  return,  and  thus,  to  use  the  language  of  the 
selectmen,  "  perfected "  the  bounds  of  the  town,  according  to  its  order 
of  1667. 

As  proof  that  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  "  subject  to  frailty 
and  en-or,"  we  cite  the  following,  from  the  records  of  the  County  Court : — 

"  Nathaniel  Emerson  was  admonished  by  the  Court  for  being  in  com- 
pany with  Peter  Cross,  and  others,  at  Jonas  Gregory's,  and  drinking  of 
stolen  wine."'-' 

"  Kobert  Swan  was  fined  20s  for  being  drunk  and  cursing."f 

"  Michael  Emerson  was  fined  5s  for  his  cruel  and  excessive  beating  of 
his  daughter  with  a  flayle  swingel,  and  kicking  of  her."|  We  think 
Michael  had  reason  to  congratulate  himself  on  getting  oft'  so  easily  for  his 
brutal  conduct. 

Two  daughters  of  Hanniel  Bosworth  were  fined  ten  shillings  each  for 
wearing  silk.§  This  was  contrary  to  the  law,  for  persons  in  their  station 
of  life.     "  Bravery  in  dress  "  was  strictly  forbidden. 

Hannah  Button  was  sentenced  by  the  Court  to  be  whipped,  or  pay  a 
fine  of  forty  shillings,  for  misdemeanors. 

Daniel  Ela  was  made  an  example  of,  for  swearing,  in  the  amount  of  ten 
shillings  ;  and  two  shillings  were  added  for  his  "  reviling  speeches."  We 
may  charitably  suppose  that  Daniel  was  by  this  not  only  convinced  of  the 
wickedness,  but  of  the  expensiveness  of  such  conduct,  and  became  a  wiser 
and  better  man. 

o  1673.        t  1674.        t  IWd.        §  1676. 


XIISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL,  123 


CHAPTEE  X. 


INDIAN  TROUBLES. FROM  1675  TO  1678. 


In  the  preceding  chapters,  we  have  followed  the  early  settlers  of  our 
town,  year  by  year,  through  their  first  third  of  a  century,  —  the  lifetime 
of  a  generation,  —  and,  except  the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to  all 
new  settlements  at  that  early  period,  we  find  their  history  one  of  continued 
peace  and  prosperity.  They  had  increased  in  population  and  wealth  from 
a  small  pioneer  company  of  twelve  men,  until  their  town  ranked  as  the 
twenty-fifth  of  the  forty-nine  towns  in  the  Colony.  They  were,  as  far  as 
we  can  judge,  a  happy,  prosperous,  and  peaceful  community.  Their  reli- 
gious teacher  was  a  man  distinguished  for  his  upright  Christian  character, 
and,  influenced  by  his  example,  his  people  prided  themselves  on  the  purity 
of  their  moral  conduct,  and  the  extreme  exactness  of  their  religious  devo- 
tions. We  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  there  was  no  settlement 
in  the  Colony,  containing  a  less  nvimber  of  idle  and  vicious  persons,  in 
proportion  to  the  population,  than  Haverhill.  The  small  number  of 
prosecutions  for  immoral  conduct,  to  be  found  on  the  Court  Files,  attest 
the  truth  of  our  declaration.  "VYould  that  the  record  of  the  succeeding 
third  of  a  century  were  equally  pleasant  to  contemplate ;  that  the  peaceful, 
happy  homes  of  Pentucket,  were,  for  another  generation,  to  rest  undis- 
turbed and  prosperous.     But  it  is  otherwise. 

The  year  1675,  is  memorable  for  a  war  with  the  Indians,  called  King 
Phillip's  War,  which  was  the  most  general  and  destructive  ever  sustained 
by  the  infant  colonies.  Phillip,  king  of  the  Wampanoags,'  resided  at 
Mount  Hope,  in  Rhode  Island,  and  was  the  grandson  and  successor  of 
Massasoit,  with  whom  the  Plymouth  colonists  had  made  a  treaty  fifty 
years  before.  For  a  long  time  he  had  been  jealous  of  the  whites,  and  had 
used  every  efi"ort  to  induce  all  the  Indian  tribes  to  unite  and  exterminate 
them,  and  thus  preserve  their  hunting  grounds  and  their  independence. 
The  immediate  cause  of  the  war,  was  the  execution  of  three  Indians  by  the 
English  for  the  murder  of  one  Sausaman,  a  Christian  Indian,  who  had 
informed  the  whites  of  the  plot  Phillip  was  forming  against  them.  Hav- 
ing incited  them  to  the  murder,  Phillip  determined  to  avenge  their  deaths, 
and  commenced  hostilities,  and  by  his  influence  drew  into  the  war  most  of 
the  tribes  of  iSTew  England.  Through  their  intercourse  with  the  whites,  the 
Indians  had  acquired  the  use  of  fire-arms,  and  notwithstanding  the  strin- 


124  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

gent  laws  against  selling  or  giving  them  guns  or  ammunition,  they  had  by 
various  means  obtained  possession  of  enough  to  do  terrible  execution  in 
the  war  which  now  burst  upon  the  colonists. 

Early  in  the  year  1675,  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  began  to  think 
seriously  of  taking  measures  to  defend  themselves  from  the  Indians.  Some 
years  previous,  a  fortification  was  built  around  the  meeting-house,  but  the 
peaceable  appearance  of  the  Indians,  and  the  free  intercourse  that  existed 
between  them  and  the  whites,  had  lulled  all  suspicion  of  danger,  and  'the 
works  were  suffered  to  fall  into  decay.  But  now  the  Indians  began  to 
show  symptoms  of  hostility,  and  the  whole  town  became  alarmed.  A  meet- 
ing was  called,  February  1 9th,  to  concert  measures  to  prevent  the  threatened 
danger,  and  it  was  voted  that  "  the  Selectmen  shall  forthwith  cause  the 
fortifications  (around  the  Meeting-house)  to  be  finished,  to  make  port 
holes  in  the  walls,  to  right  up  those  places  that  are  defective  and  likely  to 
fall,  and  to  make  a  flanker  at  the  east  corner,  that  the  work,  in  case  of 
need,  may  be  made  use  of  against  the  common  enemy."  At  the  same  time, 
Daniel  Ladd,  Peter  Ayer,  and  Thomas  AVhittier,  were  appointed  to  desig- 
nate what  houses  should  be  garrisoned  ;  and  the  "  old  brush  and  top  wood  " 
on  the  common,  was  ordered  to  be  burnt. 

Jn  view  of  the  impending  peril,  the  General  Court  took  active  measures 
to  protect  the  frontier  settlements,  by  furnishing  the  troopers  and  militia 
with  fire-arms  and  ammunition,  and  ordering  the  several  towns  to  provide 
fortifications  and  gan'isons,  without  delay. 

These  precauti  ms  were  scarcely  completed  when  the  storm  burst  upon 
them  with  remorseless  fury.  Early  in  the  following  spring,  (March  19, 
167G,)  the  town  was  startled  by  the  intelligence  that  the  Indians  were 
crossing  the  Merrimack  from  Wamesit  (Lowell) .  Couriers  were  at  once 
dispatched  from  Haverhill  and  Andover,  to  Ipswich,  for  aid.  Major  Den- 
nison,  of  Ipswich,  from  whose  letter  of  the  above  date  we  gather  these 
particulars,  writes  to  the  Governor,  that  there  was  a  gi-eat  alarm  in  those 
towns,  and  he  was  sending  up  sixty  men.''^  The  rumor  proved  unfounded, 
but  the  hostile  intentions  of  the  Indians  were  not  to  be  mistaken,  and  fear 
seized  upon  the  people  of  the  exposed  settlements. 

The  town  of  Andover  was  the  first  to  sufi^er.  In  a  letter  to  the  Gover- 
nor,! (April  7.)  imploring  for  help,  they  inform  him  that  their  town  had 
been  twice  attacked,  and  the  inhabitants  had  begun  to  move  away.- 

Haverhill  was  not  long  permitted  to  escape  the  murderous  tomahawk. 
On  the  2d  of  May,  one  of  its  own  people,  Ephraim  Kingsbury,  was  killed 
by  the  Indians.     He  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  person  slain  in  this 

o  Sttite  Archives.        t  IWil. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  125 

town  by  the  savages,  but  the  incidents  connected  with  his  death  have  been 
lost.  The  next  day,  (May  3d,)  the  house  of  Thomas  Kimball,  of  Brad- 
ford, was  attacked,  and  he  was  killed  ;  and  his  wife  and  five  children, — 
Joanna,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Priscilla,  and  John,  —  taken  captive'--'.  Phillip 
Eastman,!  of  Haverhill,  was  captured  at  the  sametime.| 

This  outrage  was  committed  by  three  well  known  "  converted  Indians," 
named  Symon,'^  Andjxw,  and  Peter. \\  There  is  a  tradition,  that  they  set 
out  with  the  intention  of  killing  some  one  in  Eowley,  whom  they  supposed 
had  injured  them,  but  finding  the  night  too  far  spent,  they  did  not  dare 
proceed  further,  and  so  avenged  themeelves  on  Mr.  Kimball.  It  is  quite 
probable  that  Symon  intended  to  wreak  his  vengeance  on  some  one  who 
was  concerned  in  securing  his  punishment  for  the  theft  before  mentioned. 
He  was  a  cruel  and  blood-thirsty  villain,  as  the  following  facts  will  abun- 
dantly show. 

Soon  after  her  return  from  captivity,  Mrs.  Kimball  addressed  the  fol- 
lowing petition  to  the  Governor  and  Council : 
"  To  the  Hon.  Governor  and  Gouncell. 

The  humble  petition  of  Mary  Kimball  sheweth  that  Simon,  the  Indian 
who  killed  my  husband,  Thomas  Kimball,  hath  threatened  to  kill  me  and 
my  children  if  ever  I  goe  to  my  own  house,  so  that  I  dare  not  goe  to  looke 
after  what  little  I  have  there  left,  for  fear  of  my  life  being  taken  away  by 
him ;  and  therefore,  doe  humbly  entreate  the  Hon.  Governor  and  Councell 
that  some  course  may  be  taken,  as  God  shall  direct,  and  your  wisdoms 
shall  think  best,  to  secure  him  ;  for  I  am  in  continual  fear  of  my  life  by 
him  ;  and  if  any  course  may  be  taken  for  the  recovery  of  what  is  yet  left 
in  their  hands  of  my  goods  that  they  have  not  destroyed,  (as  there  was 
two  kitteils  and  two  or  three  baggs  of  linnen  when  I  came  from  them) 
that  I  might  have  it  restored,  leaving  myself  and  my  concernes  under  God, 
to  your  wisdoms.     Piemaine  your  humble  suppliant.       Mary  Kimball." 

«=  The  house  in  which  Mr.  Kimball  lived,  stood  on  the  road  leading  to  Boxford.  The  cellar  was  plainly 
to  be  seen  a  few  years  ago.  Through,  as  it  is  said,  the  influence  of  Wannalancet,  the  chief  of  the  Pen- 
nacooks,  who  was  ever  the  friend  of  the  English,  Mrs.  Kimball  and  her  children  were  afterward  set  at 
liberty,  "  though  she  and  her  sucking  child  were  twice  condemned  by  the  Indians,  and  the  fii-es  ready 
made  to  burn  them."  (1) 

t  Phillip  Eastman  married  Widow  Mary  Morse,  August  22,  1678.  Children,  Hannah,  born  November 
r>.  1679 ;  Ebenezcr,  born  February  17,  1681 ;  Phillip,  born  August  18,  1684 ;  Abigail,  born  May  28,  1689. 

I  Eev.  Mr.  Cobbett. 

§  This  Symon,  or  Simon,  was  the  Indian  whose  horso-stealing  exploit  we  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
chapter. 

II  John  Littlehale.  of  this  town,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  September  18,  167.").  The  particular.?  of  his 
death  are  now  lost. 


(1)  Rev.  T.  Cobbett's  Ms.,  (Ipswich). 


126  HISTORY    OF    IIAVERniLL. 

Symon,  and  his  two  associates,  soon  after  concluded  to  make  peace  with 
the  English,  who,  instead  of  improving  the  opportunity  to  secure  their 
friendship,  seized  Symon  and  Andrew,  and  confined  them  in  the  jail  at 
Dover,  They  soon,  however,  found  means  to  escape,  joined  their  friends, 
and  entered  upon  the  work  of  vengeance  in  earnest. 

About  the  first  depredation  which  followed  their  flight  from  Dover,  was 
committed  at  G-reenland,  where  they  killed  one  John  Kenniston,  and  burned 
his  house.  Symon  was  with  the  celebrated  Mogg,  in  his  assault  upon 
Scarborough,  October  12th,  1676  ;  was  the  leader  of  the  party  which  made 
prisoners  of  Anthony  Brackett,  and  his  family,  at  Back  Cove  (near  Port- 
land), August  9  th,  of  the  same  year;  and  was  the  alledged  leader  of  the 
party  which  killed  several  persons  in  Amesbury,  July  7,  1677.  A  woman 
named  Quimby,  who  was  wounded  at  the  time,  recognized  him,  and  begged 
him  to  spare  her  life.  He  replied,  "  why,  goodwife  Quimby,  do  you  think 
that  I  will  kill  you  ?  "  She  said  she  was  afraid  he  would,  because  he 
killed  all  the  English.  Symon  then  said,  "  I  will  give  quarter  to  never 
an  English  dog  of  you  all,"  and  immediately  gave  her  a  blow  on  the  head, 
which  not  happening  to  hurt  her  much,  she  threw  a  stone  at  him, 
upon  which  he  turned  upon  her,  and  "  struck  her  two  more  blows,"  at 
which  she  fell,  and  he  left  her  for  dead.  Before  he  gave  her  the  last  blows, 
she  called  to  the  garrison  for  help.  He  told  her  she  need  not  do  that,  for, 
said  he,  "  I  will  have  that  too,  by  and  by."  Symon  was  well  known  to 
many  of  the  inhabitants,  and  especially  to  Mrs.  Quimby,  as  he  had  for- 
merly lived  with  her  father,  William  Osgood.'' 

In  April,  of  the  same  year,  Symon  and  his  companions  burnt  the  house 
of  Edward  Weymouth,  at  Sturgeon  Creek,  and  plundered  the  house  of  one 
Crawley,  but  did  not  kill  him,  because  he  had  shown  kindness  to  Symon's 
grandmothei'.f  Iluhhard,  (History  New  England)  relates  the  incident  as 
follows  :  — "  Symon  and  Andrew,  the  two  brethren  in  iniquity,  with  a  few 
more,  adventured  to  come  over  Piscataquo  Eiver,  on  Portsmouth  side,  when 
they  burnt  one  house  within  four  or  five  miles  of  the  town,  and  took  a 
maid  and  a  young  woman  captive ;  one  of  them  having  a  young  child  in 
her  arms,  with  which  not  willing  to  be  troubled,  they  gave  leave  to  her 
that  held  it,  to  leave  it  with  an  old  woman,  whom  the  Indian  Symon 
spared  because  he  said  she  had  been  kind  to  his  grandmother."  The  cap- 
tives subsequently  escaped,  and  revealed  the  names  of  their  captors,  who, 
for  the  reasons  before  given,  had  not  been  "  so  narrowly  looked  to  as  they 
used  to  do  others." 

*  Ma.  Docnments.        t  Belknap. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  127 

The  war  soon  became  general.  The  first  considerahle  attack  made  by 
the  Indians,  was  upon  the  people  of  Swanzey,  June  24th,  as  they  were 
returning  from  public  worship  ;=•■=  eight  or  nine  persons  were  killed.  Brook- 
field  was  next  attacked,  and  every  house  burnt  but  one.  During  the 
month  of  September,  Hadley,  Deerfield,  and  Isorthfield,  were  attacked; 
many  persons  were  killed,  and  many  buildings  consumed.  Encouraged 
by  this  success,  they  soon  after  burnt  thirty-two  houses  at  Springfield,  and 
the  inhabitants  narrowly  escaped  a  general  massacre.  They  also  laid  the 
town  of  Mendon  in  ashes ;  and,  on  the  10th  of  the  following  February, 
plundered  the  town  of  Lancaster,  burnt  several  houses,  and  killed  and 
captured  forty-two  persons.  Soon  after,  they  did  great  mischief  in  Marl- 
borough, Sudbury  and  Chelmsford  ;  and,  on  the  21st  of  February,  two  or 
three  hundred  Indians  surprised  Medfield,  burnt  half  the  town,  and  killed 
twenty  of  the  inhabitants.  Four  days  after,  they  burnt  seven  or  eight 
houses  in  Weymouth.  Early  in  March,  they  burnt  the  whole  settlement  of 
Groton ;  and  in  the  same  month,  they  burnt  five  houses,  and  killed  five 
persons  in  Northampton,  surprised  part  of  Plymouth,  and  murdered  two 
families,  laid  the  town  of  Warwick  in  ashes,  and  burnt  forty  houses  in 
Kehoboth,  and  thirty  in  Providence. 

On  the  other  hand,  large  numbers  of  Indians  were  destroyed  by  the 
colonists.  In  1G75,  when  Phillip  and  his  army  retreated  into  the  Narra- 
ganset  country,  the  English  pursued,  attacked  and  destroyed  their  fort, 
and  killed  seven  hundred  of  their  warriors.  Besides  these,  there  were 
three  hundred  who  died  of  their  wounds,  and  a  large  number  of  old  men, 
women,  and  children,  who  had  repaired  to  the  fort  for  refuge. 

In  1676,  the  afi"airs  of  the  colonists  wore  a  less  gloomy  aspect.  In  May 
and  June,  the  Indians  appeared  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  but  their 
energy  had  abated.  About  the  same  time,  a  war  broke  out  between  Phil- 
lip and  the  Mohawks,  (whom  the  former  had  vainly  endeavored  to  enlist 
against  the  English)  which  deranged  all  his  measures.  On  the  12th  of 
August,  1676,  the  finishing  blow  was  given  to  the  Indian  power,  by  the 
death  of  King  Phillip.  The  subsequent  winter,  the  severity  of  the  season, 
and  the  scarcity  of  their  provisions,  reduced  them  to  the  necessity  of 
sueing  for  peace.  By  the  mediation  of  Major  Waldron,  of  Dover,  to  whom 
they  applied,  a  peace  was  concluded  with  the  whole  body  of  eastern 
Indians,  which  continued  till  the  next  August.  In  this  war,  the  English 
lost  six  hundred  men,  twelve  or  thirteen  towns  were  destroyed,  and  six 
hundred  dwelling  houses  consumed. 

o  The  day  had  been  set  apart  by  the  Plymouth  colonists  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  on  account  of 
the  itrtpending  danger.  The  29th  of  the  same  month  was  also  so  observed  in  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  colony. 


128  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

From  the  Journal  of  Captain  John  Hull,  Treasurer  of  the  Colony,  under 
date  of  August  24,  1676,  we  copy  the  following  list  of  soldiers  from  this 
town,  and  the  sum  paid  to  each. 

"  Haverell  Towne  Cr  By  Sundry  Accpts.  Viz 24.16.08 

Samuel  Huchins  pd  as  p  Assignment  No  4315 00.15.06 

Nathaniel  Haseltine  ditto  No 01.00.06 

Samuel  Aires  dit , 00.08.06  - 

John  Keisar  dit 00.08.06 

John  Clements  dit 00.08.06 

Amos  Siuglctcns  dit 00.05.00 

Nathaniel  Lad  dit 00.05.00 

Daniel  Lad 00.05.00 

-George  Brown  dit 00.13.00 

John  Johnson  dit 00.02.06 

Phillip  Esman  dit 00.15.04 

Benjamin  Siuglcterry  dit 00.15.04 

Thomas  Durston  dit 00.17.10 

Thomas  Eastman  dit 01.04.00 

Thomas  Hartshorn  dit 00.12.00 

Richard  Allin  dit 01.17.06 

Eobert  Swan  dit 01.17.06 

Henry  Kemball  dit 01.06.10 

Benjamin  Grealy  dit 01.00.06 

Jonathan  Henrick  dit 00.15.04 

John  Corly  dit 00.15.04 

John  Roby  dit 00.08.06 

Samuel  Ladd  dit 03.17.00 

Thomas  Kinsbury  dit 01.12.04 

Robert  Swan  dit 01.04.00 

John  Haseltine  dit 01.04.00 

Samuel  AVatts  dit 00.13.06 

Joseph  Bond  dit .00.13.06 

The  following  extract  from  the  colonial  records,  presents  a  vivid  picture 
of  the  anxiety  and  distress  among  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  on  ac- 
count of  the  bold  and  daring  determination  of  Phillip  and  his  allies  to 
extirpate  the  English.  The  proposition  to  erect  a  fortification  of  such 
magnitude,  shows  the  desperation  to  which  they  were  reduced,  and  the 
dangers  to  which  they  were  exposed :  — - 

"  Att  a  court  held  in  Boston  March  23d  1676.  Whereas  several  con- 
siderable persons  have  made  application  to  us  and  proposed  it  as  a  necessary 
expedient  for  the  public  welfare  and  particularly  for  the  security  of  the 
whole  county  of  Essex  and  part  of  j\Iiddlesex  from  inroads  of  the  common 
enemy,  that  a  line  or  fence  of  stockades  or  stones   (as  the  matter  best 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  129 

suiteth)  be  made  about  eigtt  feet  high  extending  from  Charles  Eiver  where 
it  is  navigable  unto  Concord  river  from  George  Farley's  house,  in  Bil- 
lerica,  which  fence  this  council  is  informed  is  not  in  length  above  twelve 
miles,  a  good  part  whereof  is  alreadj^  done  by  large  ponds  that  will  con- 
veniently fall  into  the  line  and  so  forth,  and  so  forth,  by  which  means  the 
whole  tract  will  be  environed  for  the  security  and  safety  (under  God)  of 
the  people,  their  houses,  goods  and  cattel  from  the  rage  and  fury  of  the 
enemy."     "■'     *     ^-^     ^'^ 

The  court  thereupon  ordered  one  able  and  fit  man  from  each  of  the  in- 
cluded towns,  to  meet  at  Cambridge  on  March  3 1st,  to  survey  the  ground, 
estimate  the  expense,  &c.,  and  report  in  writing  how  it  might  be  prosecuted 
and  effected,  and  what  each  town  should  pay,  &c.  Nearly  all  the  towns 
made  a  report. 

The  peace  proved  to  be  of  short  duration.  On  the  1 2th  of  the  following 
July,  Eichard  Saltonstall  of  this  town,  and  others  of  Bradford,  and  Ando- 
ver,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  "more  provision  for  protection  on 
account  of  present  appearance  and  warning  of  danger."  In  reply,  the 
Court  ordered  one-fifth  of  the  men  to  be  kept  continually  on  scout,  taking 
turns,  so  that  all  should  bear  their  part ! 

Hostilities  commenced  soon  after,  and  were  continued  the  remainder  of 
that  year,  and  also  during  the  following  year  ;  in  which  period  the  Indians 
ravaged  the  country,  and  greatly  reduced  the  eastern  settlements. 

In  the  spring  of  1678,  commissioners  were  appointed  to  settle  a  formal 
treaty  of  peace  with  the  Indian  chiefs,  —  which  was  done  at  Casco.  Thus 
an  end  was  finally  put  to  a  tedious  and  distressing  war. 

Fortunately  for  our  town,  it  was  not  attacked  during  this  war,  though 
the  inhabitants  lived  in  continual  expectation  of  one,  and  the  most  active 
and  vigorous  measures  were  adopted  for  defence.  Houses  were  garri- 
soned, and  armed  scouts  were  kept  on  the  watch  for  the  enemy  night  and 
day,  during  the  whole  time.''  At  this  distant  day,  we  can  have  but  a 
faint  idea  of  the  anxieties  and  hardships,  the  flickering  hopes  and  gloomy 
fears,  of  those  long  and  dreary  three  years  of  Indian  warfare. 

After  the  ratification  of  peace,  commerce  began  again  to  flourish,  and 
the  population  of  the  country  rapidly  increased.  New  towns  were  settled, 
and  the  colonists,  no  longer  in  daily  and  hourly  fear  of  being  startled  by 
the  war-whoop  of  the  merciless  savage,  once  more  rested  in  present 
security. 

•  As  late  as  1684,  thirty-five  troopers  were  kept  constantly  on  the  scont,  on  the  borders  of  Haverhill, 
Amesbury,  and  Salisbury;  and  a  foot  company  was  kept  in  readiness  for  service,  in  each  of  those  towns. 

17 


130  HISTORY    OP    HAYERHILL. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


1675  TO  1688. 


During  the  period  included  in  the  preceding  chapter,  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town  were  so  constantly  engaged  in  providing  and  sustaining  means 
of  defence,  that  we  find  but  little  to  record  except  matters  in  some  way 
relating  to  the  Indian  troubles. 

In  1675,  the  time  of  holding  the  annual  town  meetings  was  changed 
from  the  first  Tuesday  in  March,  to  the  last  Tuesday  in  February. 

In  October,  the  General  Court  assessed  a  tax  of  £1,553,  5s,  4d,  on  the 
towns  in  the  Colony,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  war  with  the  Indians. 
The  proportion  of  Haverhill  was  fixed  at  £18.  Even  this  sum  was  not 
easily  raised,  and  a  town  meeting  was  called,  November  18th,  "to  allow 
the  inhabitants  to  make  staves  enough  to  pay  the  8  rates  required  by  the 
country,  so  as  to  save  bread  coin  which  men  cannot  well  live  without." 

At  the  same  meeting,  Michael  Emerson  was  chosen  "  to  view  and  seal 
all  leather  "  in  the  town.  This  is  the  first  mention  of  such  an  officer,  and 
Emerson  was  doubtless  the  first  one  so  appointed.  In  1677,  Emerson 
"complained,"  and  Andrew  Greeley  was  "joined  with  him."  We  are 
not  informed  of  what  the  former  complained,  but  from  the  fact  that  an 
additional  viewer  and  sealer  was  chosen,  as  a  remedy  for  his  complaint, 
we  are  led  to  suppose  that  the  labors  of  the  office  were  either  too  great  or 
too  troublesome  for  a  single  officer.  As  it  was  something  new  for  the  tan- 
ners in  town  to  have  some  one  specially  authorized,  and  required,  to  view 
and  seal  their  leather,  it  is  quite  probable  that  Emerson  found  his  business 
anything  but  pleasant,  and  hence  the  popular  ancient  and  modern  remedy 
adopted,  — division  of  responsibility. 

At  the  meeting  of  February  27,  1676,  William  Thompson  asked  to  be 
"  accepted  a  Towns-man,  to  dwell  here  and  follow  his  trade  of  shoe-mak- 
ing," but,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  the  town  refused.  The  Eecorder 
says,  "the  town  by  a  clear  and  full  vote  do  hereby  reject  his  motion,  not 
granting  any  such  liberty  or  acceptance  of  him." 

At  the  next  annual  meeting,  another  shoemaker  made  a  similar  applica- 
tion, which  met  with  even  a  worse  fate  than  that  of  Thompson,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  following,  from  the  Eecords  of  the  town  :  — 

"  Fetter  Patie  making  a  motion  to  the  town  to  grant  him  a  piece  of  land 
to  settle  upon,  it  not  being  till  then  known  to  the  town  that  he  was  a  mar  - 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  131 

riedman&a  stranger,  having  hitherto  accounted  of  him  as  a  journey-man 
shoe-maker,  his  motion  according  to  law  was  rejected.  And  the  Moderator 
declared  to  him  before  the  public  assembly  that  the  town  doth  not  own 
him,  or  allow  of  him  for  an  inhabitant  of  Haverhill,  &  that  it  was  the 
duty  of  the  Grand-jury  men  to  look  after  him." 

Pattee's  (or  Pettee's)  proposal  to  become  an  inhabitant  of  the  town, 
seems  to  have  been  lightly  esteemed.  But  he  was  not  so  easily  shaken  off ; 
and,  in  spite  of  his  cool  reception,  he  continued  to  reside  here  until  his 
death.  In  1680,  he  was  "  presented"  to  the  Court,  "  for  being  absent 
from  his  wife  several  years,  and  in  the  following  year,  he  was  presented 
for  having  another  wife  in  Virginia.'-'  In  1694,  he  was  chosen  constable 
by  a  "  pleantiful,  clear,  and  legal  paper  vote."  As  late  as  1710,  he  was 
the  regular  ferryman  at  "  Pattee's  ferry." 

Notwithstanding  the  unfavorable  reception  of  Thompson  and  Pattee's 
applications  for  permission  to  establish  themselves  in  town  as  shoemakers, 
others  were  soon  found  courageous  enough  to  make  a  similar  application. 
At  the  annual  meeting  in  1679,  —  "  upon  the  request  of  Benjamin  Webs- 
ter and  Samuel  Parker,  two  young  men  and  shooemakers,  that  the  towne 
would  give  them  libertie  to  live  in  this  towne  to  follow  the  trade,  having 
hired  a  house  to  that  end  ;  the  towne  by  their  vote  doe  grant  their  motion, 
and  accept  of  them  so  as  to  live  in  towne  and  follow  the  trade  of  shooe- 
making." 

Mirick  expresses  the  opinion,  that  Webster  and  Parker  were  the  first 
who  had  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  at  the  trade,  and  established 
themselves  in  this  town,  but  a  reference  to  the  record  in  the  case  of  Pattee 
and  the  fact  that  he  then,  and  for  years  afterward,  lived  in  town,  and  was 
a  "journey-man  shoemaker,"  is  sufficient  to  establish  his  claim  to  the 
honor  over  the  first-named.  We  think  it  nowise  improbable,  that  Thomp- 
son, although  he  was  refused  permission  to  become  a  "  towns-man,"  yet 
resided  here,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking.  The  vote  of  the 
town  would  not  prevent  this,  as  we  have  seen  that  it  did  not  in  the  case  of 
Pattee. 

In  1677,  Daniel  Ela  was  licensed  to  keep  an  ordinary  for  one  year; 
but  the  small  pox  breaking  out  in  his  family,  he  was  unable  to  sell  his 
liquors,  and  he  petitioned  the  Court,  at  the  fall  term,  to  extend  his  license. 

°  We  find  in  the  Town  Records,  under  date  of  November  8,  1682,  the  marriage  of  Peitr  Pafre  to  Sarah 
Gile,  and  follomng'  are  the  names  of  eight  children :  Moses,  Benjamin,  Jeremiah,  Samuel,  Hannah, 
Mercy,  Jemima,  and  Benjamin,  born  between  July  28,  1683,  and  May  15,  1696.  We  presume  that  this 
was  the  same  person  alluded  to  above. 


132  HISTOKY   OF   HAVEKHILl. 

The  Court  gave  him  liberty  to  sell  "  wine,  liquore,  Beere,  Cyder,  and  pro- 
visions to  horse  and  man,  or  travilers  in  Haverhill."" 

It  is  evident,  from  an  examination  of  the  Eecords,  that  the  town  con- 
tinued to  be  in  want  of  more  extensive  mill  accommodations — both  for 
corn  and  lumber.  We  have  already  noticed  the  conditions  upon  which 
various  parties  had  been  allowed  to  build,  and  the  important  privileges 
granted  to  them  upon  fulfilment  of  such  conditions.  But  it  seems  that  the 
mill  owners  did  not  always  come  up  to  their  part  of  -the  contract,  and  thia 
led  to  bitter  and  frequent  complaints  and  disappointments  on  the  part  of 
the  inhabitants.  Their  town  was  growing  steadily,  and,  for  the  times, 
rapidly,  and  it  was  important  that  its  growth  should  not  be  retarded, 
and  the  good  temper  of  the  inhabitants  ruffled,  by  reason  of  insufficient 
mill  accommodations. 

In  1675,  the  town  voted  to  prosecute  the  owners  of  the  sawmill,  for 
non-fulfilment  of  their  agreement.  We  do  not  find  that  this  course  amended 
matters  much,  and  they  doubtless  began  to  consider  the  propriety  of  favor- 
ing the  establishment  of  mills  in  different  parts  of  the  town.  They  had 
already  taken  a  step  in  this  direction,  by  granting  permission  for  a  second 
corn-mill  in  town,  a  few  years  previously,  and  in  1678,  the  town  unani- 
mously "voted  that  Bichard  Bartlett,  of  Almsbury  be  granted  the  privi- 
lege to  set  a  sawmill  in  Haverhill,  on  the  north  meadow  river."  Bartlett 
lived  near  the  Haverhill  line,  and  we  presume  that  his  mill  was  built  on 
or  near  the  site  of  what  are  now  known  as  Peaslees  iMUls.  The  conditions 
of  the  privilege  were,  that  Bartlett  should  pay  the  regular  rates  (that  is, 
taxes,)  ;  that  he  should  "  deliver  at  our  meeting  house  1000  merchantable 
per  year;  "  should  sell  to  the  Haverhill  people  at  three  shillings  per  hun- 
dred ;  and  should  secure  the  town  from  any  damages  recovered  by  the 
present  saw-mill  owners  in  consequence  of  the  new  mill,  and  from  all 
damage  to  meadows. 

Five  years  afterward,  the  town  voted  to  allow  Joseph  Kingsbery,  Sam- 
uel Hutchins,  Robert  Swan,  jun,,  and  Josiah  Gage,  to  build  a  saw-mill  on 
Merrie's  Creek,  below  the  bridge.  In  this  case,  the  town  expressly  re- 
served to  itself  the  right  to  allow  others  the  same  privilege  on  the  same 
stream,  which  was  certainly  a  long  step  toward  the  final  abolishment  of  all 
monopoly  in  mill  privileges. 

At  the  same  meeting  (1683)  the  subject  of  com  mill  accommodations 
came  up  again  for  consideration,  as  we  learn  from  the  following  record :  — 

o  "From  an  old  account  book  I  learn  that  this  year  turnips  &  apples  were  a  shilling  a  bushel;  a  day's 
mowinj  two  shillings  and  tivo  pence;  men's  wages  for  a  year  ten  pounds;  women's  wages  from  four  to 
fire  pounds ;  board  four  shillings  per  week,  and  lalwr  two  shillings  per  day." — Coffin, 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  133 

"  The  town  being  sensible  of  their  great  suffering  for  want  of  another 
mill  to  grind  their  corn  ;  this  mill  of  Andrew  Grelee's  not  being  able  to 
supply  them  or  to  grind  their  corn  as  it  ought  to  be  done,  did  send  to  An- 
drew Grelee  to  treat  with  him,  &  proposed  to  him  the  building  of  another  ; 
Who  then  did  refuse  to  accept  of  the  proposition,  &  declared  before  the 
town  that  he  knew  there  was  a  necessity  for  the  town  to  have  another 
cornmill,  &  that  he  was  not  at  all  against  their  having  of  one  set  up,  pro- 
vided it  be  set  upon  any  other  brook  or  stream,  &  not  upon  that  brook 
which  his  mill  stands  upon." 

Upon  this,  Stephen  Daltpn  "propounded  for  liberty  to  build  a  corn- 
mill,"  which  request  was  granted. 

That  it  is  no  modem  notion,  to  find  fault  with,  and  be  suspicious  of  the 
integrity  of  town  officers,  is  manifest  from  the  town's  voting,  as  long  ago 
as  1679,  to  choose  a  committee  to  look  after  the  accounts,  &c.,  of  the 
Selectmen  for  the  preceding  year.  Their  confidence  had  somehow  become 
so  much  weakened,  that  they  even  voted  that  a  similar  committee  should 
be  chosen  every  year  in  future. 

In  the  early  part  of  1680,  Haverhill  was  set  back  into  Essex  county. 
The  following  is  the  order  of  the  General  Court,  making  the  change :  — 

"  At  a  General  Court  held  in  Boston  the  4th  day  of  Feb  1679-80. 

This  Court  being  sensible  of  the  great  inconvenience  &  charge  that  it 
will  be  to  Salisbury,  Haverhill,  &  Almsbury,  to  continue  their  County 
Court,  now  some  of  the  Towns  of  Norfolk  are  taken  off,  &  considering  that 
those  towns  did  formerly  belong  to  Essex,  &  attended  at  Essex  Court,  Do 
order  that  those  Towns  that  are  left  be  again  joined  to  Essex,  &  attend 
public  business  at  Essex  Courts,  there  to  implead  &  be  impleaded  as  occa- 
sion shall  be  :  Their  records  of  lands  being  still  to  be  kept  in  some  one 
of  their  own  Towns  on  the  North  of  Merrimack."  And  all  persons  accord- 
ing to  course  are  to  attend  in  Essex  County. 

By  the  Court.  Edw:  Eawson  Secrety." 

From  the  records  of  the  General  Court,  we  learn  that  twenty-two  towns, 
and  among  them  Haverhill,  had  not  yet  paid  the  amount  they  subscribed 
for  Harvard  College.  The  Court  ordered  the  selectmen  of  the  delinquent 
towns  to  enquire  into  the  matter,  and  report,  under  a  penalty  of  twenty 
pounds.  As  we  hear  nothing  further  from  it,  we  presume  the  subscription 
was  soon  after  paid, 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  (March  24,  1680,)  Mrs.  Ward,  the  wife  of 
the  minister,  died.     From  the  testimony  her  husband  bears  to  her  charac- 

•  The  records  referred  to  in  the  above  order,  were  subsequently  deposit^ed  in  the  archives  of  the  County, 
at  Salem,  where  they  still  remain. 


134  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

ter,  we  learn  that  she  was  a  woman  of  most  exemplary  life,  and  shining 
virtues,  —  a  fit  companion  for  the  religious  teacher  of  an  early  New  England 
settlement.  Her  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  her  surviving  husband.  She 
had  been  his  constant,  loving,  and  beloved  companion,  by  night  and  by 
day,  for  nearly  forty  years.  For  more  than  a  third  of  a  century  —  the 
life-time  of  a  generation — she  had  shared  his  jo^^s  and  his  sorrows,  his 
hopes  and  his  fears ;  had  comforted  and  cheered  him  when  sad,  gently 
chided  him  when  erring,  and  had  yielded  him  the  full  measure  of  that 
choicest  and  most  precious  of  all  the  treasures  of  this  life,  — a  woman's 
love  and  devotion.  And  now,  seared  and  decrepit  with  age,  with  the 
blossoms  of  almost  fore-score  winters  upon  his  head,  the  veteran  minister 
found  himself  approaching  the  land  of  shadows  alone.  No  wonder  is  it 
that  the  old  man's  heart  sunk  within  him  ;  that  his  step  grew  unsteady, 
his  voice  tremulous,  and  his  eye  dim  ;  when  the  full  sense  of  his  loss  and 
his  loneliness  revealed  itself  to  him.  A  few  months  afterward,  we  find 
the  following  record :  — 

"  At  a  Town  meeting  Dec  22.  1680,  held  after  Lecture,-'  Nathl  Salton- 
stall,  Lieut  Browne,  Tho  Whittier,  Wm  White,  &  Danl  Ela,  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  "look  out  for  to  agree  with,  &  obtain  forthwith,  &  pro- 
cure upon  the  best  terms  they  can  get,  some  meet  &  able  person  to  be  a 
present  help  &  assistant  to  Mr  Ward,  our  minister,  now  in  his  old  age,  in 
the  work  of  the  ministy  in  preaching." 

The  record  tells  us  that  this  was  done  "  by  the  advice  of  our  present 
minister."  The  meeting  was  held  "  after  the  Lecture."  Suggestive 
theme  !  Who  shall  paint  the  picture  presented  to  the  eye  at  that  "  lec- 
ture ;  "  the  humble,  unpainted,  unsteepled,  uncushioned,  organless,  pic- 
tureless  little  church ;  the  assembled  congregation  ;  and  the  white-haired 
minister  ?  All  the  members  of  his  little  flock  were  there  ; —  children,  youth, 
middle-aged  and  old.  For  many,  many  years,  he  had  watched  over,  instruct- 
ed, prayed  for,  and  exhorted  them  ;  had  gone  in  and  out  among  them  at  all 
times  and  seasons ;  his  bencA' olent  smile,  and  sympathising  voice,  had  been 
their  comfort  and  solace  in  sickness  and  sorrow ;  and  his  presence  and 
counsel  had  smoothed  the  pathway  of  the  departed  to  the  tomb,  and  miti- 
gated the  pangs  of  afflictive  bereavement  to  the  living.  But  his  work  was 
now  almost  completed ;  his  sands  of  life  were  fast  running  out ;  his  strong- 
est earthly  prop  had  been  taken  away ;  he  was  no  longer  able  to  labor 


o  Fdi  siiys,  that  "Lecture  Day"  was  Thursday,  when  the  services  commenced  at  11  A.  M.  They  were 
superceded  about  1753,  by  monthly  lectures.  Evening  lectures  were  first  held  about  1740.  From  an  early 
date,  Friday  seems  to  have  been  the  Lecture  Day  in  this  town.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith  is  said  to  have 
been  the  first  one  who  held  evening  meetings  in  the  town. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  135 

with  them  and  for  them  as  in  times  past ;  and,  with  trembling  voice  and 
tearful  eye,  he  asks  them  to  seek  out  another  minister,  while  yet  his  little 
strength  remained. 

The  committee  chosen,  were  also  instructed  to  "  look  out  a  place  for  a 
convenient  situation  for  a  minister,"  and  "to  agree  with  anyone  upon 
purchase  or  exchange  of  land,  or  if  they  meet  not  with  a  bargain  to  their 
mind,  then  to  set  out  such  of  the  town's  common  land  as  they  shall  judge 
most  convenient  for  a  place  for  the  ministry." 

At  a  meeting  June  24,  1681,  the  committee  reported  that  not  finding 
any  suitable  place  upon  purchase  or  exchange,  John  Haseltine  senior  had 
"  given  two  acres  to  the  town  for  the  perpetual  use  of  the  ministry,"  and 
they  had  laid  out  a  piece  adjoining  it  for  the  same  purpose.  Their  doings 
were  approved,  and  the  land  granted  for  that  purpose  "forever."  This 
land  was  situated  north  of  the  present  Winter  Street,  and  between  Little 
River  and  the  Common. 

The  committee,  at  the  same  time,  reported  that  they  had  not  been  able 
to  get  a  new  minister,  and  thereupon  a  new  committee  was  chosen  in  their 
place,  with  instructions  to  do  so,  "  they  taking  the  advice  of  Mr.  Ward, 
our  present  aged  minister."  Josiah  Gage  was  agreed  with,  to  build  a 
house  for  the  new  minister. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  gallery  was  ordered  to  be  immediately  erected  ' 
in  the  east  end  of  the  meeting-house,  for  "  the  accommodation  of  the  ' 
women." 

We  have  already  noticed  that,  in  1673,  the  annual  salary  of  the  school- 
master was  discontinued.  The  records  for  several  years  succeeding  that 
date  are  silent  in  regard  to  a  school  in  town,  and  the  first  and  only  infor- 
mation we  have  been  able  to  find  relating  to  the  subject  at  this  period,  is 
the  following,  in  the  records  of  the  Ipswich  Court,  for  March,  1681  :. — 

"  The  Court  having  called  the  presentment  of  Hauerill  for  not  having  a 
school-master,  according  to  Law,  in  their  Toune,  &  finding  that  there  is 
some  prouision  made  for  the  present,  for  teaching  of  children,  they  are  re- 
leased upon  that  presentment,  but  the  court  judging  that  what  is  now 
done  and  provided  by  them  doth  not  answer  the  law,  nor  is  convienient  to 
be  rested  in,  doe  order  that  the  town  before  the  next  court  at  Ipswich  pro- 
vide an  able  and  meet  schoolmaster  that  may  constantly  attend  that  service, 
as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  and  that  the  scoole  be  kept  neare  the  centre  of 
the  Toune." 

For  some  unexplained  reason,  Josiah  G-age  did  not  build  a  house  for  the 
new  minister,  according  to  agreement,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  the  next 

'  It  will  be  recollected  that  John  Hut<:hin3  had  previously  built  n  gallery  ftt  the  west  end. 


136  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

year  (1682)  a  committee  was  chosen  to  find  some  one  else  to  build  it.  A  few 
weeks  after,  (April  4)  a  town  meeting  was  called,  and  a  committee  ctosen 
"  to  treat  with  Samuel  Dal  ton"  or  John  Stockbridge  for  either  of  their 
houses  which  they  have  of  late  erected  in  town,"  for  the  use  of  the  new 
minister. 

At  the  June  meeting  of  the  previous  year,  the  question  of  building  a 
new  meeting-house  was  discussed.  The  old  one  was  too  small  to  accom- 
modate all  the  inhabitants,  and  was,  moreover,  much  decayed.  But  the 
proposition  was  finally  voted  down,  "  by  the  additional  and  wilful  votes  of 
many  prohibited  by  law  from  voting."  The  proposition  adopted  at  that 
time,  to  build  a  gallery  for  the  women,  was  probably  a  sort  of  compromise 
between  the  two  parties.  At  the  March  meeting  following,  the  matter 
was  again  agitated,  but  no  action  was  taken. 

In  June,  another  meeting  was  called,  "  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Ward," 
to  see  about  a  new  minister.  At  this  meeting,  ten  pounds  were  raised  to 
get  one. 

In  July,  the  town  met  to  see  about  the  "  parsonage  farm,"  and  it  was 
finally  leased  to  Daniel  Bradley,  for  twenty-one  years.  Mr.  Ward's  in- 
creasing age  and  feebleness  were  doubtless  the  reasons  for  this  action, 
though  none  are  given. 

September  18th,  another  meeting  was  called  to  see  about  a  new  minister. 
The  necessity  was  now  becoming  urgent,  and  the  matter  could  not  be  de- 
layed longer.  After  much  discussion,  the  town  voted  "  to  proffer  Mr. 
Jeremiah  Gushing,  or  some  other  meet  person  that  may  be  agreed  upon, 
£100,  in  corn  or  provisions,  besides  the  £60  proffered  for  annual  salary 
during  Mr.  Ward's  life."  They  determined  that  the  above  mentioned 
sums  should  be  raised  in  the  same  way  as  a  town  rate,  and  should  be  paid 
"  part  money,  part  wheat,  part  rye,  &  part  Indian  Corn,  all  good,  dry, 
sweet  clean,  &  merchantable."  The  committee  previously  chosen  were 
continued,  "to  carry  on  designs  with  Mr.  Gushing,  whom  the  town  hath 
had  some  experience  of."f 

Three  weeks  later,  another  meeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  voted  to 
purchase  of  Samuel  Simons,  "his  house  &  nine  acres  of  land  for  the  use 

*  Dal  ton  was  from  Hampton. 

t  From  the  last  clause  of  this  vote,  it  appears  that  Mr.  Cnshinar  had  preached  in  town  at  some  time 
previous,  —  perhaps  on  "exchange"  with  Mr.  Ward.  Mr.  Cushin?  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Gushing,  Esq., 
was  horn  at  Hingham.  Mass.,  July  3, 1654,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  in  1070.  He  received 
an  invitation  to  settle  in  the  ministry  at  Haverhill,  in  1682,  which  he  declined  accepting.  He  was  after- 
ward invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  Scituate,  and  was  ordained  over  it  May  27,  1691.  He 
died  March  22,  1705,  in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fourteenth  of  his  ministry.—  Vide  Histories 
Hinghnm,  and  ScituaU. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  137 

of  the  ministry."  The  town  gave  Simons  for  his  house  and  land,  "forty 
acres  near  Fishing  river,  and  £30  in  vpheat,  rye,  and  corn."  They  also 
voted  Mr.  Gushing  "  four  cow  common  rights,"  in  addition  to  what  they 
had  previously  oflFered  him,  and  also  "twenty  cords  of  wood  at  his 
house  annually."-'' 

This  year,  for  the  first  time,  the  Moderator  was  chosen  by  "a  paper 
vote,"  and  it  was  voted  that  in  future  the  Selectmen  should  be  chosen  in 
the  same  manner,  "  one  at  a  time."  This  was  the  commencement  of  vot- 
ing by  written  ballot  in  the  choice  of  officers  by  the  town.f  - 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1683,  Francis  Wainwright  obtained  leave  for 
his  son  Simon  to  settle  in  town,  and  use  timber  to  build  him  a  house  and 
a  "  ware  house."  This  is  the  first  mention  we  can  find  of  a  merchant,  or 
trader,  in  town.  Francis  Wainwright  was  himself  a  merchant,  from  Ips- 
wich, and  had  three  sons, — John,  Simon,  and  Francis.  Simon  immediately 
removed  here. 

At  this  meeting,  the  subject  of  Mr.  Cushing's  engagement  was  again 
discussed,  and  it  was  decided  to  send  a  messenger  to  get  his  answer  or  to 
have  him  "  please  to  come  and  give  us  a  visit,  that  we  may  receive  answer 
from  himself."  It  was  voted  to  raise  one-half  of  the  one  hundred  pounds 
offered  him,  immediately ;  and  also  to  buy  "  the  house  where  Henry  Pal- 
mer lived  &  died,  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  forever."  The  price  paid 
was  twenty  acres  of  la^nd  "  towards  Great  Pond."| 

This  was  the  third  time  the  town  purchased  a  place  to  be  devoted  to 
that  use,  "  forever,"  and  we  may  doubtless  forever  speculate  as  to  the  rea- 
sons why  the  previous  bargains  were  not  carried  into  effect,  as  the  records 
give  us  no  clue  to  a  solution  of  the  problem. 

In  June,  another  meeting  was  called  to  consider  about  Mr.  Cushing's 
settlement,  and  to  see  about  a  new  meeting  house.  The  latter  subject, 
however,  seems  to  have  engrossed  all  the  time  of  the  meeting.  We  should 
judge  from  the  records  that  there  was  no  difference  of  opinion  in  regard 
to  the  need,  or  the  expediency  of  building  a  new  house,  as  the  discussions 
appear  to  have  been  confined  entirely  to  its  location.  Upon  this  question, 
there  was  a  wide  difference  of  opinion,  and  when  the  vote  was  taken  upon  the 
question  of  placing  the  new  meeting  house  upon  the  old  site,  the  following 
voted  yea,  viz : 

Serg.  John  Johnson,  Mr.  John  Ward,  minister,  Nath'l  Saltonstall,  Lieut 
George  Browne,  Wm.  White,  Thomas  Whittier,  John  Whittier,  EobertEmer- 

"  Twenty  cords  of  wood  per  annum,  waa,  at  that  day,  considered  a  moderate  allowance  for  an  ordinary 
family. 

t  In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony,  white  and  black  beans  were  used  in  voting. 

t  This  is  the  first  mention  we  find  of  that  body  of  water,  by  that,  or  any  other  particular  name. 

18 


138  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

son,  Robert  Clement,  Jotham  Hendrick,  James  Davis,  sen.,  Daniel  Ela,  John 
Page  sen.,  and  Samuel  Sbeplierd.  (Total  15.)  The  following  named  per- 
sons "  were  against  the  settling  of  the  meeting  house  where  the  meeting 
house  now  stands  (forever) ,  but  that  this  meeting  house  that  now  is  may 
stand  as  long  as  is  convenient:  —  Thomas  Davis,  Daniel  Lad  sen.,  Saml 
Gild,  Peter  Ayer,  Oncsipho  Mash  sen,  John  Haseltine  sen,  Michii  Em- 
erson, Geo  Corlis,  Kob.  Ford,  Saml  Simons,  Tim  Ayers,  John  Eobie,  Saml 
Hutchins,  John  Corlis,  Saml  Ayer,  Thos  Duston  John  Hartshorne,  Tho 
Ayer,  Joseph  Kingsberry,  John  Gild,  Saml  Kingsberry,  Joseph  Hutchins, 
Stephen  Webster,  Nathl  Haseltine,  Tho  Hartshorne,  Eobt  Swan  sen,  Willm 
Neff,  Josiah  Gage,-Ezek'l  Lad,  Eobt  Swan  Jun,  Philip  Eastman,  Henry 
Kemball,  Joseph  Johnson,  Mat  Harriman."     (Total  34). 

In  referring  to  the  action  of  the  town  about  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Gush- 
ing, the  former  historian  of  Haverhill  concludes,  that  there  was  not  only 
considerable  discussion,  but  that  it  was  "  probably  rather  violent,"  and 
adds,  "  the  excitement  appears  to  have  been  great."  "VVe  have  carefully 
examined  the  record,  and  are  unable  to  find  any  evidence  of  violent  dis- 
cussions, or  gi'eat  excitement,  and  we  feel  confident  that  such  was  not  the 
case.  The  matters  were,  indeed,  most  important  ones,  and  we  have  no 
doubt  that  the  discussions  were  both  long  and  earnest ;  but  the  Eecorder 
gives  us  no  hints  of  either  violence  or  great  excitement. 

Among  the  minor  matters  of  this  period,  we  find  several  items  which 
may  be  of  interest  to  our  readers.'' 

In  1683,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  rebuild  the  "  West  Bridge,  at  Saw- 
mill Eiver,  it  being  much  dammified  by  the  great  flood  of  waters  this 
spring."     (This  bridge  stood  near  the  present  AVinter  street  bridge). 

Daniel  Ela  was  prosecuted  by  his  wife,  for  ill  treatment,  and  the  court 
ordered  him  to  pay  her  40s.  This,  however,  did  not  prevent  a  continu- 
ance of  his  cruelty,  as  he  was  the  next  year  complained  of  by  AVilliam 
White,  for  turning  his  wife  out  of  doors  in  a  snow-storm,  and  shamefully 
abusing  her.  The  following  deposition  of  one  of  his  neighbors,  will  ex- 
hibit his  character:  "Goodman  Ela  said  that  Goodman  White  was  an  old 
knave,  and  that  he  would  make  it  cost  him  souse  for  coming  to  him  about 

•  The  following,  from  Coffin's  History  of  Nevibury,  will  probably  apply  equally  as  well  to  Haverhill, 
and  is  therefore  worth  inserting  in  this  place :  —  " Turnips  at  that  time,  &  for  a  half  century  af ler,  sup- 
plied the  place  of  potatoes.  In  1662,  the  price  of  a  cord  of  oalc  wood,  &.  a  bushel  of  turnips,  was  the 
same,  namely,  one  shilling  and  sixpence.  In  1702,  oak  wood  was  three  shillings,  &  walnut  five  shillings 
a  cord,  and  turnips  from  one  shilling  and  sixpence  to  two  shillings  a  bushell.(l)  In  1676,  turnips  one 
shilling  per  bushell,  hemp  and  butter  sixpence  per  pound.  In  1687,  cotton  wool  was  one  shilling  and  six- 
pence per  pound.  (2) 


(1)  John  Knight's  Journal.  (2)  Richard  Bartlett's  Joiirna 


HISTOEY    OF   HAVERHILL.  139 

his  wife,  and  meddling  about  that  which  was  none  of  his  business.  He 
said  that  she  was  his  servant  and  his  slave ;  and  that  she  was  no  woman, 
but  a  devil  in  woman's  apparel ;  and  that  she  should  never  come  into  his 
house  again  ;  and  that  he  would  have  her  severely  whipped,  but  that  it 
would  be  a  disgrace  to  him."'' 

John  Page  was  licensed  to  keep  an  ordinary  in  town ;  and  William 
White  to  sell  cider  for  three  years.  At  the  next  court,  Page  was  fined 
forty  shillings  for  "  selling  drink  to  Indians."! 

At  the  town  meeting,  in  1683,  a  complaint  was  made  against  John  Kee- 
zar,  for  keeping  his  tan-vats  open,  by  which  means,  some  cattle  and  swine 
belonging  to  his  neighbors,  had  been  destroyed.  "  The  Moderator,  in  ye 
name  of  ye  towne,  did  publiquely  give  sd  Keezar  a  caution  —  warning 
and  admonishing  him  upon  his  perill  to  secure  his  tan-yard  and  tan  fatts 
that  no  damage  be  done  by  him,  to  other  mens  or  his  own  creatures  ;  and 
in  speciall  that  mischief  may  not  come  unto  children,  which  may  occasion 
his  own  life  to  come  upon  triall." 

On  the  27th  of  October,  another  meeting  was  called  to  see  about  settling 
a  minister.  The  first  vote  passed,  was  to  dismiss  the  committee  previously 
chosen  for  the  purpose  of  finding  some  suitable  person,  and  the  next,  was  to 
choose  a  new  committee,  "  to  procure  a  person  to  join  with  Mr.  Ward  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry  at  Haverhill."  This  third  committee  consisted  of 
Corporal!  Peter  Ayer,  Corporal  Josiah  Gage,  and  Eobert  Swan,  senior. 

In  the  records  of  this  meeting,  we  find  the  following,  touching  the  nego- 
tiations with  Mr.  Gushing :  — 

"  The  town  by  their  former  Committee  having  had  a  treaty  with  Mr. 
Gushing,  in  order  to  his  settlement,  and  at  last  being  denied,  Lieut  Browne, 
that  the  town  may  be  j  astified  if  they  treat  with  any  other  person  in  order 
to  a  settlement  in  the  ministry,  gave  in  Mr.  Cushing's  two  letters  as  his 
answer  and  refusal  of  our  motion,  that  they  might  be  entered  and  put 
upon  file,  with  other  papers  belonging  to  the  town's  concernments  which 
are  on  file." 

This  is  the  last  reference  we  find  to  Mr.  Gushing  in  the  records.  The 
Recorder  does  not  state  what  his  reasons  were  for  declining  to  come,  and 
as  the  letters  above  mentioned  are  now  lost,  we  are  left  entirely  in  the 
dark  concerning  them.  We  feel  confident,  however,  that  his  refusal  was 
not  given  on  account  of  any  division  or  excitement  among  the  people  of 
the  town,  though  Mirick  so  intimates  in  his  History  of  Haverhill. 

'^  Court  Records.        f  Ibid. 

X  If  any  of  our  readers  feel  disposed  to  smile  at  the  prominence  given  to  military  titles,  by  onr  ances- 
tors, let  them  please  remember,  that,  in  these  "  latter  day^,"  nearly  every  man  is  addressed  by  some  title. 
Those  who  cannot  claim  a  higher  one,  are  usually  addressed  as  •'  Esq." 


140  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting  (1684)  Daniel  Ela  and  William  Starlin 
made  "  a  proffer  to  the  town,  to  sell  their  livings,  house  &  laud,  for  a  situ- 
ation for  a  minister  or  the  ministry,"  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  treat 
with  them  "in  the  time  of  intermission,  before  the  afternoon,"  and  re- 
port. Upon  the  committee's  report,  the  town  declined  the  proffer  of  Ela, 
as  "too  difficult  to  comply  with  &  perform,"  and  decided  to  treat  further 
with  Starlin.  For  the  latter  purpose,  the  committee  was  ordered  to  con- 
fer with  him  again,  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  the  next  day. 
The  next  day,  the  town  voted  to  give  Starlin  one  hundred  pounds  for  his 
house  and  land,  provided  he  would  give  them  a  "  sufficient  legal  convey- 
ance "  of  the  same.  His  pay  was  as  follows  :  —  "  Ten  acres  of  land  at 
the  Fishing  river,  near  to  Eobert  Emerson's."  which  was  to  be  laid  out 
convenient  "  for  the  setting  up  of  a  corn  mill  there,"  at  three  pounds  per 
acre  ;  and  the  remaining  seventy  pounds  to  be  paid  in  merchantable  com, 
in  two  several  payments,  for  which  a  rate  was  then  ordered  to  be  laid. 

The  town  expressly  reserved  the  right  to  allow  any  other  person  or  per- 
sons to  put  up  mills  on  the  same  stream,  and  also  stipulated  that  in  setting 
down  his  dam  he  should  not  hinder  the  passage  of  the  fish  up  the  river  to 
the  pond,  "  at  the  season  of  the  year  when  they  come  to  pass  up." 

From  the  record  of  the  same  meeting  we  copy  the  following : 

"  A  complaint  being  made  to  the  town  for  want  of  room  in  the  meeting 
house,  for  the  women,  convenient  when  they  come  to  hear  the  word  of  God 
preached,  and  that  care  be  speedily  taken  about  the  same :  The  town  (by 
their  act  upon  June  24,  1681,  having  taken  care  for  such  a  galery,  and 
appointed  persons  to  take  care  thereof,  and  get  it  to  be  made  at  the  towns 
cost)  do  refer  this  matter  to  the  said  committee,  empowering  them  to  get 
the  same  built,  desiring  them  forthwith  to  proceed  upon  the  work  to  have 
it  finished,  that  no  excuse  of  that  kind  be  made  by  any  persons  that  do,  or 
shall  absent  themselves  from  the  public  worship  of  God." 

From  the  above,  we  are  led  to  presume,  that  the  committee  had  neglected 
to  build  the  gallery  on  account  of  the  probability  of  a  new  meeting-house 
being  soon  erected.  As  they  were  now  ordered  to  proceed  at  once  in  the 
work,  it  appears  as  though  the  proposition  for  a  new  one  was  given  up  for 
the  present. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  (July  80, 1684,)  a  town  meeting  was  called 
to  see  about  the  seating  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  meeting  house,  "  altera- 
tions and  divers  deaths "  having  made  some  new  arrangements  necessary, 
and  the  selectmen  were  made  a  committee  "  for  the  new  seating  or  placing 
of  persons  in  the  seats  in  the  meeting  house."  It  was  voted,  that  if  any 
of  the  inhabitants  refused  to  occupy  the  seats  assigned  them  by  the  se- 
let'tiuen,  they  should   "  forfeit  a  fine  of  twelve  pence  in  com  "   for  each 


HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL.  141 

day's  neglect  or  refusal :  and,  "  to  prevent  any  olijection  of  others,"  an- 
other committee  was  chosen  to  seat  the  selectmen ! 

Mirick,  in  noticing  the  above,  says, —  "  It  is  evident,  from  the  language 
of  the  Eecorder  that  some  epidemic  prevailed  about  this  time,  though  we 
have  no  other  account  of  it."  We  are  surprised  that,  with  the  record  be- 
fore him,  he  should  have  drawn  such  an  inference.  It  had  now  been 
about  thirty  years  since  the  seats  were  first  assigned,  and  in  that  period 
great  changes  had  naturally  been  made  in  families  by  "  alterations  and 
divers  deaths,"  and  we  see  no  evidence  or  hint  that  favors  the  adoption  of 
any  other  theory  in  explaining  the  above-mentioned  action  of  the  town. 

A  change  in  the  mode  of  voting  for  Selectmen  was  adopted  at  the  annual 
meeting  this  year,  the  record  of  which  is  not  without  interest:  —  "  It  is 
ordered  that  at  this  present  meeting,  and  so  for  the  future  till  this  act  is 
orderly  repealed,  every  one  that  is  presented  at  the  town  meeting  for,  and 
hath  power  or  liberty  of  voting  in  the  choice  of  Selectmen  for  the  follow- 
ing year  shall  bring  in  his  votes  for  five  several  distinct  persons  in  one 
paper  at  one  time,  cut  between  the  names,  so  that  they  may  hang  together ; 
and  when  all  the  papers  so  brought  in  are  sorted,  those  five  men  that  have 
the  greatest  number  of  votes,  as  it  is  usual  in  the  public  elections  on  ISTomi- 
nations  for  the  country  shall  be  the  men  who  are  chosen  to  serve  for  the 
Selectmen  for  the  year  ensuing.  "'•••= 

In  1683,  Job  Clement  of  Dover,  son  of  the  late  Job  Clement  of  this 
town,  applied  to  the  town  to  lay  out  some  laud  to  him  upon  his  father's 
house  lot  accommodation ;  but,  "  upon  discourse,"  several  persons  affirmed 
that  the  land  had  already  been  laid  out,  and  as  "Daniel  Ela  affirmed  openly 
that  Mr  Job  Clement  in  his  life  time  did  say  with  reference  to  his  three 
acres  of  accommodations,  that  Theoph.  Satchwell  who  had  been  at  law  with 
him,  had  cheated  him  of  it  all,"  the  town  refused  his  request.  In  1684, 
Clement  renewed  his  application,  and  the  "  matter  being  long  discoursed," 
the  town  again  refused  to  acknowledge  his  claim. 

After  the  Selectmen  for  1685  were  chosen,  it  was  found  that  a  major- 
ity were  not  freemen,"  as  a  law  of  the  colony  required,  and  "  without 
reflection  or  disrespect,  Daniel  Bradley  was  left  out,  and  Josiah  Gage 
chosen  in  his  room." 

The  same  year,  a  highway  was  laid  out  "from  Almsbury  meeting  house 
by  Country  Bridge  to  Haverhill."  It  was  a  "  beaten  "  way  before,  but  had 
not  been  regularly  laid  out.  A  highway  was  also  laid  out  "  above  Spicket  as 
far  as  Haverhill  lands  go  in  that  direction."  One  had  been  previously  laid 
out  in  the  latter  direction,  but  being  little  used,  it  had  become  "  uncertain." 

<*  In  1687,  this  regulation  was  repealed,  and  "  the  former  ancient  practice  of  putting  in  for  but  one  per- 
son at  a  time  ordered  to  be  attended  to." 


142  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

John  Keyzar,  to  whom  land  was  granted  in  1674,  on  condition  that  he 
came  and  "  set  up  his  trade  of  tanner  "  in  town,  (which  land  was  "  con- 
firmed to  him"  in  1682)  made  application  this  year  for  liberty  to  sell  it; 
but  the  town  informed  him  that  "  they  did  and  do  expect  the  conditions 
therein  mentioned  to  be  attended,  or  else  the  said  John  may  leave  the  same 
to  the  Town,  with  the  buildings  and  improvements  by  him  made  thereon, 
to  the  Town  for  public  use." 

The  Town  Records  of  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  state  that  the  meet- 
ings were  called  by  the  "  writ  of  the  selectmen,  published  and  placed  on 
file."  They  were  published  by  aflSixing  a  copy  of  the  warrant  to  the  door 
of  the  meeting  house. 

I'or  ten  years  preceding  this,  we  find  no  allusion  in  the  Town  Records  to 
the  subject  of  a  school,  and  only  one  elsewhere, — that  in  the  Ipswich 
Court  Records  of  1681.  From  this,  and  the  record  of  the  meeting  men- 
tioned below,  we  infer  that  there  was  no  regular  school  in  town  during 
those  years. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  of  this  year,  a  meeting  was  called,  "in  order 
to  a  supply  and  the  providing  a  fit  person  to  keep  school  in  this  Town,  and 
make  it  his  only  employ  to  instruct  the  children  or  young  men,  or  any  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  in  reading,  and  in  writing,  and  in  cyphering," 
and  the  selectmen  were  voted  full  power  to  provide  such  a  person,  and  agree 
with  him  to  keep  school  until  the  next  annual  meeting,  provided  they  did 
not  agree  "to  give  him  on  the  public  account  more  than  Four  pounds  in 
corn  till  that  time."  Under  the  same  date,  we  find  the  following  agree- 
ment, which  is  well  worth  preserving :  — 

"  We  wliose  names  are  underwritten  have  agreed  with  Mr  James  Chad- 
wick  to  keep  the  school,  to  endeavour  to  teach  such  as  shall  resort  to  him, 
as  they  shall  desire  to  read,  or  write,  or  cypher,  or  all  of  them,  until  the 
next  annual  meeting  in  February  next :  For  which  service  of  his  he  shall 
be  paid  by  the  town  in  general  three  pounds  in  corn,  besides  what  he  shall 
have,  or  agree  with  the  scholars  for  ;  or  their  parents,  or  masters  ;  or  for 
want  of  agreement  the  said  Mr  Chadwick  in  his  demands  not  to  exceed 
what  usually  is  paid  in  other  places  for  schooling,  viz :  To  have  by  the 
week  —  For  a  Reader  00:04,  &  for  a  writer  00:06.  Dated  November  9th, 
1685,    By  us 

Robt  Aycr  ") 

Ste  Dow       i-  Selectmen. 

Josi'h  GrageJ 

and  consented  unto  by  the  other  2.  Jna  Page  Jun      }  Select 

Sim  Wainwrioht  \  men  " 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  143 

At  the  next  annual  meeting,  the  selectmen  were  directed  "to  agree  with 
Mr  Chadwick,  or  any  other  person,  to  make  it  his  employ  to  keep  school 
in  Haverhill  for  the  year  ensuing." 

In  the  spring  of  1686,  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Eowley  to  Haverhill. 
It  was  laid  out  eight  rods  wide. 

In  answer  to  a  petition  from  the  Selectmen,  the  Court  empowered  them 
to  '"bind  out  young  ones  into  sarvice," — provided  their  indentures  met 
the  approval  of  "  worshipful  Major  Saltoustall." 

At  the  annual  meeting,  Daniel  Ela  proffered  to  sell  his  housing  and 
land  by  the  meeting  house  "  to  the  town  for  a  parsonage,  and  take  as  part 
pay,  the  house  and  laud  the  town  had  previously  purchased  of  Wm  Star- 
lin  ;  but,  after  much  discourse,  the  town  refused  to  treat  with  him.  At 
the  same  time,  John  Gild  charged  Lieut.  Johnson,  in  open  town  meeting, 
with  attemptiug  tx)  cheat  him,  by  altering  the  bounds  of  land  at  Flaggy 
meadow,  and  taking  in  "near  40  or  50  acres."  As  the  Lieutenant  "  con- 
fessed in  part,"  the  town  chose  a  committee  to  look  into  the  matter.  The 
Lieutenant  was  not,  however,  the  only  one  in  town  who  wanted  more  land 
than  belonged  to  him,  as  Serg't  John  Page  and  Mr.  Simon  Wainwright, 
"by  virtue  of  an  order  from  the  Selectmen,"  the  previous  year,  "to 
search  after  and  find  out  them  that  had  trespassed  upon  the  Town's  ways 
and  common  lands  by  their  fencing  of  them  in,"  gave  in  the  following 
names :  —  Joseph  Greelee,  Joseph  Peasely,  Saml  Pearson,  Saml  Shepherd, 
Daniel  Ela,  Edwd  Brumidge,  Sergt  Johnson,  Peter  Patie,  Lt,  Browne  or  S 
Ford,  Benj  Singletery,  John  Gild,  Eobt  Swan,  Stephen  Davis,  Dan:  Hen- 
drick,  Jno  Davis,  Edwd  Clarke,  Stephen  Dow,  Abra.  Belknap,  Thos  Davis, 
John  Whittier. 

But  even  this  large  array  of  names  did  not  include  the  whole,  for  at  the 
same  meeting,  the  Eecorder  informs  us,  "  Piobt  Swan  sen  presented  a  mo- 
tion to  the  Town  for  buying  of  their  own  lands  which  they  had  purchased 
of  the  Indians,  and  had  grants  for  from  the  General  Court :  and  was  laid 
out  in  particular  lots  by  the  Town's  allotment."  Swan's  motion  was, 
that,  — 

"  Whereas  there  was  a  certain  tract  of  land  purchased  of  Pumpasano- 
way  alais  Old  Will,  an  Indian,  by  John  Endicot  of  Boston,  Gentu,  eldest 
son  to  Gov  Endicot,  The  which  land  was  sold  by  Jno  Endicot  to  Walter 
Barefoot,  Esq,  as  appears  bj'  firm  deeds  under  hand  and  seal,  from  one  to 
the  other  of  the  above  said  conveyors.  This  laud  being  part  of  it  in  the 
bounds  of  Haverhill  near  Spicket  Eiver.  It  being  now  in  my  hands  to 
dispose  of.  as  I  can  make  it  appear,  I  think  it  expedient  that  a  proposition 
be  made  to  the  town  in  the  first  place.     That  if  they  please  to  buy  that 


144:  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

part  of  it  wliich  is  within  Haverhill  line,  they  may  have  it  at  a  reasonahle 
rate,  or  if  they  please  to  accept  it  now,  before  it  be  otherwise  disposed  of, 
or  if  they  Avill  buy  that  which  is  granted  to  particular  men  and  laid  out 
to  them ;  If  the  Town  will  buy  the  whole  tract  of  land  they  shall  have  it 
for  2  shillings  per  acre,  or  if  they  will  give  acre  for  acre  of  land  and 
meadow  where  they  and  I  shall  agi'ee,  it  shall  content  me. 

Eobert  Swan,  sen." 

The  Eecorder  adds,  that,  — 

"Considerable  discourse  was  had  about  Eobt  Swan's  motion,  which  was 
unanimously  opposed  with  manifestation  of  great  dislike  of  11  Swan's  pro- 
ceedings and  because  he  showed  no  original  title,  but  only  a  blank,  j^retended 
to  be  Mr  Endicot's  title :  and  because  of  the  Town's  present  being  in  pos- 
session, and  having  so  been  according  to  the  law  of  possession.  The  town 
declares  that  till  they  be  dispossessed  by  law  they  will  not  buy  of  K  Swan 
or  of  any  other,  but  will  hold  what  they  account  their  own." 

Upon  this.  Swan  desired  the  town  to  have  laid  out  to  him  those  lands 
which  he  could  make  appear  to  be  legally  due  him,  but  which  he  declared 
had  been  kept  from  him  twenty -three  or  twenty-four  years  by  George 
Browne.'*  He  further  declared,  that  he  had  often  labored  to  have  it  done, 
but  could  neither  have  the  lands  laid  out,  or  any  satisfactory  answer  con- 
cerning the  same,  and  that  he  was  much  reproached,  and  also  impoverished 
by  the  malignity  of  Lieutenant  Browne's  spirit  towards  him. 

In  reply  to  this,  the  town  directed  Swan  "  to  make  his  right  appear,  & 
then  justice  should  be  done  to  him  as  to  other  men." 

Swan  then  asked  that  the  town  "  would  call  Lieut  Browne,  James  Davis, 
and  himself,  to  an  account  for  their  actions  since  they  were  appointed  to 
lay  out  and  rectify  lands,"  at  the  same  time  delaring  that  there  had  been 
"  such  irregular  actions  done  as  may  cause  the  children  yet  unborn  to 
curse  us  hereafter,"  This  "  was  spoken  to,  but  no  vote  passed  by  the  Town 
to  do  anything  in  it." 

Lieutenant  Browne's  turn  now  came,  and  he  plumply  charged  Goodman 
Swan  with  having  told  him  a  wrong  story  about  a  certain  brook,  on  ac- 
count of  which  Browne  had  laid  out  more  land  to  Swan  than  he  was  entitled 
to.  Upon  this,  the  Eecorder  adds,  "  several  words,  and  some  of  them  hard, 
passed,  but  there  was  no  further  proceed  in  order  to  further  enquiry, 
and  it  being  late  and  past  time  for  a  vote,  the  Moderator  declared  that  the 
meeting  was  at  an  end,  or  dissolved,  with  respect  to  the  present  session." 

At  the  next  meeting,  Swan  asked  the  town  to  confirm  to  him  a  piece  of 
meadow  land,  and  his  fourth  division  of  land,  "which  he  had  laid  out  for 

*    Browne  was  one  of  the  town's  "  lot  layers." 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  145 

himself."  Tte  town  rejected  his  proposal,  and  protested  against  this,  and 
all  such  acts,  by  whomsoever  done. 

Notwithstanding  these  matters  of  dispute.  Swan  evidently  had  the  con- 
fidence of  the  town,  for  the  very  next  vote,  at  the  same  meeting,  placed 
him  on  a  committee  to  run  disputed  and  uncertain  bounds,  —  a  most  im- 
portant office.  Browne,  however,  "  openly  declared  that  he  would  not  any 
longer  stand  as  a  lot-layer,"  and  Thomas  Whittier  was  chosen  inhis  place. 
Swan  was  evidently  too  much  for  him. 

We  find  the  following  among  the  records  of  births,  marriages,  and 
deaths,  for  168G: — "Elizabeth  Emerson,  single-woman,  had  Dorothy, 
born  April  10 — 86  ;  and  a  second  time,  though  never  married,  Twins,  born 
May  8 — 9 1 ,  who  were  both  made  away  with  privately,  and  found  dead  May 
10 — 91."  The  Eecorder  then  says :  —  "The  Mother  lay  long  in  prison, 
bitt  at  the  long  run,  in  the  year  1G91,  as  I  take  it,  was  executed  at  Boston 
for  the  murthering  of  the  two  babes,  or  one  of  them."'"' 

About  this  time,  a  rule  was  adopted  requiring  all  petitions  to  the  town 
to  be  in  writing. 

A  law  of  the  General  Court  required  all  swine  running  at  large  to  be 
yoked,  and  also  to  have  two  rings  in  their  snout,  but  allowed  towns  a  dis- 
cretion in  the  matter  of  yoking.  This  town  decided  that  they  might  go 
unyoked,  if  their  owners  would  be  responsible  for  damages. 

At  the  annual  meeting  for  1687,  Joseph  Peasely,  being  chosen  constable 
for  the  ensuing  year,  "  by  bringing  in  of  paper  votes,"f  "  made  his  plea 
for  freedom,"  which  not  being  granted,  he  moved  that  a  second  constable 
be  chosen,  —  "  because  the  Town  was  large  and  many  lived  remote  so  that 
one  man  could  not  well  do  the  work  of  warning  meetings  and  gathering  of 
rates  alone."  This  last  request  was  granted,  and  John  Ayer,  junior, 
chosen  second  constable.  It  was  left  to  them  to  divide  their  wards  and 
their  work,  as  they  might  themselves  agree.  It  seems,  however,  that  they 
could  not  agree,  and  the  town  released  Ayer,  and  thus  compelled  Peasely 
to  do  all  the  work  alone.  A  few  years  later,  two  constables  were  regularly 
chosen,  and  from  that  time,  two  continued  to  be  chosen  annually  for  many 
years. 

The  following  shows  the  great  value  the  town  at  this  time  placed  upon 
its  fisheries :  — 

"  In  answer  to  the  proposition  of  some,  and  the  universal  desire  of  the 
people,  that  care,  by  an  order,  might  be  taken  that  fish  might  not,  by  Dams 

»  The  Recorder  was  correct.  The  father  of  the  childi-en,  was  Samuel  Ladd,  a  married  man,  and  then 
tha  father  of  eight  children  by  his  lawful  wife,  —  the  two  youngest  tivins !  Elizabeth  was  the  daughter 
of  Michael  Emerson,  and  the  one  he  kicked  and  beat  so  shamefully  in  1674. 

t  This  was  the  &-st  time  any  otticers,  except  Moderator  and  Selectmen,  were  chosen  by  written  ballot. 

19 


146  HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL. 

and  Wiers,  made  in  the  Sawmill  Eiver,  or  Fishing  River,  or  any  other,  be 
stopped  of  the  usual  course  up  to  the  Pond,  but  have  free  passage  up  the 
Kiver  in  this  Town : 

"  The  Town  declares  that  they  expect  there  shall  be  free  passage  for  fish 
up  the  Sawmill  River  and  Fishing  River  and  all  other  Rivers,  brooks  and 
creeks  in  this  Town,  in  all  suitable  seasons  of  the  year  for  their  getting  up 
to  the  Pond  to  spawn,  and  in  special  in  the  night  time  ;  and  to  that  end 
do  order  that  no  man  shall  make  a  dam,  or  suffer  his  dam  so  to  stop  any 
passage  the  fish  used  to  have  to  the  Ponds  or  Pond,  without  leaving  his 
dam  or  "VYier  or  other  device  open  in  the  night  time  for  the  fish." 

Similar  reasons  to  those  that  led  them  to  seek  the  preservation  of  their 
fisheries,  also  induced  them  to  make  vigorous  efforts  to  increase  their  flocks. 

We  are  unable  to  say  when  sheep  were  first  introduced  into  the  town, 
but  it  is  probable  that  a  few  were  owned  by  the  inhabitants  at  an  early 
period  of  its  settlement.  The  first  mention  we  find  of  them  in  the  Town 
Records,  is  under  date  of  1684,  when  "the  proprietors  of  the  Great  Plain 
thinking  to  lay  down  the  said  field  for  some  years  to  be  improved  for  a 
sheep  pasture,"  the  town  gave  them  leave  to  fence  it,  choose  oflBcers,  and 
make  all  necessary  regulations  for  that  purpose. •' 

The  next  mention  of  them,  is  the  following,  in  1687 :  — 

"  It  being  the  interest  and  desire  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the  sake  of 
back,  belly  and  purse,  to  get  into  a  stock,  and  a  way  to  keep  a  stock  of 
sheep,  in  which  all  endeavours  hitherto  have  been  invalid  and  of  no  effect ; 
For  a  further  trial :  The  Selectmen  have  hereby  power  granted  them  to 
call  forth  the  inhabitants  capable  of  labor  with  suitable  tools,  and  in  suit- 
able companies  about  Michaelmass,  to  clear  some  land  at  the  town's  end, 
sides,  or  skirts  ;  as  they  in  their  discretion  shall  think  meet  to  direct,  to 
make  it  capable  and  fit  for  sheep  to  feed  upon  with  the  less  hazzard :  and 
he  that  is  warned  as  above,  and  doth  not  accordingly  come  and  attend  the 
service,  shall  pay  a  fine  of  2s  per  day." 

From  the  above  it  is  evident  that  the  "  hazzard  "  of  sheep  raising  was 
occasioned  by  the  ravages  of  wolves  among  the  flocks.  We  have  already 
alluded  to  the  trouble  these  pests  occasioned  the  settlers.  In  addition  to 
the  bounty  paid  by  the  colony  for  their  destruction,  this  town  (and  others) 
for  a  long  time  paid  forty  shillings  for  every  wolf  killed  in  the  town.  In 
1685,  Amesbury  repealed  this  additional  bounty,  and,  to  prevent  fraud, 
this  town  soon  afterward  did  the  same,  but  still  allowed  the  selectmen  to 

o  Coffin,  in  his  History  of  Neivbury,  estimates  that  there  were  in  that  town,  in  1685,  over  five  thousand 
sheep.  The  owners  in  the  several  neigliborhoods  clubbed  together,  hired  a  shepherd,  and  by  means  of 
portable  fences,  oi  "gates,"  took  turns  in  pasturing  them, — thus  enriching  their  corn  land. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  147 

pay  such  sums  as  they  should  agree  upon  in  particular  cases.  This  plan 
did  not  prove  satisfactoi-y,  however,  and  two  years  afterward  a  regular 
bounty  of  fifteen  shillings  was  voted  to  any  person  who  should  kill  a  full 
grown  wolf  within  the  town's  bounds,  and  seven  shillings  sixpence  for  each 
young  one.  The  liberal  bounty  paid  for  their  destruction,  ultimately  had 
the  desired  effect,  and  the  flodis  of  the  settlers  were  permitted  to  multiply 
without  their  molestation. '•= 

<*  In  1696,  Timotliy  Eaton  petitioned  the  town  to  grant  him  a  bounty,  more  than  the  country  allowed, 
for  killing  a  full  grown  she-wolf  on  the  ox-common.  The  town  granted  him  ten  shillings  "  for  tilling 
said  wolf  since  he  declares  it  was  a  bitch  wolf  and  that  she  will  not  bring  any  more  whelps." 


1-18 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL, 


CHAPTER  XII. 


INDIAN    TROUBLES. PROM    1688    TO    1695. 


In  1688,  a  fresh  Indian  war  broke  out  on  the  frontiers  of  New  England, 
As  a  pretense  for  commencing  iiostilities,  the  Indians  charged  the  English 
with  neglecting  to  pay  the  tribute  of  corn,  which  had  been  stipulated  by 
the  treaty  of  1678;=''  obstructing  the  fish  in  Saco  river  with  seines;  de- 
frauding them  in  trade,  and  with  granting  their  lands  without  their  con- 
sent."f  The  French  used  every  effort  to  inflame  their  resentment,  in  order 
to  revenge  the  recent  injuries  they  had  themselves  received  from  the 
English.  I 

The  first  acts  of  hostility  commenced  at  North  Yarmouth,  by  killing 
cattle,  and  threatening  the  people.  This  was  followed  by  robbery,  and 
capturing  the  inhabitants. 

To  add  to  the  distresses  and  troubles  of  the  Massachusetts  colonists,  they 
also  found  themselves  involved  in  difficulties  relating  to  their  charter. 
Complaints  had  from  time  to  time  been  made  in  England  against  the  colon- 
ists, and  in  the  height  of  the  distresses  of  Phillip's  ivar,  and  while  the 
colony  were  contending  with  the  natives  for  the  possession  of  the  soil, 
these  complaints  were  renewed  with -vigor.  An  inquiry  was  set  on  foot, 
and  followed,  from  time  to  time,  until  1684,  when  judgment  was  given 
against  their  charter.  In  1686,  a  commission  arrived,  appointing  a  presi- 
dent and  council  to  administer  the  government.  This  administration  was, 
however,  short,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year.  Sir  Edmund  Andres 
arrived  with  a  commission  for  the  government  of  all  the  New  England 
colonies,  except  Connecticut. 

0  It  was  stipulated,  in  this  treaty,  that  the  inhabitants  should  return  to  their  deserted  settlements,  on 
conditioR  of  paying  one  peck  of  corn  annually,  for  each  family,  by  way  of  acknowledgment  to  the  Indians 
for  the  possession  of  their  lands. 

t  Belknap  1,  242. 

J  France  and  England  were  early  competitors  in  America.  Each  claimed  a  portion  of  its  territory, 
assumed  jurisdiction,  and  attempted  its  colonization.  Their  rivalry  and  hatred  had  existed  for  centu- 
ries —  it  was  indeed  hereditary, —  and  in  consequence  of  it,  the  New  England  colonies  were  early  in- 
volved in  difficulties.  Acadia  and  Canada  were  wrested  from  the  French  in  1029,  but  were  restored  by 
the  treaty  of  St.  Germain,  in  1632.  Acadia  was  again  conquered  in  16i)i,  but  restored  by  the  treaty  of 
Breda,  in  1069.  In  1066,  tlie conquest  of  Canada  was  a  second  time  attempted,  but  without  success; 
and  again  in  16S6,  with  a  like  result.  These  difficulties  continued  until  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  in  IT  IS.  , 
In  17i4,  war  again  broke  out  between  France  and  England,  and  continued  until  the  reduction  of  Canada, 
in  1700,  and  the  treaty  of  Pails,  1703.  During  these  wars,  the  colonies  were  continually  involved,  and 
severely  suffiired. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  149 

The  administration  of  Andros  was  most  arbitrary  and  oppressive.  The 
Press  was  restrained ;  public  thanksgiving,  without  an  order  from  the 
Crown,  was  prohibited  ;  fees  of  all  officers  were  increased ;  and  the  peo- 
ple were  even  compelled  to  petition  for  new  patents  for  their  lands,  for 
which  patents  they  were  obliged  to  pay  exorbitant  prices."  As  a  conse- 
quence of  these,  and  many  other  equally  oppressive  and  arbitrary  proceed- 
ings, the  Colonists  were  greatly  disquieted,  and  excited. 

In  September,  1689,  a  Special  Justices'  Coui't  was  ordered,  to  "make 
inquiry  in  the  several  towns  of  Gloster,  Haverhill,  &  Boxford,  and  ex- 
amine and  binde  over  such  persons  as  have  beene  Factious  &  Seditious  there 
and  contemptuously  refused  to  obey  and  execute  the  warrants  of  the  Trea- 
surer." 

In  the  language  of  Andros  himself,  "  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  town 
in  the  whole  country  ;  "  and  to  assemble  in  town  meeting  for  purposes  of 
deliberation  was  esteemed  an  act  of  sedition  and  riot.  The  unhappy  state 
of  affairs  at  this  period  may  be  further  judged  from  the  following  illustra- 
tions, which  we  find  among  the  original  papers  in  the  State  Archives :  — 

In  the  winter  of  1688—9,  Joseph  Emerson  and  Jacob  Whiticker,  of  this 
town,  were  pressed  as  soldiers  for  Andros,  and  sent  in  the  expedition  to 
Pemaquid.  Their  depositions,  given  afterward,  before  Nathaniel  Salton- 
stall,  Assistant,  show  that  the  soldiers  of  the  tyrant  were  most  shamefully 
abused,  and  maltreated.  Simon  Wainwright,  of  this  town,  had  twenty- 
seven  barrels  of  cider  taken  from  him,  by  the  excise  officers  of  Andros.  f 
Onisephorous  Mash,  constable  of  Haverhill,  was  forced  to  pay  five  pounds 
three  shillings,  in  money,  for  the  drawing  up  of  a  bond  for  him  to  appear 
at  Salem,  because  the  town  had  not  appointed  a  commissioner  on  rates  to 
meet  at  the  shire  town  to  assist  in  making  rates  for  the  county. 

Daniel  Bradley,  one  of  the  Selectmen,  was  forced  to  pay  five  pounds, 
one  shilling,  for  a  similar  bond,  on  the  same  case. 

Such  was  the  unfortunate  condition  of  the  colonists,  when  troubles  again 
broke  out  with  the  Indians,  in  1688.  To  quell  the  disturbance,  Andros, 
with  seven  or  eight  hundred  men,  marched  into  the  eastern  country,  in 
November,  and  built  several  forts  ;  and  though  many  of  his  men  died  by 
hardships  and  exposure,  not  one  Indian  was  killed,  or  even  seen.  They 
had  all  retired  into  their  distant  winter  quarters.  J 

*  One  of  the  first  acts  of  Andros  was  to  le\-y  a  tax  of  twenty  pence  on  each  poll,  and  one  penny  in  the 
pound  upon  "all  the  late  colonies  and  provinces  toward  defraying  the  public  charges  of  the  government." 
Some  towns  asked  to  he  excused  from  paying  the  tax,  and  others  refused.  Haverhill,  Salisbury,  Rowley, 
and  Andover,  were  iined  for  their  contumacy. 

t  It  appears  that  Wainwright  made  twenty  barrels  in  1G8S,  from  the  produce  of  his  own  orchard. 

X  Joseph  Emerson  and  Jacob  Whiticker,  of  this  town,  were  pressed  as  soldiers  lor  this  expedition. 


150  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

With  the  opening  of  spring,  the  situation  of  the  settlers  again  became 
critical.  None  knew  when  or  where  another  attack  would  he  made,  and 
we  need  not  wonder  that  their  hearts  were  oppressed  with  the  gloomiest 
forebodings.  The  following  extract,  from  a  letter  of  Samuel  Ayer,  con- 
stable of  Haverhill,  to  the  General  Court,  under  date  of  February  11, 
1689  ',  —  in  answer  to  a  citation  for  the  town  to  appear  and  answer  to  the 
charge  of  "  withholding  the  one  half  of  their  proportion  of  rates,"  —  touch- 
ingly  represents  the  condition  of  the  town :  — 

"  I  pray  you  consider  our  poor  condition.  There  are  many  that  have 
not  corn  to  pay  their  rates,  many  more  which  have  not  money :  to  strainf 
I  know  not  what  to  take :  we  are  a  great  way  from  any  market,  to  make 
money  of  auigh  thing  we  have  :  and  now  there  is  not  anigh  way  to  trans- 
port to  other  places :  I  pray  consider  our  poor  condition." 

Early  in  April,  news  reached  Boston  that  William,  Prince  of  Orange, 
had  invaded  England,  and  dethroned  the  King.  Animated  with  the  hope 
of  deliverance,  the  people  rushed  to  arms ;  took  possession  of  the  fort ; 
seized  Andros,  and  other  obnoxious  characters ;  placed  them  in  confine- 
ment, and  organized  a  Council  of  Safety. %  The  latter  immediately  sent 
circulars  to  the  several  towns,  recommending  that  delegates  be  chosen  by 
each,  to  assemble  in  convention  at  Boston  on  the  9th  of  the  following 
month,  to  advise  with  the  Council.  The  following  was  the  answer  of  this 
town :  — 

"  Haverhill  May  20,  1689. 

By  an  express  from  ye  council  for  safety,  &c,  dated  May  ye  10th  1689. 
The  Town  being  meet  do  unanimously,  nemine  contradicente,  declare  yt 
they  think  it  most  eligible  &  safe  to  wait  for  information  from  ye  Crown 
in  England,  according  to  promise,  &  declaration,  so  yt  we  may  ye  better 
know  wt  we  may  at  present  do ;  &  do  pray  yt  ye  Council,  now  in  being 
for  Safety  of  ye  people,  &  Conservation  of  ye  Peace  do  take  care  effect- 
ually in  all  publique  affaires,  «&  in  all  imergences.  And  we  do  hereby 
further  declare  yt  we  will  be  assistant  in  ye  charges  yt  shal  come  unto, 
both  wh  our  persons  and  estates,  so  yt  ye  Persons  that  are  or  shal  be  put 
into  Hold§  be  effectually  secured,  &  have  not  too  full  a  libertie  of  visitors, 
either  made  or  Eemade,  whereby  they  may  escape,  wc  we  hear  hath  been 
attempted. 

This  was  read,  voted  &  passed,  nemine  contradicente,  as  attest 

N  Saltonstall  Kecordr." 

°  State  Archives.        t  Restrain. 

X  Xathaniel  Saltonstall  was  chosen  one  of  this  connciL 

§  Jail,  or  prison. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  151 

Cornet  Peter  Ayerwas  chosen  to  represent  Haverhill  at  the  Convention." 

Scarcely  had  the  colonists  recovered  from  their  surprise  at  this  sudden 
change  of  affairs  in  their  government,  when  their  attention  was  again 
called  to  the  necessity  of  further  protection  against  the  Indians.  The  fol- 
lowing, from  3Iinck,  is  well  worth  inserting  in  this  place :  — 

"  The  Indians,  for  some  time  past,  had  been  hovering  over  the  town  in 
such  a  manner  as  kept  the  inhabitants  in  continual  alarm.  Small  parties 
were  almost  daily  seen  traversing  the  adjacent  woods,  and  slyly  approach- 
ing the  farm-houses  in  search  of  plunder.  The  friendly  intercourse  that 
had  existed  so  many  years  between  them  was  broken,  and  open  hostility 
succeeded.  So  early  as  1675,  the  fortifications  around  the  meeting-house 
were  repaired,  and  in  the  following  year  we  find  that  Ephraim  Kingsbury 
was  slain  ;  but  it  was  in  the  summer  of  this  year  that  they  commenced 
the  work  of  murder  and  desolation  in  good  earnest.  The  tawny  savage 
sharpened  his  knife  and  tomahawk  for  the  work  of  blood,  and  glutted  his 
imagination  with  the  atrocities  he  should  commit.  The  war  began  —  the 
fierce  and  inhuman  contest  on  the  part  of  the  savages.  It  proceeded,  and 
what  deeds  of  valor  were  performed — what  acts  of  chivalry  graced  the 
lives  of  our  Fathers !  The  plaided  Highlander,  armed  -with  his  claymore 
and  battle-axe,  was  not  more  heroic ;  the  stern  and  determined  patriot, 
who  rallied  beneath  the  banner  of  AVallace,  was  no  braver  ;  the  enthusi- 
astic Crusader,  who  fought  and  bled  on  the  plains  of  the  Holy  Land,  never 
exhibited  a  more  fearless  and  undaunted  spirit.  Some  of  their  deeds  have 
been  emblazoned  on  the  page  of  history ;  but  many  of  them,  until  now, 
have  been  permitted  to  rest  in  obscurity. 

There  was  but  little  genuine  bravery  among  the  savages ;  and,  in  fact, 
we  do  not  recollect  one  instance  of  the  kind,  on  their  part,  where  pure, 
high-souled  and  chivalrous  courage  was  displayed,  during  the  whole  war, — 
a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years.  But  they  were  generally  cruel,  vindictive 
and  treacherous.  Such  aged  and  infirm  persons  as  were  unable  to  perform 
a  journey  through  the  wilderness,  were  generally  despatched.  Infants, 
soon  as  they  became  troublesome,  had  their  mouths  filled  with  burning 
embers,  or  their  brains  dashed  out  against  the  nearest  stone  or  tree.  But 
we  have  one  thing  to  record  which  speaks  highly  in  their  favor  ;  that  is, 

'-'  The  people  of  Massachusetts  soon  applied  for  the  restoration  of  their  charter,  or  the  grant  of  a  new 
one.  A  definite  answer  was  deferred,  but  the  council  was  authorized  to  administer  the  government  ac- 
cording to  the  old  charter,  till  further  directions  were  given.  A  new  charter  was  received  in  1692.  By 
this  charter,  the  appointment  of  the  governor  was  in  the  crown,  and  ever)'  freeholder  of  forty  shillings 
sterling  a  year,  and  every  inhabitant  of  forty  pounds  sterling,  personal  estate,  was  allowed  to  vote  for 
representatives. 


152  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL. 

the  modesty  with  which  they  generally  treated  their  captive  women.  We 
do  not  recollect  of  but  one  instance-'  where  they  attempted  to  abuse  their 
chastity  in  word  or  action. f 

Haverhill  was  a  frontier  town  for  ncai-ly  seventy  years,  and  but  few 
towns  suffered  so  severely  from  the  Indians.  At  this  period  we  can  have 
but  a  faint  conception  of  the  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants.  Surrounded 
with  an  immense  and  mostly  unexplored  forest  —  thinly  scattered  over  a 
large  tract  of  land  —  and  constantly  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  savage 
hordes,  are  circumstances  which  have  made  us  wonder,  why  they  should 
continue  to  march  onward  and  onward  into  the  wilderness,  terrific  for  its 
extent,  and  unfurl  the  banner  of  civilization  under  the  very  shadow  of  the 
enemy's  wigwam.  The  contests  between  them  and  the  savages,  were  not 
like  those  between  civilized  nations ;  but  it  was  a  war  for  extermination 
on  one  side,  characterized  with  acts  of  the  basest  cruelty  and  revenge  for 
defence  on  the  other.  The  foeraen  frecjuently  fought  hand  to  hand ;  the 
bloody  frays  were  frequent  and  sometimes  long. 

The  Indians  made  their  attacks  slyly,  and  cautiously  approached  their 
enemy  by  skulking  behind  the  intervening  objects,  until  they  came  so  near 
that  they  felt  perfectly  sure  of  their  victim.  At  other  times,  they  would 
fall  upon  the  inhabitants  before  the  break  of  day,  and  barbarously  slaugh- 
ter them  while  they  were  unprepared  to  defend  themselves.  The  people 
always  went  armed  to  their  daily  labor,  and  on  the  sabbath  they  were  seen 
on  their  way  to  Church,  with  a  psalm-book  in  one  hand,  and  a  gun,  loaded 
and  primed,  in  the  other.  l?ut  even  then,  while  kneeling  beneath  the  roof 
of  the  sanctuary,  they  were  not  safe  ;  if  they  went  into  the  fields  at  noontide, 
with  their  spades  and  mattocks,  their  foes  were  behind  them ;  if  they  slept 
within  their  dwellings  when  the  sun  had  gone  down,  the  darkness  would 
not  protect  them  ;  but  ere  the  light  had  stole  upon  the  east,  their  blood, 
and  the  blood  of  their  beloved,  might  pool  together  upon  their  hearths.  In 
summer  and  winter,  at  the  budding  and  searing  of  the  leaf,  they  were  alike 
exposed  to  hardships  and  to  death. 

Some  of  the  most  heroic  deeds  accomplished  by  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town,  were  performed  by  women,  — by  those  whose  limbs  were  not  made  to 

"  This  was  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Duston,  when  her  captors  told  her  that  she,  and  her  companions, 
mnst  be  stripped  naked,  and  run  tlic  gauntlet. 

t  Testimonies  in  favnr  of  the  savages,  in  this  particular,  arc  very  frequent.  Mary  Rowlandson,  who 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Lancaster,  in  1G75,  says  in  her  narrative,  (page  35),  —  "I  have  been  in  the  midst 
,  of  these  roaring  lions  and  savage  bears,  that  feared  neither  God  nor  man,  nor  the  devil,  by  day  and  night, 
alone  and  in  company,  sleeping  all  sorts  together,  and  yet  not  one'of  them  ever  ollered  me  the  least  abuse 
of  uuchastity  in  word  or  action.''  Elizabeth  Hanson,  who  was  captured  in  Dover,  in  1724,  says  in  her 
narrative,  that  "  the  Indians  are  very  crivil  towards  their  captive  women,  not  offering  any  incivility  by  any 
indecent  carriage."  Charlevoix,  speaking  of  the  Indians  of  Canada,  says,  (letter  7)  "there  is  no  example 
that  a.Dy  have  taken  the  least  liberty  with  the  French  women,  even  when  they  were  their  prisoners." 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  153 

T^ield  the  weapons  of  war, — ^whose  hearts  could  never  exult  in  a  profusion 
of  blood, — and  whose  sphere  of  usefulness,  of  honor  and  of  glory,  was  in 
the  precincts  of  the  domestic  circle." 

Dover  was  the  first  to  suffer.  On  the  night  of  the  27th  of  June,  the 
garrisons  were  attacked,  twenty-three  persons  killed,  and  twenty-nine  cap- 
tured. Before  the  neighboring  people  could  be  collected,  the  Indians  had 
withdrawn,  with  their  captives  and  their  plunder,  toward  Canada. 

In  August,  a  party  of  Indians  fell  upon  the  settlement  at  Oyster  Eiver 
(Durham,  N.  H.)  and  killed  eighteen  persons. 

On  the  loth  of  the  same  month,  a  small  party  made  their  appear- 
ance in  the  northerly  part  of  this  town,  and  killed  Daniel  Brad- 
ley. They  then  went  to  the  field  of  Nathaniel  Singletary,  near  by, 
where  he  and  his  oldest  son  were  at  work.  They  approached  in  their  slow 
and  serpent-like  manner,  until  they  came  within  a  few  rods,  when  they 
shot  Singletary,  who  fell  and  died  on  the  spot;  his  son  attempted  to  es- 
cape, but  was  quickly  overtaken  and  made  prisoner.  The  Indians  then 
scalped  Singletary,  and  commenced  a  hasty  retreat ;  but  their  prisoner 
soon  eluded  their  vigilance,  and  returned  to  his  home,  on  the  same  day, 
to  make  glad  the  hearts  of  his  afflicted  relatives,  Nathaniel  Singletary 
was  a  "  squatter  "  on  the  parsonage  lands.  The  marks  of  the  cellar  of 
his  house  are  still  to  be  seen,  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Benjamin  Kim- 
ball, on  the  Parsonage  Eoad  —  a  short  distance  northwest  from  the  gate. 

Bradley  was  killed  on  the  "  Parsonage  Eoad,"  not  far  from  the  present 
Atkinson  Depot.'' 

About  the  same  time,  two  men  were  also  killed  at  Andover. 

These  forays  caused  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  again  to .  appeal 
to  the  General  Court,  for  assistance  in  the  work  of  watchfulness,  and  de- 
fence,! and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  the  "  Ipswich  Horse"  were 
ordered  to  this  town,  as  a  place  of  rendezvous  for  forces  going  to  meet  the 
enemy. 

The  savages  again  made  their  appearance,  on  the  17th  of  the  following 
October,  when  they  wounded  and  made  prisoner  of  Ezra  Eolfe,J  who  died 
three  days  after  being  taken. 

"  On  the  30th  of  September,  1690,  the  following  petition  of  his  son,  Daniel,  was  addressed  to  the  Court: 
"To  the  honord  cortt  now  siting  att  ipswige  this  may  signify  to  3-our  honors  that  whereas  bytheprouvi- 
dcnce  of  Gid  my  father  Daniel  Bradly  was  slaine  by  the  hand  of  the  heathen  and  left  no  will  as  to  the 
deposing  of  his  outward  estatte  I  request  his  brother  Joseph  may  be  appointed  administrator. 

DANIEL  BRADLEY."  (1) 
This  request  was  granted. 


(1)  This  name  does  not  appear  in  the  Town  Records  among  the  children  of  the  above  Daniel  Bradley, 
t  Men  had  been  previously  stationed  in  town,  as  garrison  guards;  but  in  July,  (22d)  apart  of  them 
(those  from  Rowley)  had  been  ordered  home,  on  account  of  the  •'  busy  season  of  the  year.'' — flist.  Rowley, 
X  Rojfe  lived  not  far  from  the  present  North  Parish  Meeting-house. 

20 


154  HISTORY   OF   nAVEEHILL. 

No  further  attacks  were  made  by  the  Indians  that  year,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants began  to  hope  that  they  might  be  spared  a  repetition  of  the  bloody 
work. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  1689,  Rev.  Benjamin  Eolfe,  of  Newbury,  be- 
gan to  preach  in  town,  as  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Ward,  and,  as  it  seems,  with 
general  acceptance,-' 

At  a  town  meeting,  January  20,  1690,  called  "  to  see  about  getting  a 
minister  to  join  with  Mr.  Ward,"  it  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Eolfe  *'  forty 
pounds  per  annum  in  Wheat,  Rye  and  Indian,"  to  join  and  assist  Mr. 
Ward,  and  after  Mr,  Ward's  death,  the  town  would  "farther  allow 
what  shall  be  rational."  According  to  the  Recorder,  there  was  "grand 
opposition  "  to  the  above  vote,  and  it  was  finally  declared  "  not  to  stand." 
The  record  intimates,  that  "  Mr.  Ward  and  his  son  Saltonstall"  left  the 
meeting,  on  account  of  the  opposition  to  the  vote.  While  they  were  ab- 
sent, the  town  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Eolfe  the  above  sum  for  one  year,  and  his 
diet,  or  board,  and  that  Mr.  Ward  should  have  his  full  salary,  provided  he, 
at  his  own  cost,  boarded  Mr,  Eolfe. 

After  a  few  months  of  comparative  quiet,  the  colonists  were  again 
startled  by  the  intelligence  that  the  French  and  their  savage  allies  were 
busily^  preparing  for  a  renewal  of  their  bloody  work  with  the  opening  of 
spring.  The  prospects  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  frontier  towns  were  indeed 
gloomy. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  nothing  was  done,  except  to  elect  officers.  Who 
can  weigh  the  load  of  fear  and  anxiety  that  rested  upon  the  hearts  of  our 
fathers,  as  they  contemplated  the  dark  future  before  them  ? 

But  little  time  was  left  them  for  suspcnsse.  Anon  the  news  came  that  a 
large  body  of  the  enemy  had  attacked  the  beautiful  village  of  Schnectady, 
New  York,  massacred  sixty  of  its  inhabitants,  captured  twenty-seven  more, 
and  reduced  the  town  to  ashes !  Hardly  had  the  people  realized  tlie  fear- 
ful import  of  the  intelligence,  when  another  herald  announced  an  attack 
on  Salmon  Falls,  and  the  murder  of  twenty-seven  of  its  inhabitants,  while 
fifty-two  others  had  been  hui'ried  away  into  captivity.  No  time  was  to 
be  lost ! 

On  the  24th  of  March,  a  meeting  was  held,  "  to  consider  what  ie  to  be 
done  for  the  present  security  of  the  place  against  the  enemy,  by  sending 
for  help  abroad,  or  to  drmo  off.  "  After  voting  the  selectmen  "  full  powers 
in  all  respects,"  the  Recorder  informs  us  that  "  a  small  discourse  was 
opened  about  the  then  state  of  the  Town,  how  to  stand  against  the  Enemy, 

*>  Mr.  Eolfe  was  chaplain  to  the  forces  sent  to  Fnlmoutb,  Maine,  from  July  14th  to  November  14thf 
1689,  and  probably  came  to  this  town  soon  after  his  rctivrn  from  that  Province. — State  Arch.  Vol.  il,  p.  49. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  155 

and  to  see  for  a  livelyhood  for  hereafter,  if  lives  of  the  people  should  he 
spared ;  But  it  soon  ceased  and  was  given  over,  and  nothing  done  that  was 
to  satisfaction  in  that  affair,  the  people  heing  out  of  a  way  for  their  own 
suhsistence  ;  and  therefore  the  Moderator  declared  the  meeting  closed." 

Eeader,  mark  the  deep  significance  of  that  language.  So  imminent  to 
them  seemed  the  danger,  and  so  feeble  th«  resistance  that  they  could  offer, 
unaided  and  alone,  that  it  was  seriously  debated,  whether  it  was  not  best 
to  draw  off —  to  abandon  the  town  entirely,  and  seek  safety  in  some  less 
exposed  place  !  How  must  the  mother's  heart  have  sunk  within  her,  when 
the  husband  and  father  returned  from  that  meeting,  with  no  word  of  hope 
or  comfort  for  herself  or  her  little  ones.  As  the  sun  withdrew  that  day, 
and  left  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Pentucket  enshrouded  in  darkness,  so  the 
bright  sun  of  hope  withdrew  from  the  hearts  of  its  inhabitants,  and  left 
them  buried  in  the  dark  shadows  of  despondency,  and  feai-ful  appre- 
hension. 

As  a  means  of  defense,  the  selectmen  appointed  six  garrisons,  and  four 
•"houses  of  refuge."-'-  One  of  the  garrisons  was  commanded  by  Sergeant 
John  Haseltine.  This  house  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  about 
half  way  up  Pecker  s  Hill,  and  a  few  rods  northwesterly  from  that  for- 
merly occupied  by  Samuel  Pecker.  Haseltine  had  seven  men  under  his 
command:  —  Onesiphorus  Marsh,  sen.,  Onisephorus  Marsh,  jun.,  Nathan- 
iel Haseltine,  Ebcn  Webster,  Joseph  Holt,  Thomas  Ayer,  and  Joseph 
Bond. 

This  garrison  was  owned  by  Onesiphorus  ]\Iarsh,  sen.,  who  was  the  an- 
cestor of  those  of  that  name  in  this  town.  The  first  notice  we  have  of  him, 
is  in  1684,  when  he  built  the  house  above  described.!  He  owned  the 
principal  part  of  that  hill,  and  for  many  years  it  was  known  by  the  name 
of  Marsh's  Hill.  The  name  was  once  generally  spelt  Mash.  Another  ac- 
count states  that  the  garrison  was  commanded  by  Jonathan  Marsh. 

Another  was  commanded  by  Sergeant  John  Webster  ;  this,  Mirick  sup- 
posed, was  the  brick  house  which  stands  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  three 
fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  the  bridge,  and  formerly  occupied  by  Widow 
Nathaniel  Whittier,  but  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  B,  Spiller ; 
but,  as  that  house  was  not  built  until  1724,  3iirick  must  have  been  mis- 
taken. It  was,  perhaps,  located  somewhere  in  that  vicinity.  Webster 
had  eight  men  under  his  command :  —  Stephen  Webster,  Samuel  Watts 
Nicholas  Brown,  Jacob  Whittaker,  John  Marsh,  Eobert  Ford,  Samuel 
Ford,  and  Thomas  Kingsbury. 

<»  It  is  not  certain  that  all  these  were  appointed  at  that  time,  but  most  probably  they  were. 
t  Perhaps  he  came  from  Hingham,  as  we  find  the  same  name  in  that  town,  in  1674. 


156  HISTOEY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

The  third  ^ras  owned  and  commanded  by  Jonathan  Emerson  ;  a  part  of 
it  is  now  standing  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Winter  and  Harrison  streets. 

The  fourth  was  commanded  by  James  Ayer,  and  stood  nearly  opposite 
the  house  of  the  late  Captain  John  Ayer,  2d,  on  Pond  street. 

The  fifth  was  commanded  by  Joseph  Bradley,  and  was  situated  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  town,  not  far  from  the  house  of  the  late  Zebulon  Sar- 
gent ;  it  was  long  since  torn  down,  and  no  traces  of  it  now  remain. 

The  sixth  was  owned  and  commanded  by  Captain  John  White  ;  and  was 
situated  near  the '  *  White  "  house,  on  Mill  street.  He  had  six  men  under  his 
command:  —  Stephen  Dow,  sen.,  Stephen  Dow,  jun.,  John  Dow,  Edward 
Brumidge,  Israel  Hendrick,  Israel ,  jun, 

Two  brick  houses,  belonging  to  Joseph  and  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town,  and  the  houses  of  Major  Nathaniel  Saltonstall 
and  Captain  Simon  Wainwright,  were  appointed  for  houses  of  refuge.  A 
few  soldiers  were  stationed  in  them,  who  were  under  the  command  of  the 
owners.  Two  watch-houses  were  erected,  one  of  which  stood  near  the  house 
occupied  by  the  late  John  Dow,  on  Main  street,  .and  the  other  was  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  "  Duncan  Place,"  on  Water  street. 
The  houses  of  Joseph  and  Nathaniel  Peaslee  are  yet  standing ;  the  former 
was  owned  by  the  late  Nathan  Sawyer,  and  stands  a  short  distance  east  of 
the  latter,  which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Captain  Jesse  Newcomb, 
and  is  situated  about  two  miles  east  of  Haverhill  Bridge. 

Tlie  house  of  Mr.  Saltonstall  stood  on  the  site  of  that  of  the  Widow 
Samuel  W.  Duncan.  That  of  Captain  Simon  Wainwright,  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  "  Emerson  House,"  opposite  Winter  Street  Church. 

The  school-house,  which  stood  on  what  is  now  Pentucket  Cemetery,  was 
also  used  for  the  same  pm-pose.  A  guard  of  soldiers  was  stationed  in  each 
of  these  houses,  who  were  on  the  look-out  for  the  enemy,  night  and  day. 

Besides  these  garrisons,  and  houses  of  refuge,  many  private  houses  were 
barracaded,  and  the  inhabitants  generally  were  prepared  for  any  emergency. 

"  Most  of  the  garrisons,  and  two  of  the  houses  of  refuge,  (those  beloug- 
ing  to  Joseph  and  Nathaniel  Peaslee)  were  built  of  brick,  and  were  two 
stories  high ;  those  that  were  not  built  of  this  material,  had  a  single  laying 
of  it  between  the  outer  and  inner  walls.  They  had  but  one  outside  door, 
which  was  often  so  small  that  but  one  person  could  enter  at  a  time  ;  their 
windows  were  about  two  feet  and  a  half  in  length,  eighteen  inches  in 
breadth,  and  were  secured  on  the  inside  with  iron  bars.  Their  glass  was 
very  small,  cut  in  the  shape  of  a  diamond,  was  extremely  thick,  and  fas- 
tened in  with  lead  instead  of  putty.  There  were  generally  but  two  rooms 
in  the  basement  story,  and  tradition  says  that  they  entered  the  chamber 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILIi.  157 

with  the  help  of  a  ladder,  instead  of  stairs,  so  that  the  inmates  could  re- 
treat into  them,  and  take  it  up  if  the  basement-story  should  be  taken  by 
the  enemy.  Their  fire-places  were  of  such  enormous  sizes,  that  they  could 
burn  their  wood  sled-length,  very  conveniently ;  and  the  ovens  opened  on 
the  outside  of  the  building,  generally  at  one  end,  behind  the  fire-place  ; 
and  were  of  such  dimensions  that  we  should  suppose  a  suflScient  quantity 
of  bread  might  have  been  baked  in  them  to  supply  a  regiment  of  hungry 
mouths. 

It  was  truly  an  age  of  terror  with  these  hardy  and  courageous  men  ;  and 
their  descendants  can  have  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  difficulties  they  encoun- 
tered, and  of  the  dangers  that  continually  hung  over  their  heads,  threatening 
every  moment  to  overwhelm  them  like  a  torrent*  Almost  every  man  was 
a  soldier,  and  many,  who  lived  in  remote  parts  of  the  town,  moved,  with 
their  families,  into  the  vicinity  of  a  garrison,  or  a  house  of  refuge. 

This  was  the  case  with  Stephen  Dow  and  his  son,  who  lived  in  the  east 
part  of  the  town,  and  moved  near  to  the  garrison  of  Capt.  John  White. 
The  Indians  had  a  peculiar  whistle,  which  was  made  by  placing  both  hands 
to  the  mouth,  and  was  known  to  be  their  call.  It  was  frequently  heard 
in  the  adjacent  woods,  and  tradition  says,  that  Stephen  Dow,  jun.,  was 
the  only  person  in  the  garrison  who  could  exactly  imitate  it ;  and  that  he 
frequently  concealed  himself,  and  endeavored  to  decoy  them  within  the 
range  of  the  soldiers'  bullets.  But  it  does  not  say  that  he  ever  suc- 
ceeded. "'■■= 

April  7th,  another  meeting  was  held,  "to  consider  what  may,  &  is  to 
be  done,  as  to  sending  to  the  Council  or  General  Court  for  their  affording 
help  to  this  place  by  soldiers,  as  it  is  a  frontier  town,  exposed  to  great 
danger,  &c." 

At  this  meeting,  it  was  "  Voted  and  agreed  by  the  Town  that  a  petition 
be  drawn  up  &  sent  by  a  meet  hand  to  the  Council  and  General  Court,  to 
have  sent  to  us,  as  we  are  a  frontier  town,  upon  the  Country's  charges,  40 
men  at  least,  to  be  a  constant  daily  scout,  to  keep  out  without  the  outmost 
garrisons,  and  in  constant  service,  so  as  to  watch  the  enemy  &  prevent  &, 
surprise  them,  or  give  notice  to  others  within,  that  they  may  be  encouraged 
to  do  somewhat  in  order  to  future  livelyhood,  and  in  case  of  need  to  stand 
for  their  lives." 

Cornet  Peter  Ayer  was  "  particularly  made  choice  of  to  present,  prefer, 
&  prosecute  "  the  petition. 

*  MiricJc. 


158  HISTORY  OF  Haverhill; 

In  answer  to  tlie  petition  of  the  tOTvn,  soldiers  were  sent  from  Newbury, 
and  other  placci?,  to  Haverhill,  Amcshiiry,  and  Salisbury. -'^ 

Scarcely  had  the  inhabitants  made  their  preparations  for  defence  and 
security,  ere  the  murderous  savages  were  again  in  their  vicinity. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  eight  persons  were  killed  at  Exeter ;  and  two  days 
afterward,  three  were  killed  at  Amesbury.  It  was  no  longer  safe  to  ven- 
ture out  of  doors,  except  in  armed  parties,  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  garrisons,  where  watch  was  kept  night  and  day  for  the  enemy. 
None  knew  when  or  where  an  attack  would  be  made,  and  the  only  safety 
was  in  strongly  fortified  garrisons,  armed  soldiers,  and  constant  watch- 
fulness. 

Immediately  after  the  •news  of  the  attacks  at  Exeter  and  Amesbury 
reached  Haverhill,  Major  Saltonstall  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  Coun- 
cil, at  Boston,  with  an  urgent  appeal  for  immediate  aid.  The  following 
is  his  letter,  copied  from  the  original  in  the  Archives  of  the  State :  — 

Havll:  July  10:  1  GOO,  at  almost  3 
afternoon ; 
Hond:  Gentlemen 

I  am  now  by  ye  Posts  from  Salisbury  put  upon  hurrying  up  a  line  or 
two  to  yor:  selves,  &  bee:  of  my  shortness  of  time  I  cannot  stand  to  enter 
ye  abreviatc  of  ye  2  Lres:  to  me  ;  &  yrf :  I  have  sent  them  to  your  selves 
by  ye  same  hands  yt  brought  ym  to  me ;  &  pray  that  ye  Lres:  may  by  ye 
same  hands  be  rcturnd,  (wc  yy  promise  if  it  be  pennitted.) 

I  shal  but  add  a  few  words ;  Capt:  Buswells  request  I  judg  rationall, 
&  most  necessary  to  be  attended ;  I  can  as  I  wrote  by  Lt:  Johnson  of 
Almsbury  on  monday  last  say.  That  Havll:  hath  as  much  need  of  present 
&  setled  assistance  as  any  place  ;  I  beseech  you  cast  us  not  off ;  or  give 
us  comand  to  draw  off.  I  do  not  think  it  much  to  avail  but  as  a  present 
satisfaction  yt  men  visit  us  affr:  mischcif  is  done  us ;  for  before  yy  can  be 
wth  us  ye  enimic  is  hidden  or  gone,  &  nothing  to  be  done  but  for  ye  men 
to  return,  unless  yy  would  stay  as  men  in  service,  or  occasion  shal  offer. 
Indeed  ye  charg  is  grt:,  but  tho:  all  are  not,  yet  some  arc  willing  to  bear 
their  part.     Foot  men  are  most  advisable,  &  serviceable  &  so,  in  ye  end, 

*  About  this  time,  one  Isttac  Morrill,  a  nntlve  of  New  Jersey,  cnmo  to  Newbnry,  to  entice  Indlnns  and 
Negroes  to  luftVc  their  masters  and  go  witli  him,  Rttylnff  that  tho  KngUsh  should  be  cut  off,  and  the  Negroes 
should  bo  free.  He  was  arrested,  May  20,  1000,  and  sent  to  Ipswich  for  trial.  Their  intention  was,  to 
take  a  vessel  out  of  tho  dock  at  Nowl)ury,  go  to  Canada,  join  tho  BVonch,  and  come  down  upon  tho  back 
side  of  the  country,  and  save  none  but  tho  negroes  and  Indians.  They  intended  to  come  with  four  or  fivo 
hundred  Indians,  and  three  hundred  Canadians,  lictween  Haverhill  and  Amesbury,  over  Merrimack  river, 
near  "  Indian  river  by  Archelaus  hill  on  the  backside  of  Jnhn  Kmrry's  meadow  and  destroy,  and  then  they 
might  easily  destroy  such  amoU  towns  as  Haverhill  and  Amesbury." — Coffin  Hist.  Mwbiiry,  153. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  159 

it  will  be  found  ;  excepting  only  a  very  few  to  be  imployed  in  carrying  or 
fetching  newes ;  men  complain  more  of  difficulty  to  provide  for  horses 
than  for  many  more  men. 

The  Ld:  be  yor  Counsellor  &  guid  in  all  these  difficulties ;  Let  us  have 
a  speedy  dispatch  of  the  Posts,  Philip  Grcle,  &  Wm  Hely  both  of  Salisb: 
yt  I  may  give  accot:  to  ym  y t  send  to  me ;  I  am  not  in  a  capacity  to  help 
ym,  but  want  men  for  or  necessary  defence ;  &  orders  to  keep  or  own 
men  to  duty  upon  their  j)eril,  &  for  their  being  sent  to  Boston  for  judgmt 
according  to  yr  desert,  yt  is,  some  of  ym.     I  am  Gentlemen 

your  true  servant 

X;  Saltonstall 

On  the  31st  of  August,  as  Samuel  Parker,  and  a  small  boy,  were  engaged 
in  curing  hay  in  the  East  Parish,  at  the  east-meadow,  a  party  of  Indians 
surprised  them,  and  shot  Parker  dead  on  the  spot.  The  boy  ran  in  an  op- 
posite direction  from  the  smoke  of  the  assailants,  and  by  concealing  himself 
in  the  tall  grass,  escaped  uninjured,  and  was  the  first  to  bear  the  mclau- 
cholly  tidings  of  Parker's  death  to  his  family,-' 

September  21st,  is  memorable  for  an  attack  on  Casco,  in  which  eight 
persons  were  killed,  and  twenty-four  wounded.  This  was  the  last  foray  of 
that  season,  and  the  Indians,  according  to  their  custom,  gi-adually  withdrew 
as  winter  approached,  toward  Canada, 

Believing  that  the  inhabitants  could  now,  for  the  winter  months  at  least, 
take  care  of  themselves,  the  General  Court  (Oct.  10)  ordered  "that  Mai 
Saltonstall  do  dismiss  home  the  scout  of  ten  troopers  appointed  to  be  em- 
ployed between  Haverhill  &  Salisbury  by  direction  of  the  said  ]\Iajor  for 
security  of  said  towns  in  the  time  of  harvest,"  On  the  22d  of  the  same 
month,  they  ordered  that  all  the  garrison  soldiers  posted  in  the  towns  of 
Havei'hill,  Salisbury,  and  Amesbury,  be  forthwith  dismissed.  Two  weeks 
afterward,  (Nov.  7)  all  the  officers  and  soldiers  at  Piscataqua  were  oi'dered 
home;  and  a  few  weeks  still  later,  (Dec.  13)  one-third  of  all  the  eastern 
garrisons  were  disbanded. 

While  the  inhabitants  were  thus  surrounded  by  all  the  horrors  of  savage 
warfare,  the  small  pox  broke  out  among  them.  This  loathsome  disease 
was  then  but  little  understood,  and  was  much  more  terrible  to  encounter 

*  The  following  doubtless  refers  to  this  att^ck,  though  the  account  is  far  from  correct;  — 
"This  morne  about  seven  ye  the  clock  nons  came  to  me  from  Kowley  yt  Slajr  Saltonetall  sent  to  New- 
berry :  vizt,  yt  two  men  of  naverhill  was  in  the  evening  last  night  about  three  miles  out  of  the  towne 
lookig  aft£r  tlieircorne:  their  fields  were  about  fift  rods  one  from  the  other ;  each  about  their  owne ;  one 
of  them  is  escaped  who  heard  a  gun  which  he  suiiposed  to  be  shot  at  ye  other  man  &  espying  Indians  Kun 
for  it  but  saith  yt  he  heard  at  least  ten  more  gims  <S;  ye  man  not  returning  he  is  supposed  to  be  killed,  for 
he  that  escaped  heard  them  give  a  Grat  Shout." — Extract  from  a  Letter  of  Hamuel  JppUton,  of  Ips- 
wich, to  the  Governor.  September  1, 1090. 


160  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

than  at  the  present  day ;  and  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  town  was 
greatly  alarmed.  A  pest-house  was  erected  on  the  hill  east  of  the  house 
of  the  late  Joseph  Bradley,  to  which  the  infected  were  removed.  But  few, 
however,  died  of  the  disease. 

Ilirick  says,  "We  can  learn  of  but  six  persons  who  died  with  this  dis- 
ease. They  were  Abraham  Hendrick,  Mary  Ford,  and  her  daughter  Mary, 
Josiah  Starling,  Ruth  Hartshome,  and  Thomas  Marsh.  The  records  say 
that  John  Stockbridge  '  went  to  sea  &  died  of  the  small  pox,'  " 

Taking  advantage  of  the  short  respite  from  savage  incursion,  the  town 
again  turned  their  attention  to  the  matter  of  securing  a  minister. 
Mr.  Eolfc  had  now  been  laboring  among  them  a  year,  and  was  so  well 
liked,  that  a  meeting  was  called  (Dec.  31)  to  see  about  securing  his  "  fur- 
ther help  in  the  ministry."  Thcj"^  unanimously  voted  to  do  so,  if  they 
could,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  treat  with  him. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  the  following  spring,  (1691)  nothing  was 
done  except  to  choose  town  officers.  With  the  opening  of  spting,  the  in- 
habitants feared  fresh  outrages  by  the  Indians,  and  they  had  little  heart 
to  engage  in  anything  except  measures  for  the  support  and  defense  of  their 
families. 

On  the  IGth  of  June,  John  Eobie,  of  this  town,  was  killed  by  the  sav- 
ages. Warned  by  the  impending  danger,  Eobie  had  taken  his  family  from 
his  own  dwelling,  to  a  house  of  refuge,  that  stood  where  the  house  of  Ben- 
jamin Clement  now  stands,  in  the  North  Parish.  He  was  returning  from 
this  mission  with  his  cart  and  oxen,  and  had  reached  about  midway  of  the 
burying-ground,  near  the  residence  of  Jesse  Clement,  when  a  ball  struck 
him  down.  His  son,  Ichabod,  who  was  with  him,  was  taken  prisoner,  but 
soon  after  managed  to  escape,  and  returned  home.  Eobie's  wife  died  a 
few  days  previously,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children,  the  oldest  of 
which  was  not  quite  eleven  years  of  age.  This  doubtless  led  him  to  seek 
safety  for  them  in  the  house  of  refuge.  A  letter  from  Nathaniel  Salton- 
stall,  to  Major  Pike,  of  Newbury,  dated  "June  15,  1691,  12  at  night," 
states,  that  Eobie  was  killed  about  two  hours  before  sunset,  "  near  the 
woods  near  Bradley's." 

At  the  same  attack,  Nathaniel  Ladd  was  rfiot,  and  soon  after  died  of 
his  wounds. 

No  further  damage  was  done  by  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity  ■=  until  Octo- 
ber, when,  says  Hutchinson,  "a  family  was  killed  at  llowley  and  one  at 
Haverhill.f     Perhaps  he  had  reference  to  the  above  persons ;  if  not,  the 

«  On  the  28th  of  September,  seven  pprsons  were  killed  and  captured  at  Berwick ;  and  on  the  following 
day,  between  twenty  and  thirty  at  Sandy  Beach. 

t  Vol.  1,  p.  3>9.    We.fiud,  however,  that  the  History  of  Rowley  places  it  one  year  later  — 1692. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  161 

name  of  that  family  must  remain  in  obscurity,  for  there  is  no  account  of 
the  death  of  any  other  person,  this  year,  by  the  Indians.  The  family 
killed  at  Eowley  was  named  Goodrich. 

The  constant  state  of  anxiety  and  fear  in  which  the  colonists  were  kept 
during  these  long  and  dreary  months,  and  years,  may  be  judged  from  the 
fact  that  in  Newbury,  which  was  far  less  exposed  than  either  of  the  fron- 
tier towns,  fifty-one  persons  hept  watch  each  night. 

The  new  year  brought  no  brighter  prospects,  but  rather  the  reverse. 
On  the  5th  of  February,  a  large  body  of  French  and  Indians  attacked 
York,  Maine,  burned  all  but  three  or  four  garrisoned  houses,  killed  about 
seventy-five  of  its  inhabitants,  and  captured  eighty-five.  The  work  of 
slaughter  had  re-commenced  in  fearful  earnest. 

At  the. annual  meeting  of  1692,  but  little  was  done  except  the  election 
of  ofl5.cers.  A  few  applications  were  made  for  land,  and  Samuel  Dalton 
asked  permission  to  build  a  corn-mill  on  Mill  Brook,  but  all  were  refused. 
The  inhabitants  were  evidently  so  engrossed  in  the  all  important  matter  of 
personal  security,  that  they  had  little  courage  left  for  extending  their 
settlement. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  Hannah  Whittiker,  of  this  town,  was  killed  by  the 
Indians."     The  particulars  of  her  death  arc  now  lost. 

On  the  same  day  that  Hannah  Whittiker  was  killed,  an  attack  was  made 
on  Lancaster,  Mass.,  and  six  persons  were  killed^  August  1st,  the  same 
n amber  were  killed  at  Billerica;  and  September  29th,  twenty-one  were 
killed  and  captured  at  Eye  Beach. 

Sometime  in  August,  John  Keezar  took  his  scythe  and  his  gun,  and 
went  to  the  Pond  Meadow  to  cut  grass.  He  laid  his  gun  down  beside  a 
tree,  and  while  mowing,  a  short  distance  from  it,  an  Indian,  who  had 
secretly  observed  his  motions,  crept  silently  along,  and  secured  the  gun 
before  Keezar  was  aware  of  it.  The  Indian  then  brought  it  to  his  shoul- 
der, and  exultingly  exclaimed —  "me  kill  you  now."  Keezar  saw  that 
an  attempt  to  fly  would  be  attended  with  certain  death,  and  his  only  re- 
course was  to  stratagem.  Soon  as  he  saw  that  the  Indian  had  secured  his 
gun,  he  faced  about  and  ran  toward  him,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
swinging  his  glittering  scythe,  and  threatening  to  cut  him  in  pieces.  This 
daring  conduct,  in  one  whom  the  Indian  expected  would  fly,  or  beg  for  his 
life,  his  terrible  threatenings,  and  the  formidable  appearance  of  his  wea- 
pon, completely  affrighted  him ;  and  he  threw  down  his  stolen  gun,  and 

«  Hannah  WhittLker  was  the  wife  of  Abraham  Whittiker,  Jiin,    Her  maiden  name  was  "  Beame."  She 
was  married  April,  1682. 

21 


162  niSTORY    OP    HAVERniLL. 

fled  for  his  life.  Keezar  followed  close  upon  bis  heels,  repeatedly  striking 
at  him  with  his  scythe.  At  length  he  reached  him,  and  at  one  stroke, 
buried  it  in  his  bowels.'' 

The  enemy  were  all  around  them,  continually  watching  for  opportuni- 
ties to  make  a  successful  attack,  and  the  situation  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town  was  perilous  in  the  extreme.  None  knew  when  or  where  the 
blow  would  fall,  but  it  was  daily  and  hourly  expected.  In  answer  to  a 
call  for  aid,  Sir  William  Phipps  ordered  twelve  soldiers  to  be  sent  from 
Newbury  to  Haverhill,  November  1st,  to  assist  in  protecting  the  town. 
Happily  no  other  assault  was  made  that  season. 

With  the  return  of  another  winter,  came  the  necessity  of  again  consid- 
ering the  matter  of  Mr.  Eolfc's  settlement  as  minister,  and  a  meeting  was 
called  for  that  purpose.  At  this  meeting,  the  question,  "whether  Mr. 
Benj  Eolfe,  whom  this  town  hath  had  experience  of  in  the  ministry  near 
three  years,  shall  be  the  man  pitched  upon  for  that  work,  and  to  be  our 
settled  minister  in  Haverhill,"  was  "  by  a  full  vote,"  passed  in  the  affirm- 
ative, and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  agree  with  him. 

December  5  th,  a  meeting  was  called,  to  hear  the  report  of  the  committee^ 
which  was  made  in  the  form  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Eolfe.  The  following  is 
a  copy :  — 

"  Haverhill  Nov  21,  1692. 
To  the  Town  of  Haverhill, 

Gentlemen : 

The  Committee  chosen  and  appointed  by  you  on  Oct  25,  92,  to  treat 
with  me  in  order  to  my  settlement  among  you  as  your  minister  ;  have  beea 
with  me  and  acquainted  me  as  far  as  they  could  with  the  Town's  mind  in 
this  affair,  making  some  proposals  which  they  thought  might  be  agreea- 
ble to  what  you  approve  of : 

Upon  which  I  make  you  this  brief  return  —  That  it  is  not  my  design 
nor  desire  to  propose  for  what  may  rationally  be  thought  hard :  But  only 
that  there  may  be  such  a  competent,  comfortable  settlement,  as  that  there- 
by I,  or  any  that  shall  be  called  to  be  your  minister,  may  be  capable  to 
endeavour  the  discharge  of  that  duty  that  God  requires  of  persons  under 
such  circumstances  without  distraction. 

The  want  of  this  will  be  uncomfortable  to  you  and  your  minister :  and. 
That  in  order  hereto  I  presume  that  there  is  no  rational  man  but  will 
think  it  requisite,  that,  in  such  a  place  as  this  is,  where  there  is  no  house  for 
the  ministry  ;  there  be  (in  some  convenient  place)  allotted  to  him  a  small 

•  Tradition. — Mirick. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  163 

parcel  of  land,  on  "wliicli  lie  may  at  his  own  cost  (with  the  help  of  such  as 
shall  freely  offer  thereto)  erect  an  house  to  dwell  in  which  he  may  call  his 
own  ;  and 

Inasmuch  as  your  Committee  have  proposed  to  me  by  order  of  the  Town, 
what  place  in  the  Town  would  be  most  satisfactory  to  me  to  dwell  in ;  — 
I  reply,  that  I  think  it  beyond  me  to  determine.  The  Town's  pleasure  in 
this  matter  will  doubtless  be  for  accommodation. 

But  except  the  Town  can  think  of  a  more  convenient  place,  I  know  no 
objection  against  that  place  on  which  Nathaniel  Smith  did  formerly  dwell, 
or  any  near  it. 

With  respect  to  a  settled  yearly  maintain,  I  object  not  against  what  the 
Town  by  their  Committee  have  already  settled  on  me :  Provided,  that  in 
convenient  season,  when  the  work  is  doubled,  *and  the  Town  comes  to  be 
under  better  circumstances,  there  be  such  an  addition  to  it,  as  shall  ration- 
ably  be  thought  requisite. 

Your  speedy  conclusion  upon  what  hath  been  proposed  will  enable  me 
to  give  you  a  more  full  answer : 

In  the  meantime  I  remain 

Yours  in  all  christian  ofl&ces 

Benjamin  Piolfe." 

Upon  the  reading  of  Mr.  Eolfe's  letter,  it  was  voted:  — 

•'  That  Mr  Benj  Eolf,  who  hath,  for  about  three  years  been  an  help  here, 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry  with  Mr  Ward ;  If  he  please  to  settle  here  in 
the  ministerial  work  shall  have,  &  hereby  hath,  that  piece  of  land  freely 
bestowed  upon  him  as  his  own  proper  estate,  which  was  laid  out  by  the 
Town's  committee  June  24,  1681,  and  approved  of,  near  where  Nathaniel 
Smith  formerly  lived,  and  is  also  joining  to  that  two  acres  which  was  given 
by  the  Town  to  Samuel  Wilcot." 

The  selectmen  were,  at  the  same  time,  directed  to  treat  with  the  owners 
about  buying  Wilcot's  two  acres,  to  be  added  to  the  rest. 

Toward  the  last  of  the  next  month,  (Jan.  30,  1693)  another  meeting 
was  called,  to  see  if  the  town  would  confirm  its  vote  to  settle  Mr.  Eolfe,  as 
some  objections  had  been  made  to  that  meeting,  "because  of  the  shortness 
ofwiirning."  The  town  declared  that,  "  by  a  clear  vote,  it  is  renewed, 
allowed  of,  confirmed,  made,  and  to  be  stood  unto,  for  the  full  and  free 
vote  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Haverhill."  There  could  be  no  mistaking  their 
intentions  this  time,  most  certainly. 

Mr.  Eolfe  was  granted  the  free  and  full  improvement  of  the  Parsonage 
farm  and  meadow,  then  on  lease  to  Mr.  Bradley,  so  long  as  he  continued 
in  the  town  as  their  minister,  and  also  of  the  Parsonage  land  bought  of 


164  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

William  Starlin,  besides  -what  was  otherwise  appointed  him  for  his 
annual  salary.  It  was  also  voted  to  lay  him  out,  with  all  convenient 
speed,  ten  acres  of  good  meadow,  for  his  free  use  while  he  remained  their 
minister. 

AVe  have  already  alluded  to  the  charter  received  in  1G92.  It  was  a  far 
different  instrument  from  the  colonial  charter  of  1G29,  and  effected  a 
thorough  revolution  in  the  country.  The  form  of  government,  the  powers 
of  the  people,  and  the  entire  foundation  and  olbjects  of  the  body  politic, 
were  placed  upon  a  new  basis. ' 

Sir  William  Phipps,  the  first  governor  of  the  province  under  the  new 
charter,  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  14th  of  May,  1692.  Writs  were  imme- 
diately issued  for  a  general  assembly,  which  convened  in  the  following 
month,  and  the  government  jvas  duly  inaugurated. 

These  changes  in  the  government  of  the  province,  necessitated  corres- 
ponding changes  in  the  organization  of  towns,  and,  accordingly,  at  the 
next  annual  meeting  of  this  town,  several  new  officers  were  chosen,  and 
the  name  of  the  town  Eecorder  was  changed  to  Toicii  Clerh. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first  board  of  town  officers  under  the  new 
charter :  — 

Lt  John  Johnson,  Moderator ;  Nathl  Saltonstall,  Town  Clerk  ;  Ensign 
Thomas  Eatton,  Cornet  Peter  Ayer,  Sergt  Kobert  Ayer,  Sergt  John  Page, 
Nathl  Saltonstall,  Selectmen;  Eobert  Swan  sen.,  Samuel  Cun-ier,  James- 
Sanders,  Ensign  John  White,  &  Sergt  Josiah  Gage,  Highway  Surveyors  ; 
Michael  Emerson,  Leather  Sealer;  Ensign  Thomas  Eatton,  Sealer  of 
Weights  Sf  Measures ;  Sergt  Josiah  Gage,  Lieut  Saml  Ayer,  Sergt  John 
Haseltine,  Capt  Geo  Browne,  Wm  Starlin,  &  Joseph  Johnson  sen,  Tyth- 
ing-men  ;  for  Viewers  of  Fences,  for  the  West  side  of  the  Sawmill  Eiver, 
Ensign  Saml  Hutchins,  Onesiph  Mash  sen ;  —  between  the  West  bridge 
and  Mill  brook  and  northward  as  far  as  Ephraim  Gild's,  John  Johnson 
Saml  Emerson  ;  —  between  the  Mill  brook  and  Great  Plain,  Eph  Eoberts, 
Israel  Hendrick;  —  for  the  Great  Plain  and  fields  below  that,  to  the  ex- 
tent of  Haverhill  bounds,  on  that  quarter  to  the  eastward,  Amos  Singletery, . 
John  Whittier  ;  —  for  the  northern  farms  about  Wm  Starlin's,  and  in  that 
quarter,  Joseph  Johnson  sen,  Christopher  Bartlett;  Steven  Dow  sen. 
Grand  Juror  ;  Daniel  Lad  jun,  for  Jury  of  Trials. 

At  this  meeting,  Joseph  Peasely  was  granted  the  privilege  of  erecting  a 
sawmill  "  at  the  head  of  east  meadow  river  upon  the  stream  by  or  near 
Brandy  Brow."  The  location  selected  was  the  one  still  occupied,  and 
known  as  "  Peaslee's  Mills."  It  is  now,  and  wc  believe  has  most  of  the 
time,  since  1G93,  been  owned  by  persons  of  that  name. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  165 

We  notice  that  more  Ibusiness  relating  to  lands,  and  similar  matters,  was 
done  by  the  town  this  year,  than  for  several  years  previously,  which  indi- 
cates a  returning  confidence,  and  prosperity.  No  allusions  are  made  to 
the  Indians  in  the  records,  and  we  do  not  find  any  mention  of  persons 
being  killed  by  them,  this  year,  in  the  vicinity,  except  Jonathan  Franklin 
in  this  town,  and  one  person  in  Dover. 

May  8th,  a  town  meeting  was  called,  "for  the  people  to  join  with  the 
church  and  take  care  for  the  providing  necessaries  for  Mr  Eolf  's  ordina- 
tion in  office  in  this  town."  After  choosing  a  Moderator,  "  the  Town 
resolved  to  stop  in  the  proceedings  till  they  knew  what  Mr  Ward  would 
abate  of  his  yearly  maintanance."  The  following  proposal  from  him, 
dated  November  13,  1692,  was  then  read:  — 

"  In  answer  to  the  Town's  proposal  to  me  to  know  what  I  would  abate 
of  my  yearly  maintenance,  and  upon  what  terms  they  should  be  with  me 
in  case  they  got  another  minister  to  help  with  me  in  the  ministry,  I  grant 

In  case  the  Church  and  Town  do  procure  another  Minister  to  be  settled 
in  office  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  Haverhill ;  Then  from  that  time 
and  forward  I  will  abate  to  the  Town  of  what  they  ought  to  pay  to  me  by 
Covenant  and  Town  orders,  all,  excepting  only  Twenty  pounds  in  Corn, 
and  Fifty  cords  of  current  merchantable  cord  wood,  to  be  paid  as  follow- 
eth,  annually,  during  my  life  ;  viz. 

Ten  pounds  in  merchantable  Wheat,  and 
Ten  pounds  in  merchantable  Indian,  and 
Fifty  cords  of  Oak  and  Walnut  wood,  to  be  laid  in  at  my  house,  and  corded 
by  one  thereto  appointed  at  the  Town's  charges ;  for  time  as  followeth, 
viz  : 

Half  in  October,  annually  ;  and  the  other  Half  in  February  annually. 

Provided  that  all  arrears  be  truly  paid  me,  and  that  myself  and  estate 
I  be  exempted  from  all  rates  ;  and  that  the  Town  do  appoint  one  or  two 
men  to  attend  at  my  house  upon  a  set  day  to  receive  and  take  account  of 
what  shall  be  brought  in,  and  set  the  price  thereof  if  it  be  not  merchant- 
able, that  so  it  come  not  in  pitiful  driblets  as  formerly. 

And  in  case  the  conditions  be  not  performed  within  the  year,  by  the  2d 
of  February  annually  ;  then  the  whole  Sixty  pounds  to  be  paid  annually, 
according  to  town  orders  already  made,  and  so  proportionably. 

John  Ward." 

After  this  letter  was  read,  the  meeting  chose  a  committee  of  four,  "  to 
go  and  see  what  Mr  Ward  will  abate  of  his  annual  covenanted  mainte- 


166  HISTORY   OP    HAVERHILL. 

nance,  in  order  to  tlie  settlement  of  Mr  B  Kolf  for  a  minister  here."  The 
following  is  their  report :  — 

"The  messengers,  by  word  of  mouth,  return  Mr  Ward's  answer:  That 
from  and  after  Mr  liolf 's  ordination,  he  will  abate  all  except  Twenty 
Pounds  in  Wheat  &  Indian  annually,  &  Fifty  cords  of  merchantable 
sound  wood  corded  at  his  house." 

The  town  accepted  the  offer.  A  vote  was  then  passed  that  *'  care  shall 
at  the  Town's  charge  be  taken  for  a  place  and  provision  for  entertainment 
at  Mr  Ilolf 's  ordination,"  provided  it  did  not  exceed  ten  pounds ;  but  as 
"  several  men  proclaimed  against  it  with  great  violence,"  the  vote  was 
nulled. 

The  following  agreement  of  the  committee  with  Mr.  Eolfe,  was  then  ap- 
proved and  confirmed  :  —    , 

"  We,'"'  Eobert  Ayer,  Peter  Ayer,  and  Steven  Dow,  who  are  the  present 
Committee  in  that  affair  have  covenanted  and  agreed  with  said  Mr  Ilolf; 
and  do  hereby  covenant  &  agree,  and  promise  to  &  with  the  said  Eolf  and 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  as  the  said  Committee  men,  and  on  behalf  of  the  said 
Town  by  virtue  of  their  orders  and  acts,  and  because  one  vote  may  take  off 
a  preceding  one  by  the  unsteadiness  of  a  multitude :  That  Mr  Eolf  may 
not  be  disappointed.  We  not  only  for  the  Town  in  general,  but  for  our- 
selves in  particular,  as  the  said  Town's  Committee,  and  for  our  successors, 
do  covenant  and  agree  as  followeth  : 

1.  That  Mr  Benjamin  Eolf  during  the  time  of  his  abode  in  this  Town 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  until  he  is  settled  with  us  in  oflSce  in  that 
work,  shall  have  paid  unto  him  by  the  Town  Sixty  pounds  per  annum  in 
Wheat,  Eye,  and  Indian  Corn,  by  equal  proportions  of  each,  at  the  price 
of  the  grain  in  the  Country  rate,  at  the  time  of  payment.  So  that  the 
whole  may  be  paid  into  him,  or  his  order  in  Haverhill,  by  the  2d  of  Feb- 
ruary annually. 

2.  That  Mr  Eolf  out  of  his  Sixty  pounds  is  to  provide  personal  quar- 
ters for  himself  as  he  shall  think  good. 

3.  We  the  Committee  before  mentioned  do  further  promise  to  said  Mr 
Eolf  that  upon  the  Town's  charge,  in  convenient  season  annually,  there 
shall  be  laid  in  for  him  a  sufficient  quantity  and  stock  of  good,  sweet,  and 
dry,  and  sound  Hay  for  the  keeping  his  horse  through  the  winter  at  such 
place  in  Haverhill  as  he  shall  appoint." 

^  The  introductorj' paragraph,  which  merely  rehearses  when  and  for  what  the  committee  were  chosen, 
we  have  omitted,  as  unimportant. 


HISTORY   OF   nAVERHILL.  167 

The  agreement  is  signed  by  the  committee.  The  following  is  the  letter 
of  Mr.  Eolfe,  accepting  the  terms  offered :  — 

"  Haverhill  April  29,  1693. 

In  answer  to  the  Election  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill  signified  by  public 
vote  at  a  general  orderly  meeting  with  respect  to  my  being  their  settled 
minister,  and  to  the  call  of  the  Church  of  Christ  there  ; 

The  Providence  of  God  having  so  ordered,  as  to  move  his  people  here  to 
invite  me  to  settle  among  them  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  great  and  solemn 
work  of  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  of  Christ, 

I  do  hold  it  my  duty  to  consider  &  take  notice  of  the  special  Providence 
of  God  therein,  and  therefore  do  hereby  express  myself  willing  to  settle 
among  them  for  that  end :  viz  : 

1st.  So  long  as  the  people  of  God  here  do  continue  in  the  profession  of 
the  true  faith  and  peace  of  the  gospel  —  Acts  2'A2S' 

2d.  So  long  as  I  may  have  the  liberty  of  my  ministry  among  them.     . 

3d,  So  long  as  I  can  discharge  my  duty  to  myself  and  family,  if  it  shall 
please  God  to  give  me  one  ;  I  mean  by  this.  That  the  Town  comply  with 
and  duly  discharge  for  the  present,  that  obligation  with  respect  to  a  yearly 
maintenance  that  they  by  their  Committee  are  now  under  to  me.  Grant- 
ing also  to  me  a  supply  of  wood  as  soon  as  I  shall  stand  in  need  of  it. 
And  if  it  shall  please  God  so  to  order  it  that  the  whole  work  be  devolved 
upon  me,  or  to  bring  them  out  of  those  difficulties  that  by  occasion  of  the 
war  they  are  now  under :  They  grant  to  me  such  a  supply  as  that  thereby 
I  may  so  live  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  ought  to  live,  and  be  able  without 
distraction  by  wants,  to  discharge  my  duty  as  a  minister  of  Christ  to  God 
and  yourselves. 

Thus  I  say  I  do  express  myself  willing  to  settle  among  you  with  a  true 
intention  and  true  affection. 

Benjamin  Piolfe." 

Having  at  last  seen  his  successor  selected,  provided  for,  and  firmly 
seated  in  the  affections  of  the  people  with  whom  he  had  himself  lived  so 
long,  and  so  happily,  and  for  whose  welfare  he  had  devoted  the  best  years  of 
a  long  life,  the  venerable  John  Ward  was  soon  laid  beside 'her  whom  in  life 
he  had  loved  so  well.  He  died  on  the  27th  of  December,  1693,  and  was 
buried  on  the  following  day,  almost  in  the  very  shadow  of  the  humble 
little  church  where,  for  nearly  a  half  century,  his  voice  had  been  heard 
from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  earnestly  pleading  with  the  Father  for  bless- 

°  "And  they  continued  steadfastly  in  the  Apostle's  doctrine  and  fellowship,  find  in  breaking  of  bread, 
and  in  prayers." — Acts  2,  42. 


168  niSTOUY   OP   HAVERHlLt. 

ings  upon  Lis  little  flock."  Mr.  Eolfe,  on  the  day  of  his  ordination, 
speaking  of  him,  says,  that  "these  four  years  past  have  been  the  happiest 
and  most  profitable  to  me  of  my  whole  life.  I  have  had  the  couneils  of 
wisdom  and  experience,  the  admonitions  of  a  father  and  friend,  and  an  ex- 
ample constantly  before  me,  of  undissembled  virtue,  ardent  piety  and 
burning  zeal." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  his  will,  which  bears  date  May  27, 
IGSO.f 

"  0  Lord,  into  thy  hands  commit  I  my  spirit.  Credo  languida  fide  sed 
tamen  fide. 

Concerning  that  portion  of  worldly  goods  which  God  of  his  rich  bounty 
hath  bestowed  upon  me,  I  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament.  I  give 
to  my  beloved  son  Benja.  Woodbridge,  and  to  my  beloved  daughter,  Mary, 
his  wife,  one  parccll  of  land  containing  thirty  acres,  more  or  less,  lying 
att  the  norwest  end  of  the  towne  of  Haverhill,  in  X.  England.  '••=  ••'  =•■'  '•'  '•* 
1  give  to  my  beloved  son,  Nathl.  Saltonstall,  and  to  my  beloved  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  my  house,  and  land  adjoyning  thereto,  commonly 
called  the  houselott,  lying  in  the  town  of  Haverhill, |  =■'••=  =■•''  "  '■'  Lastly,  I 
constitute  and  appoynt  my  beloved  son,  Saltonstall,  the  executor  of  this 
my  last  will  and  testament,  and  do  hereby  make  void  all  former  "Wills 
made  by  me. 

Witness  my  hand  and  seal 

JOHN  WAED.  [seal.] 

Signed  and  sealed  in  the  presence  of  us ; 

William  White,  Thomas  Eatox,  Benja.  Eolfe. 
Jan.  23,         92--3,  owned  before  John  White." 

]\Ir.  Eolfe  was  ordained  on  the  7th  of  the  January  following  Mr.  Ward's 
death. 

At  the  annual  meeting  for  1694,  the  town  refused  to  choose  Tything- 
men,  (and  also  a  Hayward,  Culler  of  Staves,  Eield  Drivers,  and  House 
Officers,)  according  to  law ;  but  we  find  that  a  few  weeks  afterward,  a 
town  meeting  was  held  "  by  the  order  of  the  ShcriiF,"  to  choose  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  assembly,  and  tythingmen.  The  government  seem  to  have 
allowed  the  omission  of  the  others,  but  refused  to  entertain  the  idea  that  a 
town  could  get  along  without  tythingmen.     The  duty  of  a  tythingman  was 

o  On  the  19th,  of  November,  1693,  Mr.  Ward,  then  just  entering  his  eighty-eighth  year,  preached  an  ex- 
cellent sermon,  —  his  last  public  effort.  —  Mather, 

"f  Two  months  after  the  death  of  his  wife. 

X  This  homestead,  since  known  as  the  "Saltonstall  Place,"  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Bridge,  re- 
mained in  possession  of  the  family  until  after  the  Revolution.  It  is  now  familiarly  known  as  the  ;'  Widow 
Duncan's  Place." 


HISTOKT   OF   HAVERHILL.  169 

to  preserve  good  order  in  the  church  during  divine  service,  and  to  mate 
complaint  of  any  disorderly  conduct.  It  is  but  recently  that  the  office 
was  abolished.  The  writer  well  remembers  when  "  the  tythiugman " 
served  as  an  eflFectual  "  bugbear  "  for  juvenile  church-goers. 

This  year,  all  the  town  officers  were,  for  the  first  time,  duly  "  sworn  " 
to  the  faithful  performance  of  their  several  official  duties,  —  a  practice 
which  has  since  become  a  custom. 

July  2d,  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  about  the  meadow  land  for  the 
ministry,  which  had  been  laid  out,  but  was  claimed  by  Robert  Swan,  sen., 
who  had  prosecuted  the  town  for  taking  it  away  from  him.  The  town 
voted  to  fight  it  out  with  him,  "according  to  law." 

On  the  30th  of  July,  a  meeting  was  held,  "  by  command  of  the 
CountiT,"  to  choose  assessors,  and  Captain  Simon  Wainwright,  Ensign 
John  White,  and  Cornet  Peter  Ayer  were  duly  chosen  and  sworn. 

This  was  the  first  board  of  assessors  chosen  by  the  town.  For  a  few 
years  preceding  this,  a  "  commissioner"  had  been  annually  chosen  to  act 
with  the  selectmen  in  taking  valuations. 

After  nearly  two  years  of  comparative  freedom  from  molestation  by  the 
Indians,  the  inhabitants  were  again  alarmed  by  news  of  horrible  massa- 
cres, and  threatened  extermination. 

On  the  18th  of  July  (1694)  the  settlement  at  Oyster  Eiver  was  again 
attacked,  and  ninety-four  of  its  inhabitants  killed  and  captured.  This 
sad  news  had  hardly  reached  this  town,  when  another  messenger  conveyed 
the  intelligence  of  four  more  victims  at  Portsmouth  ;  and  within  a  week 
later,  Groton  was  surprised,  twenty-two  persons  killed,  and  thirteen 
wounded.  The  enemy  were  all  around  them,  and  terror  sat  on  every 
countenance.  Three  weeks  later,  five  persons  were  killed  at  York,  and 
the  same  week,  eight  more  were  added  to  the  long  list  of  victims  from 
Kittery. 

September  4th,  two  men,  Joseph  Pike  and  Richard  Long,  both  of  New- 
bury, were  slain  by  the  savages  as  they  were  travelling,  near  the  north  of 
Pond  Plain.  "  The  enemy  lay  in  a  deserted  house  by  the  way,  or  in  a 
clump  of  bushes,  or  both.""-' 

Although  no  other  attack  was  made  in  this  town  that  year,  yet  the  in- 
habitants had  every  reason  to  expect  them,  and  the  strictest  watch  was 
kept,  day  and  night,  and  every  precaution  taken  to  preserve  life  and  pro- 

'■■  Pike's  Journal.     Neal,  in  h's  History  of  Xfw  England,  says,  under  d;ite  of  Septpmlier  4,  169-t:  — 
"Mr.  Joseph  Pike  of  Newbury,  Deputy  ShjrilTof  Essex,  tr.ivelling  with  one  Lon^  betivoen   Anieslmry 

and  Haverhill  in  the  exe(rutioti  of  his  office,  fell  into  an  Ambuscade  of  the  enemy,  and  both  he  and  hi 

companion  were  murdered." 

22 


170  HISTORY   OF   HAYERHILL. 

perty,  in  case  of  such  emergency.  Under  such  circumstances,  as  we  maj 
well  suppose,  there  wei*e  occasionally  false  alarms,  when  a  whole  garrison 
or  neighborhood  would  be  thrown  into  the  greatest  consternation  and  fear, 
without  serious  cause.  One  of  the  most  ludicrous  of  these  alarms,  occur- 
red at  the  garrison  commanded  by  Sergeant  Nathaniel  Haseltine,=  -  which 
is  thus  related  by  Mirick,  from  tradition  :  — 

"  In  the  dead  of  night,  when  the  moon  shone  fitfully  through  the  ragged 
clouds,  and  the  winds  moaned  solemnly  on  the  wooded  hills,  the  watch, 
the  only  person  awake  in  the  garrison,  perceived  something  within  the 
paling  that  surrounded  it,  which  he  supposed  to  be  an  Indian  ;  and  who 
was,  as  *he  thought,  endeavoring  to  gain  an  entrance.  Being  considerably 
affrighted,  he  did  not  wait  to  consider  the  object  coolly,  but  raised  his 
musket  and  fired.  The  report  alarmed  the  whole  garrison.  The  women 
and  children  were  awakened  from  their  slumbers,  and  ran  hither  and 
thither  like  maniacs,  expecting  that  they  should  fall  beneath  the  tomahawk. 
The  men,  equally  affrighted,  jumped  into  their  breeches  as  though  their 
lives  depended  on  their  speed,  seized  their  guns,  and  hastened  to  the  port- 
holes. Every  man  now  displayed  his  heroism.  Volley  after  volley  was 
fired  at  the  suspicious  looking  object  —  but  it  fell  not.  There  it  remained, 
just  as  it  did  when  the  watch  first  observed  it.  This  was  truly  a  mystery, 
that  had  no  whys  nor  wherefores.  It  is  presumed  a  consultation  was  held 
at  this  important  crisis  ;  but  we  have  never  been  informed  of  the  result. 
Let  that  be  as  it  may,  —  they  ceased  firing,  but  continued  under  arms  till 
morning,  all  prepared  for  immediate  action,  and  keeping  a  good  look-out 
for  the  supposed  enemy.  At  length  the  morning  began  to  dawn,  and  all 
eyes  were  turned  toward  the  daring  intruder.  They  soon  discovered  the 
cause  of  their  alarm  —  and  what  do  you  suppose  it  was,  reader  ?  Why, 
it  was  nothing  but  an  old  maid's  black  quilted  petticoat,  which  she  had 
washed  the  day  previous,  hung  it  on  the  clothes-line  to  dry,  and  neglected 
to  take  it  in  at  night.  When  it  was  taken  down,  every  part  of  it  was 
pierced  with  bullet-holes,  and,  for  aught  we  know,  the  poor  old  maid  had 
no  other  to  wear.  It  is  thought  that  those  excellent  marksmen  ought  to 
have  provided  her  with  another  —  and  doubtless  they  did." 

In  1695,  the  annual  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  March, 
according  to  an  Act  of  the  Assembly. 

At  this  meeting,  Peter  Patie  applied  for  permission  to  build  a  grist  mill 
at  east  meadow  river,  but  was  denied.  For  some  reasons,  now  unknown, 
there  was  great  delay  and  difficulty  in  getting  such  a  mill  erected  on  that 
Btream.     Many  years  previously,  Andrew  Greelee  applied  for,  and  received 

•  Tbe  one  at  Pecker's  Hill. 


niStOtlT    OF    HAVERHILL.  171 

permission  to  erect  such  a  mill  there,  and  partly  built  a  dam,  but,  for 
some  reason,  abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  nothing  more  was  done  about 
it  for  several  years.  In  1694,  Nathaniel  Whittier  applied  for  the  privi- 
lege, but  he  wanted  twelve  acres  of  land  as  a  bonus,  which  the  town 
thought  too  much.  They  offered  him  the  use  of  four  acres,  which  he  re- 
fused, and  the  same  offer  being  then  opened  to  any  one  who  would  accept, 
Joseph  Greelee  and  Joseph  Peasely  agreed  to  erect  the  mill ;  but  they  also 
failed  to  doit,  and,  in  1696,  the  town  gave  Samuel  Currier  and  Joseph 
Greelee  permission  to  build,  and  allowed  them  the  use  of  ten  acres  of  land 
for  their  accommodation  and  encouragement.  But  it  seems  that  they  did 
not  make  much  progress  that  year,  for  Peter  Patie  applied  to  the  town  the 
next  spring  for  the  same  privilege.  The  town  refused  Patie,  because  they 
were  already  under  obligations  to  Currier  and  Greelee,  who,  we  believe, 
soon  after  erected  such  a  mill.  It  was  located  at  the  place  known  for 
many  years  as  Johnson's  Mill,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  mouth 
of  the  stream. 

For  the  first  time,  the  town  this  year  chose  a  Town  Treasurer.  Lieu- 
tenant Samuel  Ayer  wasthe  person  selected.  Mr.  Rolfe  applying  for  wood, 
the  town  voted  him  fifteen  cords  a  year,  for  tliree  years.  John  Gild 
offered  the  town  sixteen  pounds  for  "  the  side  hill  adjoining  Great  Pond," 
which  offer  was  accepted.  He  was  to  pay  "  one  third  currant  money,  one 
third  good  Indian  com,  &  one  third  good  fat  neat  cattle  fit  for  slaughter." 

The  matter  of  bounds  between  this  town  and  Amesbury  came  before 
the  town  again  this  year,  after  a  quiet  rest  for  many  years.  This  time,  as 
before,  Amesbury  commenced  the  agitation.  The  town  ordered  the  select- 
men to  see  that  the  matter  was  settled  forthwith.  They  evidently  had  no 
desire  for  an  extended  controversy. 

The  selectmen  were  also  ordered  to  attend  to  the  settling  of  "  schools  of 
learning"  in  town,  and  "to  settle  a  suitable  school-master,  according  to 
law." 

Among  the  records  of  this  year,  we  find  a  copy  of  a  receipt  from  the 
State  Treasurer,  for  "  eight  wolves  heads  at  six  shillings  eight  pence,  in 
full  for  thirty  thousand  pounds  assessment."  Something  of  a  discount, 
we  think. 

At  an  adjournment  of  the  annual  meeting,  the  same  year,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  meeting-house  "  be  forthwith  repaired  so  far  as  is  necessary  for 
our  present  use  of  the  place ;  till  we  may  be  better  fitted  and  provided 
with  a  new  one."  Immediately  upon  this  vote  being  declared,  the  ques- 
tion was  put  '■■  whether,  when  the  Town  builds  a  new  Meeting  house,  it 
shall  be  set  in  the  same  place  where  the  old  house  stands."     This  was,  by 


172  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

a  full  vote,  decided  in  the  negative.  It  was  then  proposed,  "  whether  the 
next  meeting  house  for  this  Town,  when  built,  shall  be  set  upon  the  Com- 
mon land  near  John  Keyzar's  &  Lieut  Johnson's  new  dwelling  places." 
This  was  decided  "plentifully  in  the  affirmative,"  only  Captain  Browne, 
John  ^Vhitticr,  and  Samuel  Currier  dissenting.  It  was  then  voted  "  that 
a  new  meeting  house  shall  be  built  forthwith,  with  what  speed  may  be," 
and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "  treat  with  men  abroad  "  about  doing  the 
work,  and  report  their  proposals  to  the  town. 

The  next  we  hear  of  the  matter,  is  in  May  of  the  next  year,  when  a 
meeting  was  called  to  see  whether  the  town  would  build  a  new  meeting- 
house, or  repair  the  old  one. 

They  voted  to  build  a  new  one,  and  chose  a  committee  "  to  look  out  a 
workman  that  can  &  will  engage  to  do  the  work  by  the  lump,  or  great,  for 
money."  They  were  "  to  look  out  &  view  some  meeting  houses  for  dimen- 
sions," and  then  propose  the  work  to  some  person  or  persons,  either  at 
home  or  abroad- 

On  the  28th  of  July,  the  committee  reported  that  tbey  had  "  been  abroad 
at  several  towns,  taking  dimensions  of  several  meeting  houses,  and  having 
an  account  of  the  cost  of  them,"  and  "  after  bartering  with  divers  work- 
man," found  Sergeant  John  Haseltine  "  the  most  inclinable  to  build  of 
any  one."  Haseltine  offered  to  build  a  meeting-house  fifty  feet  long,  forty-' 
two  feet  wide,  and  eighteen  feet  stud,  "finishing  the  same  within 
&  without,  with  seats,  pulpit,  galleries,  windows,  doors,  floors,  &  stairs," 
after  the  pattern  of  the  Beverly  meeting-house,  and  doing  the  sides  after 
the  style  of  the  Reading  meeting-house,  finding  all  material,  for  four  hun- 
dred pounds,  money.  After  a  long  debate  about  the  place  for  the  house 
to  stand,  and  the  price  proposed,  the  dimensions  proposed  were  accepted, 
and  the  meeting  closed  without  further  action. 

Nothing  more  was  done  about  the  matter  until  April  10,  1697,  when 
another  meeting  was  called  for  that  special  purpose.  This  time,  the  town 
voted  that  "  there  be  a  meeting  house  forthwith  framed,"  and  chose  a 
committee  to  agree  with  Sergeant  John  Haseltine,  or  any  other  man,  about 
the  work.  They  were  to  agree  for  the  whole  work  and  material,  even  "  to 
turning  of  the  key,"  and  were  limited  to  four  hundred  pounds  in  money. 
The  house  was  to  have  "  a  Turret  for  a  bell,"  and  it  was  agreed  to  set  it 
"  at  the  place  by  Lieut  John  White's  and  Mr  Samuel  Dalton's." 

But  the  end  was  not  yet.  In  June,  another  meeting  was  called 
to  consider  the  committee's  report.  After  "  much  discourse  and  difference 
about  the  place  where  the  new  meeting  house  should  be  erected,"  it  was 


HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL.  173 

voted  to  call  another  meeting  of  the  town  before  deciding  the  matter. 
Accordingly,  on  the  5th  of  July,  the  inhabitants  again  assembled,  to  con- 
sider the  vexed  question.  Upon  the  question  of  location  for  the  new 
meeting  house,  "  paper  votes  were  called  for,"  and  with  the  following 
result-  :  — 

"  For  the  old  place  that  now  is  25f 

For  the  common  land  near  Keyzar's  53." 

Paper  votes  were  then  called  for,  in  choosing  a  new  committee  to  go  on 
with  the  work,  and  Captain  Samuel  Ayer,  Corporal  Peter  Ayer,  and  En- 
sign John  Page,  were  declared  chosen.  The  committee  were  then  granted 
full  powers,  within  the  previously  mentioned  limits,  as  to  cost.  ■    • 

So  strong,  however,  appears  to  have  been  the  opposition  to  the  new  loca- 
tion, that  the  matter  of  building  progressed  very  slowl}',  and  one  year 
after  the  above  meeting,  (July  4,  1698,)  another  was  called  "  by  warrant 
from  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,"  on  petition  oT  eight  of  the  inhabitants,  who 
desired  that  a  committee  might  be  chosen  "  to  hear  all  pleas  on  both  sides, 
and  determine  where  the  new  frame  should  be  raised."  In  this  request, 
thirty-three  more  joined.  The  Moderator  then  called  for  the  names  of 
those  opposed  to  having  such  a  commitee,  "which  was  drawn  and  brought 
in,"  and,  being  counted,  numbered  sixty-three  names  ;  upon  which  he  de- 
clared against  having  any  such  committee,  and  the  meeting  dissolved. 

Summer  passed,  autumn  came  and  went,  and  when  winter  again  ap- 
proached, the  work  on  the  new  meeting  house  had  progressed  so  far  that  it 
was,  by  many,  thought  advisable  to  meet  in  it  for  worship. 

A  meeting  was  therefore  called  by  the  selectmen,  to  consider  *'  whether 
the  people  should  meet  this  winter  at  the  old  meeting  house,  or  at  that 
which  is  of  new  erected  at  Widow  Keyzar's."  "  Votes  were  called  for  by 
personal  appearance  and  entering  their  names,"  and  "  thirty  four  persons 
entered  their  names  for  their  meeting  at  the  new  house  as  soon  as  the  glass 
windows  are  finished  &  set  up,"  while  eighteen  persons  voted  for  continu- 

'•'■  This  was  probably  very  near  the  whole  number  of  legal  voters  in  town,  as  the  business  doubtless  called 
out  the  full  strength  of  the  voters. 

t  Nathl  Saltonstallt  John  Currierf  Jona'n  Eattonf  Tho  Whittierf 

—     ,  Peter  Greenf  Amos  Singleteryt  Joseph  Greeleef  John  Eattonf 

Elisha  Davist  Samuel  Currierf  John  Page  Junf  Benj  Page 

Daniel  Elat  Joseph  Peasly  sent  Robert  Clement  jun        Ric  Hazenf 

Jotham  Hendrickt  Joseph  Whittiert  Geo  Brownet  James  Sanders  seii 

Cornelius  Page  Ric  Whittiert  Ens  Eattont  Ahiel  Mercert 

Those  to  whose  names  is  annexed  a   (t)  also  entered  their  protest  against  the  subsequent  action  of 
the  meeting. 


174  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

ing  in  the  old  meeting-Louse,    *'  till   a  new  meeting  house    be  quite 
finished."-' 

It  being  thus  decided  to  remove,  the  selectmen  were  chosen  "to  deter- 
mine the  places,  and  what  room  shall  be  allowed  to  such  as  shall  desire  to 
have  pews  in  the  new  meeting  house ;  and  to  whom  it  shall  be  allowed  ; 
They  being  at  the  cost  for  the  making  of  them  for  their  own  use  as  is 
usual  in  other  places ;  any  other  form  for  seats  formerly  thought  of  not- 
withstanding." 

The  Eecorder  informs  us  that  •*  much  discourse  was  held  about  pulling 
up  the  seats  in  the  old  meeting  house  to  set  up  at  a  new  place  for  the  pre-' 
sent  meeting  house  ;  but  it  was  fully  opposed,  and  reasons  given,  & 
therefore  was  not  put  to  vote." 

This  closed  the  proceedings  of  that  meeting,  and  we  find  no  I'eference  to 
the  subject  again  until  the  following  October,  (Oct.  24,  1699,)  when  a 
town  meeting  was  called,  "  for  the  further  consideration  and  settlement  of 
the  affairs  belonging  to  the  new  meeting  house." 

At  this  meeting,  the  committee  last  chosen  reported  that  room  had  been 
allowed  eight  persons  to  make  themselves  pews  in  the  new  meeting-house 
at  their  own  costf  ;  and  after  some  "discourse  about  the  new  meeting 
house,  and  the  receiving  it  for  the  end  it  was  built  for,"  a  committee  was 
chosen  and  sent  forth  to  view  it,  and  see  if  it  was  done  according  to  agree- 
ment, and  if  the  town  should  accept  it  or  not.  (It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  had  all  along 
opposed  the  location  of  the  new  house,  and  had  voted  against  most  or  all 
of  the  propositions  in  favor  of  building  it.) 

The  committee  attended  to  their  duty,  and  submitted  the  following  re- 
port to  the  same  meeting :  — 

"Haverhill  Oct  2-1,  1699. 

We,  the  Committee  above  named,  this  day  chosen,  forthwith  attended 
to  the  work  we  were  appointed  to  examine,  view,  and  pass  our  thoughts 

■^  Those  who  voted  ajrainst  the  removal,  were  the  same  persons  who  previously  voted  against  the  pro- 
posed location  of  the  new  meetinn;  house.     The  following  persons  voted  for  the  change :  — 

Ensign  John  Page  Nalhl  Hascltine  Stoph  Dow  sen  James  Sanders 

Sergt  John  Ilaseltine        John  Simmons  John  Mash  Wm  Johnson 

Joseph  Bond  John  Dow  Joseph  Page  Benj  Emerson 

Saml  Ayi-r  jun  Ensign  Samuel  Hutchins  Matt  Ilcrriman  sen  Benj  Uutchins 

Jos  Johnson  sen  Jno  Johnson    smith  Ephra'ni  Gild  Josiah  Gage 

Jos  Kingsberry  Mich  Emerson  Onis:  Marsh  Eph  Robcrds 

Daniel  Ela  James  Ford  Robt  Ayer  Jos  Heath 

Tho  Kingsbery  Jos  Emerson  Joseph  Ayer 

Jno  Stevens  sen  Jona  Emerson  Sam:  Smith 

t  Capt.  S.  Wainwright,  Capt.  Samuel  Ayer,  Nath.  Saltonstall,  Scrjt.  John  Haseltine,  Lieut.  John 
White,  Widow  Hannah  Ayer  and  son,  Ens.  John  Page,  Sergt.  Josiah  Gage. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVEBHILL.  175 

upon,  and  make  our  return  to  the  Town  in  order  to  tteir  further  proceed. 
Do  unanimously  say 

We  have  viewed  the  house  without  and  within,  and  have  measured  the 
house  in  its  length,  breadth,  &  height,  and  find  them  all  to  exceed  the 
covenant  dimensions :  That  is  to  say,  in  length  upwards  of  8  inches ;  in 
the  breadth  also  better  than  8  inches ;  and  in  the  height  of  the  stud  be- 
tween sill  and  plate  about  12  inches :  and  the  outsides  to  be  well  fitted  and 
comely  ;  and  for  the  work  within  we  find,  and  account  it  to  be  good,  sub- 
stantially, well  &  commendably  done,  with  respect  to  the  walls,  pulpit, 
and  seats  below  and  in  the  galleries ;  and  cannot  but  say,  we  like  and  well 
approve  of  the  work ;  and  therefore  we  humbly  propose  to  the  Town  now 
assembled  to  accept  of  the  same  as  to  the  work  and  workmans  part,  in 
said  Covenant,  his  additions  being  much  for  the  better.  And  he  having 
appeared  to  be  honest,  and  honestly  faithful  to  his  word,  we  have  taken 
his  word  for  some  small  matters  to  be  farther  done  to  the  seat  or  pew  for 
the  minister's  wife  &  children,  and  to  make  troughs  or  gutters  on  the  sides 
of  the  house  at  the  eves  to  carry  the  water  that  comes  ofi"  the  roof  from 
the  sides,  so  that  it  may  fall  at  the  corners :  which  said  work  tho  necessary, 
is  beyond  what  he  was  obliged  unto  by  covenant.  And  we  again  do  pray 
that  the  Town  will  accept  of  his  work  with  thankfulness  to  him  for  his 
care  &  pains,  &  take  care  that  the  Town's  part  for  payment  be  also  faith- 
fully &  seasonably  performed. 

Witness,  Nath.  Saltonstall, 

Simon  Wainwright, 
Lt  John  White, 
Capt  John  Whittier, 
Daniel  Ela," 

Upon  the  reading  of  the  above,  "  the  Town  by  their  unanimous  vote, 
without  any  one  voting  to  the  contrary,  granted  their  acceptance  of  the 
Committee's  return,  above  written,  and  of  the  New  meeting  house  accord- 
ing thereunto." 

It  was  then  long  debated.whether  a  committee  should  be  chosen  "  to 
seat  the  people  in  the  long  seats  in  the  new  meeting  house  hefoi-e  it  shovld 
he  met  in,"  but  being  opposed,  no  vote  was  taken.--' 

The  town  then  formally  voted  that  the  new  meeting-house  should  be  the 
place  where  the  people  should  in  future  "  meet  and  attend  for  the  constant 
worship  of  God." 

"  From  this,  it  is  evident  that  no  meetings  had  as  yet  been  held  in  the  new  house,  notwithstanding  the 
vote  of  the  previous  fall. 


176  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

Immediately  upon^  this,  "  Joseph  Peasely  &c.  moving  that  the  Town 
•would  allow  him  &  others  to  meet  at  the  new  meeting  house  for,  and  in 
their  way  of  worship  :  which  is  accounted  to  be  for  Quakers :  It  was  read 
&  refused  to  be  voted  upon."  ' 

November  20th,  a  meeting  was  called  to  choose  a  committee  "to  place 
or  seat  the  people  in  the  new  meeting  house,  that  they  may  know  where  to 
sit,  &  not  disorderly  crowd  upon  one  another,  and  be  uncivil  in  the  time 
of  God's  worship." 

Such  a  committee  was  accordingly  chosen,  and  instructed  how  to  proceed 
in  assigning  seats  to  the  inhabitants.  A  committee  was  also  chosen,  to 
seat  the  first  committee,  "  so  that  there  may  be  no  grumbling  at  them,  for 
picking  for,  and  placing  themselves."  The  seating  committee  were  subse- 
quently allowed  six  shillings  each  for  performing  that  duty. 

Having  at  last,  after  years  of  eifort,  and  man}'  warm  discussions,  pleas- 
antly and  contentedly  settled  themselves  in  their  new  and  commodious 
meeting-house,  the  town  bid  adieu  to  the  old  one  in  the  following  lan- 
guage :  — 

"It  is  voted  and  granted  that  Capt  Samuel  Ayer,  &.  Nath:  Saltonstall 
be,  and  are  hereby  empowered  to  the  best  advantage  they  can  to  dispose 
of  our  old  meeting  house,  for  the  public  benefit  of  the  said  Town,  for  the 
use  of  a  school  house,  or  a  watch-house,  or  a  house  of  shelter  or  shed  to  set 
horses  in,  for  all  or  any  one,  or  more  of  them  as  they  can  meet  with  chap- 
men." 

This  is  the  last  we  hear  of  the  old  meeting-house,  where,  for  half  a  cen- 
tury, the  good  people  of  the  town  had  regularly  assembled  from  week  to 
week,  for  divine  worship ;  and  around  which,  it  would  seem,  some  of  their 
most  pleasant  and  cherished  thoughts  and  recollections  must  have  clustered. 
"  A  shed  to  set  horses  in  !  "  Sad,  indeed,  was  the  fate  of  the  little  pio- 
neer meeting-house  of  Pentucket. 

A  view  of  the  second  meeting-house,  taken  after  a  steeple  had  been 
added,  was,  many  years  afterward,  painted  on  a  panel  over  the  mantle- 
piece  in  the  front  room  of  the  "  Harrod  House,"  which  stood  a  little  north  of 
the  present  Town  Hall.  In  order  to  preserve  the  painting,  the  panel  was  sub- 
sequently cut  out,  and  has  been  carefully  preserved  in  the  family  to  this 
time.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Charles  H.  Stebbins,  Esq.,  of  Staten 
Island,  (a  grandson  of  Mr.  Harrod,)  who  kindly  furnished  the  drawing 
from  which  our  engraving  is  executed.     The  painting  must  have  been  made 

"  Joseph  Peaslcc  (or  Peasely)  was  the  son  of  Joseph,  an  emisrant  settler,  who  was  mado  a  freeman  in 
1642 ;  settled  in  Newbury ;  went  to  Haverhill  previous  to  1616 ;  thence  to  Salisbury,  (now  Amesbury) 
where  he  died  December  3,  1660. 


mstOHY    OF    HAVERHILL.  177 

behteen  1750  and  176G.  The  building  near  the  meeting-hotise,  was 
probably  the  one  erected  in  1723,  for  the  double  purpose  of  a  watch- 
house  and  a  school-house. 


The  Puritan  Sabbath  in  the  villages  of  N«w  England  commenced  on 
Saturday  afternoon.  No  labor  was  performed  on  the  evening  which  prece- 
ded the  Lord's  day.  Early  on  Sunday  morning  the  blowing  of  a  horn  in 
some  places  announced  that  the  hour  of  worship  was  at  hand.  In  other 
villages,  a  flag  was  hung  out  of  the  rude  building  occupied  by  the  church. 
At  Cambridge,  a  drum  was  beat  in  military  style ;  at  Salem,  a  bell  indi- 
cated the  opulence  of  that  city. 

The  public  religious  services  usually  commenced  at  nine  in  the  mornings 
and  occupied  six  to  eight  hours,  divided  by  an  intermission  of  one  hour 
for  dinner.  The  people  collected  (|uite  punctually,  as  the  law  compelled 
their  attendance,  and  there  was  a  heavy  fin«  for  any  one  that  rode  fast  to 
meeting,  The  sexton  called  upon  the  minister  and  escorted  him  to  church 
in  the  same  fashion  that  the  Sheriff  now  conducts  the  Judge  into  our  State 
Courts. 

There  were  few  pews  in  the  churches,  and  the  congregation  had  places  as- 
signed them  upon  the  rude  benches,  at  the  annual  town  meeting,  according 
to  their  age,  importance,  and  social  standing,  A  person  was  fined  if  he 
occupied  the  seat  of  another.  Our  local  histories  reveal  that  pride,  envy, 
and  jealousy,  were  active  passions  among  the  men  of  olden  times,  and  it 
was  a  delicate  and  difficult  business  to  "  seat  the  meeting-house,"  as  it  was 
quaintly  called, 
23 


17S  HISTORY   OF   nAVEEniLt, 

Many  of  the  early  churches  of  New  England  had  two  clergymen  •■ —  one, 
who  was  called  the  pastor;  the  other,  the  teacher.  The  congregation 
assembled  at  an  early  hour  —  never  later  than  nine  o'clock.  After  prayer, 
a  chapter  from  the  Bible  was  read  by  one  of  the  ministers,  and  expounded 
at  length.  In  many  of  the  churches,  however,  the  Bible  was  not  read  at 
all,  and  it  took  years  of  agitation  to  carry  that  innovation.  A  psalm  in 
metre  was  next  sung,  which  was  dictated  line  by  line  to  the  congregation. 
This  service  was  usually  performed  by  one  of  the  deacons.  The  preacher 
did  not  take  part  in  the  introductory  services. 

The  baptisms,  cases  of  church  discipline  and  collections,  always  took 
place  in  the  afternoon.  The  "  long  "  prayer  usually  occupied  from  an  hour 
to  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  many  of  the  sermons  of  this  period  make  from. 
a  hundred  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  pages.  There  was  a  contribution  every 
Sunday,  preceded  by  an  appeal  from  one  of  the  deacons.  The  boxes  were 
not  carried  around,  but  the  congregation  arose  and  proceeded  t)  the  dea- 
con's seat,  and  deposited  their  offerings.  The  magistrates  and  "brief 
gentlemen  "  walked  up  first,  the  elders  next,  and  then  followed  the  •'com- 
mon people." 

Thfe  trials  of  ecclesiastical  offenders,  at  the  close  of  the  services,  often 
afforded  much  excitement  and  amusement ;  for  some  offences  a  particular 
dress  was  worn,  and  the  "  confession"  of  the  offender  was  listened  to  with 
much  interest.  Oftentimes  the  public  services  were  continued  until  after 
sunset.  After  the  benediction,  the  ministers  passed  out  of  the  church, 
bowing  to  people  on  both  sides  of  the  aisle,  as  they  all  sat  in  silence  until 
the  clergymen  and  their  families  had  gone  out.  Few  persons,  we  imagine, 
would  be  willing  to  go  back  to  these  Sunday  ceremonies  of  the  Puritau 
Sabbath, 


HISTOKT    OF   HAYERHILIu  179 


CHAPTER  XIIL 


1695  TO  1700. 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  preceding  chapter,  we  omitted  matters  of  the 
gravest  importance,  in  order  to  give  a  connected  account  of  the  locating 
and  building  of  the  second  meeting-house  in  the  town  ;  and  we  therefore 
return  to  the  record  of  1695,  to  complete  our  history  of  events,  during  the 
period  mentioned. 

The  tomahawk  and  the  scalping  knife  were  not  yet  laid  aside,  and  the 
frontier  towns  continued  to  be  laid  under  tribute  for  victims  to  satiate 
savage  vengeance. 

The  first  appearance  of  the  In-dians  this  season,  (1695)  was  at  Exeter, 
where  two  persons  were  killed,  July  7.  The  next  was  at  Billerica,  August 
5,  when  ten  were  killed  and  five  carried  away  captive.  About  the  same 
'time,  two  persons  were  wounded  in  this  town,'--  and  two  boys  were  caj^- 
tured.     The  following  account  of  the  latter,  we  copy  from  Miric/c :  — 

"  Early  in  the  fall,  a  party  of  Indians  appeared  in  the  northerly  part 
of  the  town,  where  they  surprised  and  made  prisoners  of  Isaac  Bradley, 
aged  fifteen,  and  Joseph  AYhittaker,  aged  eleven,  who  were  at  work  in  the 
open  fields  near  Joseph  Bradley's  house.f  The  Indians  instantly  retreated 
with  their  prisoners,  without  committing  any  further  violence,  and  pui'sued 
their  journe}^  through  the  wilderness  until  they  arrived  at  their  homes,  on 
the  shores  of  the  Winnipisoge.  Isaac,  says  tradition,  was  rather  small  in 
stature,  but  full  of  vigor,  and  very  active ;  and  he  certainly  possessed 
more  shrewdness  than  most  of  the  boys  of  that  age.  But  Joseph  was  a 
large,  overgrown  boy,  and  exceedingly  clumsy  in  his  movements. 

"  Immediately  after  their  arrival  at  the  Lake,  the  two  boys  were  placed 
in  an  Indian  family,  consisting  of  the  man,  his  squaw,  and  two  or  three 
children.     "While  they  were  in  this  situation,  they  soon  became  so  well 

•  Belknap.  The  persons  here  alluded  to  were,  without  doubt,  two  children  of  Abraham  Whittaker, 
as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  extract  from  the  record  of  March  6,  170j :  — 

"At  the  motion  of  Capt.  Saml  Aycr,  voted  that  the  present  selectmen  on  tho  Town's  cost  pay 
Doctr  Bradstreet  for  what  he  did  for  Abraham  Whittaker's  children  towards  their  cure;  and  also  to 
pay  John  Stephens  son.  for  digijiag  a  grave  for  some  of  the  said  Whittaker's  family,  which  were  killed  by 
the  Indians." 

The  digging  of  the  gi-ave  was  probably  for  Whittaker's  wife,  Hannah,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
July  18,  1692. 

t  Bradley  lived  off  the  Parsonaj^e  Koad,  near  the  northerly  brook.  Whittaker  lived  nearly  due  west 
from  Bradley's,  on  the  Derry  Road,  but  was  at  the  time  with  Isaac  Bradley,  at  the  place  above  mentioned. 


180  HISTORY    or    IIATERHILr>. 

acquainted  with  the  language,  that  they  learned  from  the  occasional  con- 
versations carried  on  in  their  presence,  between  their  master  and  the 
neighboring  Indians  of  the  same  tribe,  that  they  intended  to  carry  them 
to  Canada,  the  following  spring.  This  discovery  was  very  afflicting  to 
them.  If  their  designs  were  carried  into  execution,  they  knew  that  there 
would  be  but  little  chance  for  them  to  escape ;  and  from  that  time  the 
active  mind  of  Isaac  was  continually  planning  a  mode  to  effect  it.  A 
deep  and  unbroken  wilderness,  pathless  mountains,  and  swollen  and  almost 
impassable  rivers,  lay  between  them  and  their  beloved  homes ;  and  the 
boys  feared,  if  they  were  carried  still  further  northward,  that  they  should 
never  again  hear  the  kind  voice  of  a  father,  or  feel  the  fervent  kiss  of  an 
affectionate  mother,  or  the  fond  embrace  of  a  beloved  sister.  They  feared, 
should  they  die  in  a  strange  land,  that  there  would  be  none  to  close  their 
eyes  —  none  to  shed  for  them  the  tear  of  affection  —  none  to  place  the 
gi-een  turf  on  their  graves  —  and  none  who  would  fondly  treasure  up  their 
memories. 

Such  were  the  melancholy  thoughts  of  the  young  boys,  and  they  deter- 
mined to  escape  before  their  masters  started  with  them  for  Canada.  The 
winter  came  with  its  snow  and  wind — the  spring  succeeded,  with  its  early 
buds  and  flowers,  and  its  pleasant  south  wind  —  and  still  they  were  pris- 
oners. Within  that  period,  Isaac  was  brought  nigh  to  the  grave  —  a 
burning  fever  had  raged  in  his  veins,  and  for  many  days  he  languished  on 
a  bed  of  sickness  ;  but  by  the  care  of  the  squaw,  his  mistress,  who  treated 
them  both  with  considerable  kindness,  he  recovered.  Again  he  felt  a 
strong  desire  to  escape,  which  increased  with  his  strength ;  and  in  April 
he  matured  a  plan  for  that  purpose.  He  appointed  a  night  to  put  it  in 
execution,  without  informing  his  companion,  till  the  day  previous,  when 
he  told  him  of  his  intentions.  Joseph  wished  to  accompany  him  ;  to  this 
Isaac  demurred,  and  said  to  him,  "I'm  afraid  you  won't  wake."  Joseph 
promised  that  he  would,  and  at  night  they  laid  down  in  their  master's 
wigwam,  in  the  midst  of  his  family.  Joseph  soon  fell  asleep,  and  began 
to  snore  lustily  ;  but  there  was  no  sleep  for  Isaac  —  his  strong  desire  to 
escape  —  the  fear  that  he  should  not  succeed  in  his  attempt,  and  of  the 
punishment  that  would  doubtless  be  inflicted  if  he  did  not —  and  the  dan- 
ger, hunger  and  fatigue  that  awaited  him,  all  were  vividly  painted  in  his 
imagination,  and  kept  sleep  or  even  drowsiness  far  from  him.  His  daring 
attempt  was  euvii'oned  with  darkness  and  danger  —  he  often  revolved  it 
in  his  mind,  yet  his  resolution  remained  unshaken.  At  length  the  mid- 
night came,  and  its  holy  stillness  rested  on  the  surrounding  forest ;  —  it 
passed — and  slowly  and  cautiously  he  arose.     All  was  silent  save  the 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  181 

deep  drawn  breath  of  the  savage  sleepers.  The  voice  of  the  wind  was 
scarcely  audible  on  the  hills,  and  the  moon,  at  times,  would  shine  brightly 
through  the  scattered  clouds,  and  silver  the  broad  lake,  as  though  the  robe 
of  an  angel  had  fallen  on  its  sleeping  waters. 

Isaac  stepped  softly  and  tremblingly  over  the  tawny  bodies,  lest  they 
should  awake  and  discover  his  design,  and  secured  his  master's  fire-works, 
and  a  portion  of  his  moose-meat  and  bread  ;  these  he  carried  to  a  little 
distance  from  the  wigwam,  and  concealed  them  in  a  clump  of  bushes.  He 
then  returned,  and  bending  over  Joseph,  who  had,  all  this  time,  been  snor- 
ing in  his  sleep,  carefully  shook  him.  Joseph,  more  asleep  than  awake, 
turned  partly  over,  and  asked  aloud,  "what  do  you  want?"  This  egre- 
gious blunder  alarmed  Isaac,  and  he  instantly  laid  down  in  his  proper 
place,  and  began  to  snore  as  loudly  as  any  of  them.  Soon  as  his  alarm 
had  somewhat  subsided,  he  again  arose,  and  listened  long  for  the  heavy 
breath  of  the  sleepers.  He  determined  to  fly  from  his  master,  before  the 
morning  dawned.  Perceiving  that  they  all  slept,  he  resolved  to  make  his 
escape,  without  again  attempting  to  awake  Joseph,  lest,  by  his  thoughtless- 
ness, he  should  again  put  him  in  jeopardy.  He  then  arose  and  stepped 
softly  out  of  the  wigwam,  and  walked  slowly  and  cautiously  from  it.  until 
he  had  nearly  reached  the  place  where  his  provisions  were  concealed,  when 
he  heard  footsteps  approaching  hastily  behind  him.  With  a  beating  heart 
he  looked  backward,  and  saw  Joseph,  who  had  aroused  himself,  and  find- 
ing that  his  companion  had  gone,  concluded  to  follow.  They  then  secured 
the  fire-works  and  provisions,  and  without  chart  or  compass,  struck  into 
the  woods  in  a  southerly  direction,  aiming  for  the  distant  settlement  of 
Haverhill.  The}''  ran  at  the  top  of  their  speed  until  day-light  appeared, 
when  they  concealed  themselves  in  a  hollow  log,  deeming  it  too  dangerous 
to  continue  their  journey  in  the  day  time. 

Their  master,  when  he  awoke  in  the  morning,  was  astonished  to  find  his 
prisoners  had  escaped,  and  immediately  collected  a  small  party  with  their 
dogs,  and  pursued  them.  The  dogs  struck  upon  the  tracks,  and  in  a  short 
time  came  up  to  the  log  where  the  boys  were  concealed,  when  they  made  a 
stand,  and  began  a  loud  barking.  The  boys  trembled  with  fear  lest  they 
should  be  re-captured,  and  perhaps  fall  beneath  the  tomahawk  of  their 
enraged  master.  In  this  situation,  they  hardly  knew  what  was  best  to  do 
—  but  they  spoke  kindly  to  the  dogs,  who  knew  their  voices,  ceased  bark- 
ing, and  wagged  their  tails  with  delight.  They  then  threw  before  them 
all  the  moose-meat  they  had  taken  from  the  wigwam,  which  the  dogs  in- 
stantly seized,  and  began  to  devour  it  as  though  they  highly  relished  so 
choice  a  breakfast.     While  they  were  thus  employed,  the  Indians  made 


182  niSTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

tlicir  appearance,  and  passed  close  to  the  log  in  which  they  were  concealed, 
without  noticing  the  craploj^mcnt  of  their  dogs.  The  hoys  saw  them  as 
they  passed,  and  were  nearly  bi'eathless  with  anxiety.  They  followed 
them  with  their  eyes  till  they  were  out  of  sight,  and  hope  again  took  pos- 
session of  their  bosoms.  The  dogs  soon  devoured  their  meat,  and  trotted 
after  their  masters. 

They  lay  in  the  log  during  the  day,  and  at  night  pursued  their  journey, 
taking  a  different  route  from  the  one  travelled  by  the  Indians.  They 
made  only  one  or  two  meals  on  their  bread,  and  after  that  was  gone  they  were 
obliged  to  subsist  on  roots  and  buds.  On  the  second  day  they  concealed 
themselves,  but  travelled  the  third  night  and  day  without  resting ;  and  on 
that  day,  towards  night,  they  luckily  killed  a  pigeon  and  a  turtle,  a  part 
of  which  they  ate  raw,  not  daring  to  build  a  fire,  lest  they  should  be  dis- 
covei'cd.  The  fragments  of  their  unsavory  meal  they  carried  with  them, 
and  ate  of  them  as  their  hunger  required,  making  their  dessert  on  such 
roots  as  they  happened  to  find.  They  continued  their  journey  night  and 
day  as  fast  as  their  wearied  and  mangled  legs  would  carry  them.  On  the 
sixth  day,  they  struck  into  an  Indian  path  and  followed  it  till  night,  when 
they  suddenly  came  within  sight  of  an  Indian  encampment,  saw  their  sav- 
age enemy  seated  around  the  fire,  and  distinctly  heard  their  voices.  This 
alarmed  them  exceedingly  ;  and  wearied  and  exhausted  as  they  were, 
they  had  rather  seek  an  asylum  in  the  wide  forest,  and  die  within  the 
shadow  of  its  trees,  than  trust  to  the  kindness  of  foes  whose  bosoms  had 
never  been  moved  by  its  silent  workings.  They  precipitately  fled,  fearing 
lest  they  should  be  discovered  and  pursued,  and  all  night  retraced  their 
steps.  The  morning  came  and  found  them  seated  side  by  side  on  the  bank 
of  a  small  stream,  their  feet  torn  and  covered  with  blood,  and  each  of  them 
weeping  bitterly  over  his  misfortunes.  Thus  far  their  hearts  had  been 
filled  with  courage,  and  their  hopes  grew,  and  were  invigorated  with  the 
pleasant  thoughts  of  home,  as  they  flitted  vividly  across  their  minds.  But 
now  their  courage  had  fled,  and  their  hopes  had  given  way  to  despair. 
They  thought  of  the  green  fields  in  which  they  had  so  often  played  —  of 
the  tall  trees  whose  branches  had  so  often  overshadowed  them  —  and  of  the 
hearth  around  which  they  had  delighted  to  gather  with  their  brothers  and 
sisters,  on  a  winter's  evening,  and  listen  to  a  story  told  by  their  parents. 
They  thought  of  these,  yea,  of  more  —  but  as  things  from  which  thc}^  were 
forever  parted —  as  things  that  had  once  given  them  happiness,  but  had 
forever  passed  awa}''. 

They  were,  however,  unwilling  to  give  up  all  further  exertions.  The 
philosophy  of  Isaac  taught  him  that  the  stream  must  eventually  lead  to  a 


n'ISTOllY    OJ   lIAVEEHlLL.  18o 

large  'body  of  water,  and  after  refreshing  themselves  with  a  few  roots,  they 
again  commenced  their  journey,  and  followed  its  windings.  They  con« 
tinued  to  follow  it  during  that  day  and  a  part  of  the  night.  On  the  eighth 
morning,  Joseph  found  himself  completely  exhausted  ;  his  limbs  were  weak 
and  mangled,  his  body  was  emaciated,  and  despair  was  the  mistress  of  his 
bosom.  Isaac  endeavored  to  encourage  him  to  proceed  ;  he  dug  roots  for 
him  to  eat,  and  brought  water  to  quench  his  thirst  - —  but  all  was  in  vain. 
He  laid  himself  down  on  the  bank  of  the  stream,  in  the  shade  of  the  bud- 
ding trees,  to  die,  far  from  his  friends,  with  none  for  companions  but  the 
howling  beasts  of  the  forest.  Isaac  left  him  to  his  fate,  and  with  a  bleed- 
ing heart,  slowly  and  wearily  pursued  his  journey.  He  had  travelled  but 
a  short  distance  when  he  came  to  a  newly  raised  building.  Eejoiced  at 
his  good  fortune,  and  believing  that  inhabitants  were  nigh,  he  immediately 
retraced  his  steps,  and  soon  found  Joseph  in  the  same  place  and  position 
in  which  he  left  him.  He  told  him  wliat  he  had  seen,  talked  very  encour- 
agingly, and  after  rubbing  his  limbs  a  long  while,  he  succeeded  in  making 
him  stand  on  his  feet.  They  then  started  together,  Isaac  part  of  the  time 
leading  him  by  the  hand,  and  part  of  the  time  carrying  lnim  on  his  back  ; 
and  in  this  manner,  with  their  naked  limbs  mangled  and  wearied  with 
travelling,  their  strength  exhausted  by  sickness,  and  their  bodies  emaciated 
almost  to  skeletons,  they  arrived  at  Saco  fort,  sometime  in  the  following- 
night. 

Thus,  on  the  ninth  night,  they  arrived  among  their  countrymen,  after 
travelling  over  an  immense  forest,  subsisting  on  a  little  bread,  on  buds  and 
berries,  and  on  one  raw  turtle  and  a  pigeon,  and  without  seeing  the  face 
of  a  friend,  or  warming  themselves  over  a  fire.  Isaac,  soon  as  he  had  re- 
gained his  strength,  started  for  Haverhill,  and  arrived  safely  at  his  father's 
dwelling,  who  had  heard  nothing  from  him  since  he  was  taken,  and  ex- 
pected never  to  see  him  again.  But  Joseph  had  more  to  suffer  —  he  was 
seized  with  a  raging  fever  soon  as  he  reached  the  fort,  and  was  for  a  long 
time  confined  to  his  bed.  His  father,  when  Isaac  returned,  went  to  Saco, 
and  brought  home  his  long  lost  son,  soon  as  his  health  permitted." 

On  the  7th  of  October,  of  the  same  fall,  one  person  was  wounded,  and 
nine  taken  captive,  at  Newbury.  This  was  the  last  Indian  depredation  of 
that  year,  and  for  the  next  eight  months  the  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity 
suffered  no  molestation  by  them,  although,  with  the  opening  of  spring, 
they  had  every  reason  to  fear  fresh  incursions.  But  the  spring  wore  away, 
and  summer  came  again,  with  no  signs  of  the  enemy.  The  settlers  now 
began  to  hope  that  they  would  once  more  be  permitted  to  rest  in  peace, 
and  suffered  their  watchfulness  and  vigilance  to  relax.     This  was  appa- 


184  UISTORY    OP    IIAVERIIlLt.. 

rently  just  what  the  cunning  savages  were  waiting  for,  and  well  did  they 
improve  their  opportunity.  On  the  2Gth  of  June,  a  large  party  fell  upon 
Portsmouth,  hilled  twenty-four,  wounded  one,  and  captured  four.  A  few 
days  afterward,  they  assaulted  Amesbury,  killed  three  persons,  burned 
three  houses,  and,  with  hellish  barbarity,  tortured  to  death  Captain  Sam- 
uel Foot.  On  the  2Gth  of  July,  Dover  was  attacked,  three  persons  killed, 
three  wounded,  and  three  taken  captive,  August  loth,  two  men, ' —  "  Old 
John  Hoyt,"  so  called,  and  a  young  man  named  Peters,  —  both  of  Ames- 
bury,  were  killed  by  the  Indians  on  the  road  between  Haverhill  and 
Andover. 

Two  days  afterward,  Jonathan  Haynes  of  this  town,  and  his  four  chil- 
dren, Mary,  Thomas,  Jonathan,  and  Joseph,  were  captured.-'  The  children 
were  in  a  field  near  Bradley's  mills,  picking  beans,  and  the  father  was 
reaping  near  by.  The  Indians  immediately  started  with  their  captives  for 
Pennacook,  (Concord,  N.  H.)  When  they  arrived,  they  divided  their 
prisoners,  and  separated,  —  one  party  taking  the  father  and  Joseph,  and 
the  other  the  remaining  children.  The  first  party  started  for  their  homes, 
in  Maine,  where  they  soon  arrived.  Their  prisoners  had  remained  with 
them  but  a  short  time,  when  they  improved  an  opportunity  to  escape. 
After  travelling  two  or  three  days,  with  scarce  anything  to  satisfy  their 
craving  appetites,  the  old  man  sunk  down  exhausted.  Finding  his  efforts 
to  encourage  his  father  were  vain,  the  son  started  onward,  and  soon  after 
coming  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  he  climbed  a  tall  tree,  to  see  if  he  could  dis- 
cover any  signs  of  civilization.  But  no  such  joyful  sight  was  his.  After 
the  first  bitter  gush  of  grief  had  passed,  and  while  he  yet  hesitated  which 
course  to  take,  his  quick  ear  caught  the  sound  of  a  sawmill !  He  listened. 
There  was  no  mistaking  that  familiar  sound,  and,  with  a  glad  heart  and 
bounding  step,  he  followed  it,  and  soon  found  himself  at  the  settlement  of 
Saco  I 

His  story  was  soon  told,  and  with  ample  assistance,  and  a  bottle  of  milk, 
he  hastened  back  to  his  father,  whom  he  found  as  he  had  left  him,  —  laid 
down  to  die,  without  the  hope  or  expectation  of  ever  again  looking  upon 
the  face  of  a  friend.  The  milk,  and  the  good  news,  revived  him,  and,  with 
considerable  difiiculty,  he  reached  Saco.  Here  they  remained  until  their 
strength  was  sufi&ciently  recruited,  when  they  started  for  Haverhill,  where 
they  soon  arrived  without  further  difficulty. 

o  Mirick  is  incorrect  in  giving  the  names  of  the  children.  The  children  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  Haynes 
were  Mary,  born  November  14,  1077;  Thomas,  born  May  14,  1680;  Jonathan,  born  September  3, 1684; 
Margaret,  born  March  3,  1687 ;  Joseph,  born  August  4,  1C89 ;  Ruth,  born  February  10,  1092  ;  Elizabeth, 
boru  March  "2,  1097. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  185 

The  party  which  took  the  other  children,  went  to  Canada,  where  they 
were  sold  to  the  French. 

As  the  tradition  is,  that  Mary  was  carried  to  Canada  on  a  hand-sled, 
we  presume  the  Indians  tarried  at  Pennacook  until  winter.  Mary  was  re- 
deemed the  following  winter,  with  one  hundred  pounds  of  tobacco.  She 
afterward  married  John  Preston,  of  Andover,  and  moved  to  Connecticut. 
She  was  living  in  "Windham,  (Conn.)  October  12,  17C0,  as  appears  by  her 
signature  to  a  deed  of  that  date.  The  boys  never  returned.  A  deed  of 
1731  speaks  of  them  as  still  in  Canada.  In  one  of  the  companies  in  the 
Canada  expedition  of  1757,  were  three  brothers  named  Haynes,  from  this 
town.  "While  in  Canada,  they  had  leave  granted  to  make  search  for  the 
captive  brothers,  and  they  found  them.  They  had  lost  their  mother  lan- 
guage completely,  and  could  only  converse  with  their  English  relatives, 
through  an  interpreter.  One  of  them  enquired  about  his  sister,  who  had 
one  of  her  fingers  accidentally  cut  off  by  a  young  lad,  the  son  of  a  neigh- 
bor, a  short  time  before  her  capture.  He  recollected  the  circumstance, 
and  asked  if  she  was  still  living.  Neither  of  them  could  be  persuaded  to 
return  with  their  relatives.-' 

Thus  far,  Haverhill  had  been  spared  the  hoiTors  of  a  general,  or  exten- 
sive attack.  Its  losses  and  sufferings  had  been  principally  from  small 
parties  of  the  enemy,  who  were  continually  prowling  around  the  frontier, 
watching  for  opportunities  to  harrass,  rob,  murder,  and  capture  the  inhabi- 
tants.    But  its  hour  for  severer  trials  was  now  near  at  hand. 

The  15th  of  March,  1697,  witnessed  one  of  the  bloodiest  forays  of  the 
whole  war,  and  this  town  was  the  victim.  On  that  day,  a  party  of  about 
twenty  Indians  came  suddenly,  and  without  warning,  upon  the  western 
part  of  the  town,  and,  with  the  swiftness  of  the  whirlwind,  made  their 
attack,  and  as  suddenly  disappeared. 

The  first  house  attacked  was  that  of  Thomas  Duston.f  Of  this  attack, 
and  the  heroic  exploits  of  Duston  and  his  wife,  there  have  been  various 
accounts  published,  and  traditions  handed  down,  which,  though   agi'eeing 

o  We  have  these  interesting  traditionary  incidents,  from  Guy  C.  Haynes,  Esq.,  of  East  Boston,  a  native 
of  Haverhill. 

t  This  name,  at  the  present  time,  is  written  in  various  ways.  It  w:is  originally  written  Durston,  and 
was  changed  to  Duston  about  the  time  of  the  above-named  Thoinas  Duston.  This  is  shown,  not  only  by 
our  Town  Records,  but  by  Duston's  petition  to  the  General  Court,  in  June,  1697.  In  the  heading  of  his 
petition,  (which  is  not  in  his  own  hand  writing )  the  name  is  written  Durstan,  and  it  is  so  written  in 
the  subsequent  proceedings  on  the  petition.  But  his  signature  to  the  petition  is  "  Du(r)stan,"  (or  perhajjs 
Du(r)stun).  The  letter  "r  "  must  have  been  interpolated  subsequent  to  his  first  signing  the  petition,  and 
we  think  it  most  probable  that  it  was  done  by  Duston  himself,  so  as  to  make  his  signature  agree  with 
the  name  as  given  in  the  heading  of  the  petition.  We  have  adopted  Duston  in  this  work,  because  it  is  so 
written,  in  almost  every  instance,  in  our  Town  Records. 

24 


185  HISTORY   or  HAVERHILL. 

in  the  main,  disagree  somewhat  in  the  detail.  Of  them  all,  we  thint  the 
account  given  by  Ecv.  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  Magnalia,  is  the  most  reliable. 
Mather  heard  the  story  directly  from  the  lips  of  Mrs.  Duston,  when  she 
was  in  Boston,  (soon  after  her  return  from  captivity,)  and  published  it 
very  soon  after.     The  following  is  his  version  - :  — 

"  On  March  15,  1697,  the  Salvages  made  a  Descent  upon  the  Skirts  of 
Haverhil,  Murdering  and  Captivng  about  Thirty-nine  Persons,  and  Burn- 
ing about  half  a  Dozen  Houses,  In  this  Broil,  one  Hannah  Dustan  hav- 
ing lain-in  about  a  Weck.f  attended  with  her  Nurse,  Mary  Neff,\  a  Widow, 
a  Body  of  terrible  Indians  drew  near  unto  the  House  where  she  lay,  with 
Designs  to  carry  on  their  Bloody  Devastations.  Her  Husband  hastened 
from  his  Employments  abroad  unto  the  relief  of  his  Distressed  Family  ;§ 
and  first  bidding  Seven  \\  of  his  Eight  Children  (which  were  from  T^vo  to 
Seventeen  years  of  age)  to  get  away  as  fast  as  they  could  unto  some  Gar- 
rison in  the  Town,  he  went  in  to  inform  his  Wife  of  the  horrible  Distress 
come  upon  them.  E'er  she  could  get  up,  the  fierce  Indians  were  got  so 
near,  that  utterly  despairing  to  do  her  any  Service,  he  ran  out  after  his 
Children  ;  resolving  that  on  the  Horse  which  he  had  with  him,  he  would 
Ride  away  with  that  which  he  should  in  this  Extremity  find  his  Affections 
to  pitch  most  upon,  and  leave  the  rest  unto  the  Care  of  the  Divine  Px'ovi- 
dence.  He  overtook  his  Children  about  Forty  Rod  from  his  Door ;  but 
then  such  was  the  Agony  of  his  Parental  Affections,  that  he  found  it  im- 
possible for  him  to  distinguish  any  one  of  them  from  the  rest ;  wherefore 
he  took  up  a  Courageous  Resolution  to  Live  &  Die  with  them  all.^    A  party 

*»  Wc  copy  directly  from  the  first  edition  of  the  il/irfywaZia,  published  in  London,  1702,  —  only  five 
years  subsequent  to  the  exploits  it  describes.    The  notes  are  ours. 
t  Her  biibe  was  born  March  9th,  1G96-7. 

I  She  was  the  daushter  of  George  Corliss,  .and  married  William  Neff;  her  husband  went  after  the 
army,  and  died  at  Pcmaquid,  in  February,  1C88.  Nefl'  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  Swasey. 
It  was  given  to  Mrs.  Ncff,  by  her  father. 

§  "  Her  Husband  was  at  work  in  the  field,  and  seeinj  the  Enemy  at  a  distance,  ran  home." — Keats 
Hist.  JVew  Eng.,  London,  17-17. 

II  Their  names  were,  Hannah,  born  August  22,  1078  ;  Elizabeth,  born  May  7,  1C80 ;  Thomas,  born  Jan- 
uary 5,  1683 ;  Nathaniel,  born  May  IG,  IGSj ;  Sarah,  born  July  4,  1688  ;  Abigail,  born  October  — ,  1690 ; 
Jonathan,  born  January  l.'j,  1691-i2;  Timothy,  born  September  1-1,1694.  Besides  these,  they  had  had 
JIary,  born  November  4,  1081;  died  October  18,  1096;  John,  born  February  2,  1686;  died  January  28, 
1090;  Mehitablc,  (twin  sister  to  Timothy,)  died  December  16,  1694;  and  Martha,  (the  babe  killed,)  born 
born  March  15,  1096-7.    They  afterward  had  Lydia,  born  October  4,  1698. 

1[  The  following  beautiful  lines,  entitled  The  Fatheu's  Choice,  are  from  the  pen  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  J.  Hale  :  — 


Kow  fly,  as  flics  the  rushing  wind- 
Urge,  ur>.'e,  thy  ligging  steed! 

The  savage  yell  is  fierce  behind, 
And  life  is  on  thy  speed. 

And  from  those  dear  ones  make  thy  choice; 
The  group  he  wildly  eyed, 


When  "  fathci !"  burst  from  every  voice, 
And  "child!"  his  heart  replied. 

There's  one  that  now  can  share  his  toil. 

And  one  he  meant  for  fame. 
And  one  that  wears  her  mother's  smile, 

And  GAS  that  bears  her  name. 


J 


HISTORY  OP   HAVERHILL. 


187 


of  Indians  came  up  with  him  ;  and  now  though  they  Fired  at  him,  and  he 
Fired  at  them,"  yet  he  Manfully  kept  at  the  Eeer  of  his  Little  Army  of 
Unarmed  Children,  while  they  marched  off  with  the  Pace  of  a  child  of  Five 
Years  Old ;  until,  by  the  Singular  Providence  of  God,  he  arrived  safe  with 
them  all  unto  a  Place  of  Safety  about  a  Mile  or  two  from  his  House.f 


And  one  will  pnittle  on  his  knee, 

Or  slumber  on  his  breast; 
And  one  whose  joj's  of  infancy. 

Are  still  by  smiles  expressed. 

They  feel  no  fear  while  he  is  near; 

He'll  shield  them  from  the  foe; 
But  oh!  his  ear  must  thrill  to  hear 

Their  shriekings,  should  he  go. 

In  vain  his  quivering  lips  would  speak. 
No  words  his  thoughts  allow ; 

There's  burning  tears  ui)on  his  cheeks 
Death's  marble  on  his  brow. 

And  twice  he  smote  his  clenched  hand- 
Then  bade  hi'i  children  fly ! 

And  turned,  and  ee'n  that  savage  band 
Cowered  at  his  wrathful  eye. 

Swift  as  the  lightning  winged  with  death, 
Ifl.ished  forth  the  quivering  flame  I 

Their  lierccst  warrior  bows  beneath 
The  father's  deadly  aim. 

Ambition  goads  the  conqueror  on. 
Hate  pointj  the  murderer's  brand — ■ 

But  love  and  duty,  these  alone 
Can  nerve  the  good  man'o  hand. 


Not  the  wild  erics,  that  vend  the  skies, 

His  heart  of  purpose  move; 
He  saves  h'S  children,  or  he  dies 

The  sacrifice  of  love. 

The  hero  may  resign  the  field. 

The  coward  raurd'rer  flee  ; 
He  cannot  fear,  he  will  not  yield. 

That  strikes,  sweet  love  for  thee. 

They  come,  they  come — ^he  heeds  no  cry. 
Save  the  soft  child-like  wail, 

"0  father  save!"  "My  children,  fly!" 
Were  mingled  on  the  gale. 

And  firmer  still  he  drew  his  breath. 

And  sterner  fi.isird  his  eye. 
As  fast  he  hurls  the  leaden  death. 

Still  shouting,  "children  fly !" 

No  sliadow  on  his  brow  appeared, 
Nor  tremor  shook  his  frame, 

Sa\'e  when  at  intervals  he  heard 
Some  trembler  lisp  his  name. 

In  vain  the  foe,  those  fiends  unchained, 

Like  famished  tigers  chafe. 
The  shultered  roof  is  near'd,  is  gain'd 

All,  all  the  dear  one's  safe! 


°  "  The  Indians  pursued  him  all  the  while,  but  he  kept  in  the  rear  of  his  little  Flock  and  -when  any  of 
them  came  within  reach  of  his  Gun,  he  presented  it  at  them,  which  made  them  retreat." — ^'eal. 

"A  small  party  of  the  Indians  pursued  Mr.  Dustin,  as  he  fled  from  the  house,  and  sonn  overtook  him 
and  his  flying  children.  They  did  not,  however,  approach  very  near,  for  they  saw  his  determination,  and 
feared  the  vengeance  of  a  father, — but  skulked  behind  the  trees  and  fences,  and  fired  upon  him  and  his 
little  company.  Mr.  Dustin  dismounted  from  his  horse,  placed  himself  in  the  rear  of  his  children,  and 
returned  the  fire  of  the  enemy  often  and  witli  good  success.  In  this  manner  he  retreated  for  more 
than  a  mile,  alternately  encouraging  his  terrified  charge,  and  loading  and  firing  his  gun  until  he  lodged 
them  safely  in  a  forsaken  house.  The  Indians,  finding  that  they  could  not  conquer  h-m,  reiurned  to  their 
■companions,  expecting,  no  doubt,  that  they  should  there  find  victims,  on  which  they  might  exercise  their 
savage  cruelty. 

It  is  truly  astonishing  that  no  one  of  that  little  company  was  killed  or  wounded.  When  we  reflect  upon 
the  skill  of  the  Indians  as  marksmen,  upon  their  great  superiority  of  strength,  and  the  advantage  they 
possessed  in  skulking  behind  every  fence  and  tree,  it  cannot  but  be  confessed  that  the  arm  of  ihe  -Vlmighty 
was  outstretched  for  their  preservation.  Not  a  ball  from  the  enemy  took  cfl'cct ;  but,  so  surely,  says  tradi- 
tion, as  Mr.  Dustin  raised  his  gun  to  his  eye,  so  surely  some  one  of  the  enemy  would  welter  in  his  blood." 
—Mirick. 

"We  feel  confident  that  Neal  is  right,  and  that  Duston  did  not  fire  Jiis  gun.  Had  he  done  so,  his  pur- 
suers could  and  would  have  rushed  upon  him  before  he  could  possibly  have  re-loaded,  and  have  made  sure 
work  of  hira.  But  by  making  a  barracade  of  his  horse,  and  reserving  his  fire  —  bringing  his  trusty  gun 
quickly  to  bear  upon  the  blood-thirsty,  but  cowardly  red  devils,  as  any  of  them  chanced  to  peep  from 
behind  a  tree  or  wall  —  he  took  the  most  reasonable  and  effective  method  for  keeping  them  at  bay. 

t  Precisely  where,  and  what,  tliis  "  place  of  safety  "  was,  is  a  question  of  no  small  interest.  Mirick 
says,  that  Duston  ordered  his  children  "  to  fly  in  an  opposite  direction  from  that  in  which  the  danger  was 
approaching,"  and  that  he  finally  "lodged  them  safely  in  a  forsaken  house."  The  first  appears  reason- 
able, but  not  the  last.  A  "  forsaken  house  "  would  have  afforded  no  safer  shelter  than  his  own  roof,  from 
which  he  had  already  fled.  Again,  the  tradition  seems  always  to  have  been  that  the  place  reached  was  a 
garrison,  (Vide  Mather,  Neal,  and  others,}  and  this  appears  to  harmonize  with  the  fact  that  the  garri- 


188  HISTORY    OF   irATERIIILt. 

But  his  bouse  must  in  the  meantime  have  more  dicmal  Tragedies  acted  at 
it.  The -lVm^-sc  trying  to  escape  with  the  New-bom  Infant,  fell  into  the 
Hands  of  the  Formidable  Salvages  ;  and  those  furious  Tawnies  coming 
into  the  House,  bid  poor  Dustan  to  rise  immediately.  Full  of  Astonish- 
ment she  did  so  ;  and  sitting  down  in  the  Chimney  with  an  heart  full  of 
most  fearful  Expectation,  she  saw  the  raging  Dragons  rifle  all  that  they 
could  carry  away,  and  set  the  bouse  on  Fire.  About  Nineteen  or  Twenty 
Indians  now  led  these  away,  with  about  half  a  Score  other  English  Cap- 
tives ;  but  ere  they  had  gone  many  Steps,  they  dash'd  out  the  Brains  of 
the  Infant  against  a  Tree-' ;  and  several  of  the  other  Captives,  as  they  be- 
gan to  Tii-e  in  their  sad  Journey,  were  soon  sent  unto  their  Long  Home  ; 
the  Salvages  would  presently  Bury  their  Hatchets  in  their  Brains,  and 
leave  their  Carcases  on  the  Ground  for  Birds  and  Beasts  to  feed  upon. 
However,  Dustan  (with  her  Nurse)  notwithstanding  her  present  Condition,! 
Travelled  that  Night  about  a  Dozen  Miles,  and  then  kept  up  with  their 
New  Masters  in  a  long  Travel  of  an  Hundred  and  Fifty  Miles,  more  or 
less,J  within  a  few  Days  Ensuing,  without  any  sensible  Damage  in  their 
Health,  from  the  Hardships  of  their  Travel,  their  Lodging,  their  Diet, 
and  their  many  other  Difficulties.  These  Two  Poor  Women  were  now  in 
the  hands  of  those  whose  Tender  Mercies  are  Cruelties  ;  but  the  good  God, 
who  hath  all  Hearts  in  his  own  Hands,  heard  the  sighs  of  these  Prisoners^ 
and  gave  them  to  find  unexpected  Favor  from  the  Master  who  laid  claim 
nnto  them.     That  Indian  Family  consisted  of  Twelve  Persons  ;  Two  Stout 

sons  were  expressly  designed  for,  — were  always  considered,  and  were  in  reality,  — places  of  safety.  As 
the  Indians  must  have  attacked  from  the  north,  or  west,  Diiston  would  naturally  flee  toward  the  south, 
or  cast, — in  which  direction  were  all  the  garri$o)is  then  in  the  town.  And,  whether  he  lived  on  the 
easterly  or  westerly  side  of  Little  River  at  the  time,  the  nearest  garrisons  were  those  of  Onisephorus  Marsh, 
(about  half-tvay  up  "Pecker's  Hill,")  and  Jon-ithan  Emerson,  (on  the  west  corner  of  Winter  and 
Harrison  Streets).  To  one  of  these,  therefore,  he  must  have  directed  his  fliglrt.  Among  all  the  versions 
of  tlic  tradition  which  have  reached  us,  we  find  but  one  which  unequivocatly  designates  the  place  reached, 
and  that  one  points  to  the  garrison  of  Mr.  Marsh.  This  tradition  comes  to  us  through  Moses  Merrill, 
Esq.,  (of  which  mure  anon,)  and  we  hivve  no  doubt  of  its  truthfulness. 

°  Mirick  says,  "We  have  been  informed  by  a  gentleman,  that  he  heard  his  grandmother  who  lived  to 
an  advanced  age,  often  relate  this  fact,  and  that  she  had  frequently  ate  apples  that  grew  on  the  same 
tree.  We  have  also  been  informed  by  an  aged  female,  that  she  had  often  heard  her  mother  tell  of  eating 
of  the  fruit  of  the  same  tree."  All  the  traditions  which  locate  this  tree  at  all,  agree  in  locating  it  on  the 
west  side  of  Little  River. 

t  Mrs.  Dustin  was  barely  allowed  time  to  dress  herself,  and  was  even  compelled  to  start  on  the  long 
journiy,  at  that  inclement  season,  with  but  one  shoe. 

X  The  home  of  the  Indian  who  claimed  Mrs  Duston  and  Mrs.  Xeff  as  his  captives,  was  n  small  island 
nt  the  junction  of  the  Contuocook  and  Merrimack  rivers,  a  few  miles  above  Concord,  N.  H.  To  this  place 
they  were  taken.  The  island  has  long  since  been  known  an  Dustin' s  Island.  The  Northern  Railroad 
now  passes  directly  across  it.  We  agree  with  the  compiler  of  the  excellent  History  of  Concord,  y.  II., 
(Dr.  Bouton,)  th.it  a  monument  to  Mrs.  Duston  should  be  erected  on  the  above  island; — that  being  the 
scene  of  her  remarkable  exploit. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  189 

Men,  Three  "Women,  and  Seven  Children ;  and  for  the  Shame  of  many  an 
English  Family,  that  has  the  Character  of  Prayerless  upon  it,  1  must  now 
Publish  what  these  poor  Women  assure  me:  'Tis  this,  in  Obedience  to 
the  instructions  which  the  French  have  given  them,  they  would  have 
Prayers  in  their  Family  no  less  than  Thrice  every  Day  ;  in  the  Morning, 
at  Noon,  and  in  the  Evening  ;  nor  would  they  ordinarily  let  their  Chil- 
dren Eat  or  Sleep  without  first  saying  their  Prayers.  Indeed  these  Idolators 
were  like  the  rest  of  their  whiter  Brethren  Persecutors,  and  would  not  en- 
dure that  these  poor  Women  should  retire  to  their  English  Prayers,  if  they 
could  hinder  them.-'  Nevertheless,  the  poor  Women  had  nothing  but  Fer- 
vant  Prayers  to  make  their  Lives  Comfortable  or  Tolerable  ;  and  by  being 
daily  sent  out  upon  Business,  they  had  Opportunities  together  and  asunder 
to  do  like  another  Hannah,  in  Pouring  out  their  Souls  before  the  Lord  : 
Nor  did  their  praying  Friends  among  our  selves  forbear  to  Pour  out  Sup- 
lications  for  them.  Now  they  could  not  observe  it  without  some  Wonder, 
that  their  Indian  Master  sometimes  when  he  saw  them  dejected  would  say 
u.nto  them,  What  need  you  Trouble  your  self^  If  your  God  loill  have 
you  delivered,  you  shall  he  so !  And  it  seems  our  God  would  have  it  so 
to  be.  This  Indian  Family  was  now  Travelling  with  these  Two  Captive 
AVomen  (and  an  English  Youth  taken  from  Worcester  a  year  and  a  half 
before,)  unto  a  Eendezvouz  of  Salvages,  which  they  call  a  Town,  some- 
where beyond  Penacook  ;f  and  they  still  told  these  poor  Women,  that  when 
they  came  to  this  Town  they  must  be  Stript,  and  Scourg'd  and  Piun  the 
Gantlet  through  the  whole  Army  of  Indians.  They  said  this  was  the  Fash- 
ion when  the  Captives  first  came  to  a  Town  ;  and  they  derided  some  of  the 
Faint-hearted  English,  which  they  said,  fainted  and  swoon'd  away  under 
the  Torments  of  this  Discipline.  J  But  on  April  30,§  while  they  were  yet, 
it  may  be,  about  an  Hundred  and  Fifty  Miles  from  the  Indian  Town,  a 
little  before  break  of  Day,  when  the  whole  Crew  was  in  a  Dead  Sleep, 
(Reader,  see  if  it  prove  not  so  !)  one  of  these  Women  took  up  a  Resolution 

°  Their  master,  some  years  before,  had  lived  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Mr.  Rowlandson,  of  Lancaster,  and 
Ue  told  Mrs.  Duston  that  "  when  he  prayed  the  English  way  he  thought  that  it  was  good,  but  now  he 
found  the  French  way  better." — Sewell's  Diary. 

t  They  had  not  yet  started  for  the  rendezvous,  but  the  captives  were  informed  that  they  would  soon 
start.  The  place  of  destination  was  Canada,  where  the  Indian  expected  to  obtain  from  the  French  a 
handsome  sum  for  his  captives. 

I  The  jjauntlett  consisted  of  two  files  of  Indians,  of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  ngcs,  containing  .all  that  could 
be  mustered  in  the  village ;  and  the  unhappy  prisoners  were  obliged  to  run  between  them,  when  they  were 
scoffed  at  and  beaten  by  each  one  as  they  passed,  and  were  sometimes  marks  at  which  the  younger 
Indians  threw  their  hatchets.  This  cruel  custom  was  often  practised  by  many  of  the  tribes,  and  not  nufre- 
quently  the  poor  prisoners  sunk  beneath  it. 

§  This  would  make  their  stay  at  the  island  about  five  weeks,  or  a  little  more. 


190  msTORT  or  nAVERniLL. 

to  imitate  the  Action  of  ./ae/upon  Sisera,-  and  being  where  she  had  not 
her  own  Life  secured  by  any  Lmv  unto  her,  she  thought  she  was  not  foi-- 
biddcn  by  any  Laiv  to  take  away  the  Life  of  the  Murderers,  by  whom  her 
Chikl  had  been  Butchered.  She  heartened  the  Nurse  and  the  Youth  to 
assist  her  in  this  Enterprise  ;  and  all  furnishing  themselves  with  Hatchets 
for  the  purpose,  they  struck  such  home  Blows  upon  the  Heads  of  their 
Sleeping  Oppressors,  that  ere  they  could  any  of  them  struggle  into  any 
effectual  resistance,  at  the  Feet  of  those  poor  Prisoners,  theyhoiv^d,  they  fell, 
they  lay  doxon  ;  at  their  Feet,  they  bowed,  they  fell ;  where  they  bowed, 
there  they  fell  down  Dead.  Only  one  Squaw  escaped  sorely  AVoundedf 
from  them  in  the  Dark ;  and  one  Boy,  whom  they  reserved  asleep,  intend- 
ing to  bring  him  away  with  them,  suddenly  wak'd  and  Scuttled  away  from 
this  Desolation.^  But  cutting  off  the  Scalps  of  these  Ten  Wretches,  they 
came  off,§  and  received  Fifty  Pounds  from  the  General' Assembly  of  the 

^  Mrs.  Duston  planned  the  mode  of  escape,  and  prevailed  upon  her  nurse  and  the  boy  to  join  her.  The 
Indians  kept  no  watch — for  the  boy  had  lived  with  them  so  long  thty  coTisidcred  him  as  one  of  their 
children,  and  they  did  not  expect  that  the  women,  unadvised  and  unaided,  would  attempt  to  escape, 
when  success,  at  the  best,  appeared  so  desperate. 

,0a  the  day  previous,  Mrs.  Duston  wished  to  learn  on  what  part  of  the  body  the  Indians  struck  their 
victims  when  they  would  despatch  them  suddenly,  and  how  they  took  oft"  a  scalp.  With  this  view  she 
instructed  the  boy  to  make  inquiries  of  one  of  the  men.  Accordingly,  at  a  convenient  opportunity,  he 
asked  one  of  them  where  he  would  strike  a  man,  if  he  would  kill  him  instantlv,  .-md  how  to  take  oft'  a 
scalp.  The  man  laid  his  fmger  on  his  temple — "strike  'em  there,"  said  he;  and  then  instructed  liim  how 
to  scalp.  (1)     The  boy  then  communicated  his  information  to  Mrs  Duston. 

(I)  SewcU's  Diary,  and  tradition. 

t  She  received  seven  hatchet  wounds  and  was  left  for  dead,  but  jumped  up  and  ran  into  the  thicket  !— 
Vide  deposition  of  Mrs.  Sradley. 

X  Mrs.  Duston  kilkd  her  master,  and  Samuel  Lennardson  despatched  the  very  Indian  who  told  him 
where  to  strike,  and  how  to  take  oft'  a  scalp !     The  deed  was  accomplished  before  the  day  began  to  break. 

§  After  performing  the  bloody  work,  Mrs.  Duston  gathered  up  what  little  provisions  there  were  in  the 
wigwam, — taking  the  gun  of  her  dead  m.aster,  and  the  tomahawk(l)  with  which  she  killed  him — and, 
Bcuttlin^;  all  the  canoes,  e.xcept  one,  she  embarked  in  that,  with  Mrs.  Ncft',  and  Lennardson,  on  the  waters 
of  the  Merrimack,  to  seek  their  way  to  Haverhill.  They  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  when  Mrs. 
Duston,  perceived  that  they  had  neglected  to  take  the  scalps,  and  fearing  lest  her  neighbors — should  she 
ever  arrive  at  her  home — would  not  credit  her  story,  she  hastened  back  with  her  companions  to  the  scene 
of  death,  touk  oft'  the  scaliis  of  the  slain,  and  wrapped  them  in  a  piece  of  linen  cloth  (2)  that  was  taken 
frotii  her  house  at  the  time  of  her  capture.  With  these  bloody  witnesses  of  their  feat,  they  hastened  again 
ou  thtir  downward  course  to  Haverhill. 

"A  long  and  weary  journey  was  before  them,  but  they  commenced  it  with  chcerfnl  hearts,  each  alter- 
nately rowing  and  steering  thrir  little  bark.  Though  they  had  escaped  from  the  clutches  of  their  unfeel- 
ing master,  still  they  were  surrounded  with  dangers.  They  were  thiuly  clad — the  sky  was  still  inclement 
— and  they  were  liable  to  be  recaptured  by  strolling  bands  of  Indians,  or  by  those  who  would  undoubtedly 
pursue  them  so  soon  as  the  squaw  and  the  boy  had  reported  their  departure,  and  the  terrible  vengeance 
they  had  taken ;    and  were  they  again  made  prisoners,  they  well  knew  that  a  speedy  death  would  follow. 

(1)  This  was  some  years  after  lost  in  the  woods,  near  Mr.  Duston's. 

(2)  This  she  afterward  divided  among  her  daughters,  and  a  part  of  it  is  still  preser\-cd  by  some  of  their 
descendants. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  191 

Province,  as  a  Eecompence  of  their  Action  ;  besides  -whicli,  they  received 
many  Presents  of  Congratulation  from  their  more  private  friends  ;  but  none 
gave  'em  a  greater  Taste  of  Bounty  than  Colonel  Nicholson,  the  Gover- 
nour  of  Maryland,  who  hearing  of  their  Action,  sent  'em  a  very  generous 
token  of  his  Favour." 

After  recovering  from  the  fatigues  of  the  journey,  Mrs.  Duston  and  her 
two  companions,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Duston,  started  for  Boston,  where 
they  arrived  on  the  21st  of  April.  They  carried  with  them  the  gun  -  and 
tomahawk,  and  their  ten  scalps  —  witnesses  that  would  not  lie.  Soon 
after  their  arrival,  Duston  presented  the  following  petition  to  the  General 
Assembly,  then  in  session  :  — 

"  To  the  Eight  Honorable  the  Lieut  Governor  &  the  Great  &  General 
assembly  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  now  convened  in 
Boston 

The  Humble  Petition  of  Thomas  Durstan  of  Haverhill  Sheweth 

That  the  wife  of  ye  petitioner  (with  one  Mary  Neff)  hath  in  her 
Late  captivity  among  the  Barbarous  Indians,  been  disposed  &  assisted  by 
heaven  to  do  an  extraordinary  action,  in  the  just  slaughter  of  so  many  of 

the  Barbarians,  as  would  by  the  law  of  the  Province  which a  few 

months  ago,  have  entitled  the  actors  unto  considerable  recompense  from  the 
Publick. 

That  the  the of  that  good  Law no  claims  to  any  such  con- 
sideration from  the  publick,  yet  your  petitioner  humbly that  the 

merit  of  the  action  still  remains  the  same  ;  &  it  seems  a  matter  of  univer- 
sall  desire  thro  the  whole  Province  that  it  should  not  pass  unrecompensed. 

And  that  your  petioner  having  lost  his  estate  in  that  calamity  wherein 
his  wife  was  carried  into  her  captivity  render  him  the  fitter  object  for  what 

This  array  of  danger,  however,  did  not  appall  them,  for  home  was  their  beacon  light,  and  the  thoughts  of 
their  fire-sidcs,  nerved  their  hearts.  They  continued  to  drop  silently  down  the  river,  keeping  a  good  look- 
out for  strolling  Indians;  and  in  the  night  two  of  them  only  slept,  while  the  third  managed  the  boat.  In 
this  manner  they  pursued  their  journey,  until  they  arrived  safely,  with  their  trophies,  at  their  homes, 
totally  unexpected  by  their  mourning  frieods,  who  supposed  they  had  been  butchered  by  their  ruthless 
conquerors.  It  must  truly  have  been  an  affecting  meeting  for  Mrs.  Duston,  who  supposed  that  nil  she 
loved — all  she  held  dear  on  earth — were  laid  in  the  silent  tomb." — Mirick. 

'^  This  gun  continued  in  possession  of  the  male  line  to  the  year  1859,  when  it  was  presented  to  the 
Biistin  Monument  Association  of  this  town,  by  Mrs.  Lucia  H.  Dustin,  widow  of  Thomas  Dustin,  of 
Henniker,  N.  H.    At  a  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Association,  held  July  9th,  18o9,  it  was 

"  Sesolved,  That  the  Directors  of  the  Dustin  Monument  Association  accept  with  a  lively  sensibility  the 
donation  of  the  musket,  as  an  interesting  memorial  of  the  perils  and  valor  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Haverhill. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Association  be  presented  to  Mrs.  Lucia  H.  Dustin,  of  Henniker,  N.  H., 
for  the  gift  of  this  valued  family  relic. 

Hesolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Association  be  presented  to  Mr.  George  W.  Chase  for  his  disinte- 
rested efforts  to  procure  the  musket  for  the  Association. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  transmit  copies  of  these  votes  to  Mrs.  Dustin,  and  to  Mr. 
Chase." 


192  HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL. 

consideration  the  public  Bounty  shall  judge  proper  for  what  hath  heen 
herein  done,  of  some  consequence,  not  only  unto  the  persons  more  imme- 
diately delivered,  but  also  unto  the  Generall  Interest 

Wherefore  humbly  Eequesting  a  favorable  Eegard  on  this  occasion 
Your  Petitioner  shall  pray  &;c 

ThomusDu(r)stun." 

The  petition  of  Duston  was  read  in  the  House  of  Eepresentativcs,  June 
8th,  when  it  was  "  voted  that  the  above  named  Thomas  Durstan  in  behalf 
of  his  wife  shall  be  allowed  &  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  Twenty 
five  pounds ;  &  Mary  Neff  the  sum  of  Twelve  pounds  Ten  Shillings,  and 
the  young  man  (named  Samuel  Lenerson)  concerned  in  the  same  action 
the  like  sum  of  Twelve  pounds  Ten  Shillings." 

Hannah  Duston  was  the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Hannah  (Webster) 
Emerson,  and  the  eldest  of  fifteen  children.  She  was  born  December  23, 
1657,  and  was  married  to  Thomas  Duston  December  3d,  1677,  by  whom 
she  had  thirteen  children."  The  time  of  her  death,  and  also  that  of  her 
husband,  is  uncertain.  There  is  a  tradition,  entitled  to  credit,  that  Mrs. 
Duston  survived  her  husband  some  years,  and  after  his  death  went  to  re- 
side with  her  son,  Jonathan,  who  lived  on  the  south  west  part  of  the 
original  Thomas  Duston  farm.  This  tradition  is  repeated  to  us  by  Moses 
Merrill,  Esq.,  now  above  eighty  years  of  age,  and  a  man  of  unquestioned 
veracity,  who  received  it,  when  quite  a  lad,  from  the  lips  of  the  mother  of 
Joseph  Ayer,  then  about  ninety  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Ayer  must  have  been 
born  about  the  year  1700.  She  spoke  of  the  fact,  (not  tradition)  that 
Mrs.  Duston  resided  with  her  son,  after  her  husband's  death,  and  was 
buried  from  that  son's  house.  His  house  stood  about  twenty  feet  north- 
west of  the  present  foundation  of  the  "  Dustin  Monument."  Thomas 
Duston  was  living  in  March,  1729,  and  also  his  son,  Thomas,  Jr.f  Mrs. 
Ayer  must  have  been  about  thirty  years  of  age  when  Duston  himself  died, 
and  was  certainly  old  enough  to  remember  distinctly  the  circumstances 
she  related  to  our  informant. | 

The  favorite  saying  of  an  esteemed  friend, — that  "  the  true  heroes  are 
not  always  those  who  receive  the  most  applause,"  —  seems  to  us  to  be 
especially  applicable  to  the  case  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  Duston.  In 
every  version  of  the  story  which  has  met  our  eye,  or  ear,  Thomas  Duston 

"  For  their  names,  see  note  to  a  preceeding  page. 

t  Vide  Proprietor's  Records.  Thomas,  Sen.,  was  moderator  of  most  of  their  meetings  from  1715,  to 
Jamiary,  1721-2. 

J  Mrs.  Ayer  was  the  wife  of  Peter  Ayer.  Ilcr  maiden  name  was  Lydia  Pcrley.  The  date  of  her 
marriage  is  not  given  in  the  Town  Records,  ller  first  child  was  born  October  26,  1721.  The  sixth, 
Joseph,  was  born  iu  1737. 


HISTORY   OF   nAVERIIILL.  193 

has  been  made  to  occupy  a  subordinate  position  to  tliat  of  bis  wife.  In- 
deed, in  many  cases,  his  name,  and  his  heroic  defence  of  his  children, 
would  seem  to  have  been  introduced  merely  to  identify  the  wife  and 
mother,  and  to  add  an  accessory  coloring  to  the  picture  of  her  exploit. 
But,  when  placed  side  bv  side  with  his,  the  exploit  of  his  wife,  extraordi- 
nary as  it  certainly  was,  seems  to  us  as  the  light  of  the  moon  to  the  brilliant 
rays  of  the  sun. 

Hannah  Duston,  to  escape  from  a  cruel  captivity,  —  not  from  death,  not 
from  violation  even,"  —  and  to  revenge  the  death  of  her  child  ;  with  tioo 
strong  arms  to  assist  her,  courageously  planned  the  destruction,  and  boldly 
attacked,  twelve  sleeping  savages,  seven  of  whom  were  children,  and  but 
two  of  whom  were  men.  It  was  not  with  her  a  question  of  life  and  death, 
but  of  liberty,  and  revenge. 

Thomas  Duston,  with  the  question  of  life  or  death  for  himself,  and  a 
cruel  captivity  for  his  children,  distinctly  before  him,  heroically  staked 
his  life  for  his  children  /  It  was  a  "  father's  love  "  that  nerved  his  arm, 
and  not  revenge. 

While,  therefore,  we  would  not,  wittingly,  detract  one  jot  or  tittle  from 
the  full  credit  due  the  mother,  for  her  extraordinary  feat,  we  claim  for  the 
pure  and  lofty  heroism  of  the  father,  a  larger  share  of  the  world's  ap- 
plause than  has  as  yet  been  awarded  him. 

Dr.  Dwight,  in  speaking  of  Thomas  Duston,  makes  use  of  the  following 
truthful  language :  — 

"  A  finer  succession  of  scenes  for  the  pencil  was  hardly  ever  presented 
to  the  eye,  than  is  furnished  by  the  efforts  of  this  gallant  man,  with  their 
interesting  appendages.  The  artist  must  be  destitute  indeed  of  talents 
who  could  not  engross  evei-y  heart,  as  well  as  every  eye,  by  exhibitions  of 
this  husband  and  father,  flying  to  rescue  his  w  ife,  her  infant,  and  her 
nurse,  from  the  approaching  horde  of  savages ;  attempting  on  hi^  horse  to 
select  from  his  flying  family  the  child,  which  he  was  least  able  to  spare, 
and  unable  to  make  the  selection ;  facing,  in  their  rear,  the  horde  of  hell- 
hounds ;  alternately,  and  sternly,  retreating  behind  his  inestimable  charge, 
and  fronting  the  enemy  again  ;  receiving  and  returning  their  fire ;  and 
presenting  himself,  equally,  as  a  barrier  against  murderers,  and  a  shelter 
to  the  flight  of  innocence  and  anguish.  In  the  background  of  some  or 
other  of  these  pictures  might  be  exhibited,  with  powerful  impression,  the 
kindled  dwelling ;  the  sickly  mother ;  the  terrified  nurse,  with  the  new 

'-•  Tlie  Imlians  seldom  killed,  and  never  violated  their  female  prisoners,  when  once  captured.    They  were 
eitlier  sold  to  the  French,  or  kept  for  ransom. 

25 


194  HISTORT    OF   HAYERniLL. 

born  infant  in  her  arms ;  and  tlie  furious  natives,  surrounding  them,  driv- 
ing them  forTvard,  and  displaying  the  trophies  of  savage  victory,  and  the 
insolence  of  savage  triumph." 

We  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  trace  more  fully  the  history  of  this 
heroic  man/-'  We  cannot  even  say  from  "whence  he  came.  The  name  first 
appears  in  our  town  records  among  those  who  built  cottages  between  the 
years  16G9,  and  1675;  next  we  find  it  in  a  deed  from  Thomas  Dus- 
ton  to  Peter  Green,  in  1675-6  ;  then  among  the  soldiers  in  King  Phillip's 
War,  (August,  1676)  ;  then  in  the  list  of  cottages  built  between  January, 
1675,  and  February,  1677;  then  the  marriage  of  Thomas  Duston  and 
Hannah  Emerson,  in  December,  1677  ;  and  then  we  find,  among  the  names 
of  those  who  built  cottages  between  February,  1677,  and  January,  1679, 
that  of  "  Thomas  Duston  2d."  The  name  is  first  found  in  the  record  of 
our  town  meetings,  under  date  of  June  13,  1682. 

We  think  it  probable  that  Duston  came  from  the  vicinity  of  Dover,  N.H., 
as  we  find  the  name  of  "  Thotr^as  JDurston  "  among  the  signers  of  a  letter 
to  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,  dated  Northam,  (Dover)  March  4, 1640. 
They  subscribe  themselves,  —  "We,  the  inhabitants  of  Northam."  We 
also  find  the  name  "  Tho  Dursto7i"  among  those  admitted  freemen  at 
Kittery,  in  November,  1652.  It  is  possible,  but  hardly  probable,  that  the 
latter  was  the  Thomas  Duston  of  this  town.  If  so,  he  must  have  been  at 
least  forty-six  years  of  age  at  his  marriage,  —  (after  which  he  had  a  family 
of  thirteen  children,  —  the  last  born  when  the  father  was  at  least  sixty- 
eight  years  of  age,)  —  and  at  least  one  hundred  years  of  age  at  his  death. 
All  this  is  possible,  but,  taken  together,  hardly  probable.  It  is  certain, 
however,  that  the  Thomas  Duston  of  Northam,  and  the  Thomas  Duston  of 
1697,  could  not  have  been  one  and  the  same  person. 

A  comparison  of  dates  and  incidents  in  the  meagre  record  before  us,  we 
think  favor  the  supposition  that  the  Thomas  Duston  of  1675,  and  the 
Thomas  Duston  2d,  of  1677,  were  father  and  son.  The  former  may  have 
been  the  Thomas  Duston  of  1640,  and  who  removed  to  Haverhill  between 
1669  and  1675,  with  his  son,  and  cither  died  or  removed  from  the  town 
subsequent  to  1677.f 

°  The  followiiiij  is  from  Mirick  . — *'  Thomas  Dustin  was  a  man  of  considerable  ingenui(y,  and  tradition 
says  that  he  had  a  "  vast  deal  of  mother  wit;"  that  he  possessed  unshaken  courage  and  the  purest  and 
loftiest  feelings  of  affection,  cannot  be  doubted.  It  is  said  that  he  made  his  own  almanacks,  and  further- 
more, that  he  always  made  them  on  rainy  days.  How  true  this  is,  we  will  not  attempt  to  say.  He  had 
a  grandson,  Joshua,  who  was  said  to  have  been  his  counterpart.  He  once  took  it  into  his  head  to  weave 
a  bed-quilt,  and  succeeded  in  making  an  excellent  one,  consisting  of  as  many  colors  as  Joseph's  coat. 
This  curious  relic  is  now  preserved  by  his  descendants." 

t  Since  writing  the  above,  we  have  examined  the  recently  published  Geneolof/ical  Dictionary  of  the 
early  Settlers  of  New  England,  by  James  Savage,  Uoston,  1860,  where  we  find  the  following: 

"  Pustin,  (fr  Duston,  Jusiuh,  of  Reading  1047,  had  Josiah,  born  May  14,  1656,  and  perhaps  others,  an(^ 


HISTORY    05    HAYERUILL.  195 

As  there  is  a  wide  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  location  of  Thomas 
Duston's  house,  at  the  time  his  wife  was  taken  by  the  Indians,  it  will 
doubtless  be  expected  that  reference,  at  least,  will  be  made  to  the  matter  in 
these  pages. 

In  March,  1G75,  Thomas  Duston,  of  Haverhill,  "in  consideration  upon 
exchange  of  laud,"  deeded  to  Peter  Green,  forty-five  acres  of  upland,  more 
or  less,  "  with  the  house,  orchard,  and  purtenances."  The  land  was 
bounded  on  the  east  corner  by  a  white  oak,  "  and  so  bounded  on  hack*'' 
meadow  highway."  The  northwest  corner  was  bounded  by  "  Spicket 
path."!  This  land  was  on  the  west  side  of  Little  Eiver,  but  the  descrip- 
tion will  not  apply  to  any  part  of  the  "  Thomas  Duston  farm,"  upon  which 
the  monument  to  Hannah  Duston  is  now  in  course  of  erection. 

In  August,  1697,  (five  months  after  Mrs.  Duston's  capture)  William 
Starlin,  of  Haverhill,  deeded  to  Thomas  Duston,  in  consideration  of  one 
hundred  pounds,  "my  Ten  acres  of  land  who  I  purchased  of  ye  said 
Town,"  — lying  at  a  place  called  ye  fishing  Eiver  neer  ye  house  of  Mat- 
thew Herriman,  the  bounds  thereof  as  it  is  entered  in  ye  Townes  booke  of 
record,  with  all  ye  houses,  housing,  mills,  Damms,  streams  of  water  fences 
oarchards  Trees  wood  timber  and  all  other  rights,"  &c.  ;  —  also,  "my 
other  Ten  acres  of  Land  adjoining  to  ye  former  which  I  had  by  grant  from 
said  Towne  on  condition  that  I  and  my  heirs  did  build  a  Corne  Mill  which 
might  be  for  ye  use  of  sd  Towne. "|  (Starlin  deeded  it  to  Duston  on  the 
same  condition. )§  This  land  was  on  the  east  side  of  Little  Eiver,  and  a 
part  of  the  "Duston  Farm,"  near  the  northerly  end  of  Primrose  Street. 
It  was  the  earliest  deed  to  Duston  of  land  on  that  side  of  the  river.  This, 
in  our  opinion,  makes  it  certain  that  Duston  did  not  reside  on  the  east 
side  of  Little  Eiver  when  his  wife  was  captured ;  and,  as  the  deed  is  dated 
less  than  two  months  subsequent  to  the  vote  of  the  General  Court,  grant- 
ing him  fifty  pounds  for  the  scalps  taken  by  his  wife,  it  almost  confirms 
the  old  and  generally  received  tradition,  that  the  above  place  was  hoiujlxt 
with  the  scalp  money. 

In  the  town  records,  under  date  of  March  4,  1701-2,  mention  is  made 
of  "  the  highway  that  leads  up  to  Tho  Duston's  Mill."     This  is  strong 

died  January  16,  1672.  Thomas,  of  Dover  1610,  perhaps  removed  to  Kitteiy  before  1652.  Thomas,  of 
Haverhill,  perhaps  son  of  the  preceding,  married  Hannah  Emerson,  December  3,  1677." 

«  Hawk.        t  Essex  Reg.  Deeds,  book  20,  p.  2. 

t  Essex  Reg.  Deeds,  book  13,  p.  43. 

§  February  24,  1684,  the  town  granted  Wm.  Starlin  two  ten  acre  lots.  One  lot  was  "  at  the  Fishing 
River,  near  the  saw  mill  path."  (The  lot  was  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  river) ;  the  other  ailjoined  the 
above,  .and  was  granted  "  For  encouragement  of  Wra.  Starlin  to  set  up  a  Corn  Mill  at  Fishing  River,  near 
to  Robert  Emerson's." — Town  Records,  Vol.  1,  jp.  183. 


196  niSTOET    OF    nATERniLL. 

presumptive  evidence  that  Duston  at  tLat  time  resided  at  Fishing  Kiver. 
Vi'c  have  no  doubt  that  he  removed  there  soon  after  he  purchased  the  place. 
But  that  he  actually  did,  subsetj[ueutly,  reside  there,  is,  we  think,  made 
clear  by  the  following:  — 

In  June,  1717,  Thomas  Dustin  deeded  to  his  son  Nathaniel, —  "in 
consideration  of  yt  Love  I  bear  to  My  )Son  Nathaniel  Durston  of  ye  town 
of  Haverhill,     =•'     •'  =•'     one  piece  or  Tract  of  Upland  and  meadow 

land  lyinge  and  being  in  ye  township  of  Haverhill  aforesd,  containing 
twenty  acres  more  or  less,  heivgye  one  half  of  my  Living  I  formerly  lived 
on,  on  ye  West  Side  of  ye  Saw  J/ill  River,  and  ye  easterly  pai't  thereof."'' 

In  March,  1723—1,  Thomas  Dustin  deeded  to  his  son,  Timothy  Dustin, 
"  in*  consideration  of  parental  love  and  affection,     =-•'     --'     "  the  full 

possession  to  be  given  after  my  decease,  '-'     my  dwelling  or 

mansion  house  Barn  and  Corn  Mill  now  standing  on  the  Fishing  Eivcr ;  " 
also,  "one moiety  or  half  part  of  my  homestead  or  house  lott,  containing 
twelve  acres,  part  of  which  land  I  purchased  of  Wm  Starling. "f 

On  the  8th  of  September,  ISGO,  the  writer  of  these  pages,  in  company 
with  Moses  Merrill,  Esq.,  —  than  whom  no  one  now  living  has  had  more 
frequent  and  favorable  opportunities  for  examining  and  locating  ancient 
deeds  of  land  in  the  north  and  west  parts  of  the  town,  —  visited  the  place 
designated  by  Mr.  Merrill  as  that  upon  which  Thomas  Duston  lived  at  the 
time  his  wife  was  taken,  and  his  house  burned,  by  the  savages,  in  1697. 
The  southci'ly  line  of  the  original  farm  bounds  upon  the  cross  road,  on  the 
northerly  side  of  which  the  proposed  "  Dustin  Monument  "  is  now  being 
erected,  and  the  new  school-house  is  located,  and  runs  about  northeast  and 
southwest,  from  a  point  a  few  rods  southwest  of  the  monument  site,  to  the 
Little  Kiver.  -  The  northerly  line  runs  parallel  with  the  above,  thus  giv- 
ing the  farm  the  form  of  a  parallellogram,  with  about  one  third  of  it  on 
the  westerly  side  of  Jew  Street. 

Having  amved  at  the  spot,  Mr.  Merrill  made,  in  substance,  the  follow- 
ing statement : —  "This  is  the  original  Thomas  Duston  farm,  as  I  always 
understood  it.  It  was  laid  out  for  '  eighty  acres,  more  or  less,'  but  con- 
tains considerable  more  than  that.  (We  walked  about  oue  hundred  and 
sixty  feet  easterly  from  the  road.)  Here  is  the  well  belonging  to  the  new 
house  which  Duston  was  building  at  the  time  the  attack  was  made  by  the 
Indians.     (AVe  continued  our  walk  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 

°  In  March,  1723-4,  Thomns  Puston  deeded  to  his  son,  Jonathan  Duston, — "in  consideration  of  parental 
love  and  nntural  airection" — "The  Homestead  or  Lott  whereon  the  said  Jonathan  now  dtvclls" — •'  fifteen 
acres,  more  or  less," — "bounded  at  a  great  rock  by  the  highway,  w/iic/j  is  a  corner  bound  of  land  I  gave 
to  my  son  Nathaniel." — "  Essex  Reg.  Deeds,  book  5i,  j>.  206. 

t  Essex  Reg.  Deeds,  book  43,  p.  107. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  197 

further,  in  the  same  direction.)  Here  is  the  cellar  of  Duston's  new  brick 
house.  (We  continued  our  walk  easterly,  toward  the  lower  land.  About 
two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  cellar,  Mr.  Merrill  stopped,  looked 
about, — evidently  taking  the  bearing  of  the  surrounding  objects,' — went 
a  little  distance  east,  returned  to  nearly  the  same  spot,  hesitated,  —  ob- 
served that  it  was  many  years  since  he  had  been  on  the  ground,  and  it  was 
now  somewhat  changed  by  cultivation, — and,  at  length,  struck  his  stick 
upon  the  ground,  apparently  firmly  decided.)  The  house  from  which 
Hannah  Duston  was  taken  stood  just  about  here.  When  I  was  young,  I 
could  see  the  cellar  distinctly,  though  it  was  partly  filled  with  stones.  It 
must  have  been  a  small  house,  because  the  cellar  was  small.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  this  is  the  identical  spot,  because,  when  I  was  quite  a  lad,  I 
heard  old  Mrs.  Ayer  ('  Joseph  Ayer's  mother  ' )  say  that  she  knew  this  ivas 
the  place.  She  coupled  the  assertion  with  a  curious  remark,  which  I  have 
never  forgotten,  and  which  served  to  fix  the  circumstance  firmly  in  my 
mind.  She  was  very  aged  at  the  time.  I  never  heard  any  other  place 
spoken  of,  until  within  a  few  years.  (We  noticed,  distinctly,  that  Mr. 
Merrill  stood  just  within  the  edge  of  a  small  place  where  the  grass  was 
apparently  much  drier  than  that  all  about  it.  Might  not  this  have  been 
caused  by  the  thin  layer  of  soil  over  the  stones  with  which  the  old  cellar 
was  filled,  and  the  consequent  leaching  of  the  moisture  ?  We  walked  a 
few  rods  beyond  the  edge  of  the  low  ground,  and  stopped  at  a  well.) 
Here  is  the  well.  I  have  a  distinct  impression  that,  in  my  younger  days, 
the  house  was  spoken  of  as  having  been  twenty  rods,  or  such  a  matter, 
northwest  from  this  well.-''  (Wc  returned  to  the  road,  upon  the  opposite 
side  of  which  —  and  a  little  to  the  south  —  Mr.  Merrill  pointed  out  an  old 
cellar.)  Here  is  where  Nathaniel  Duston  lived.  The  land  was  given  him 
by  his  father.  Jonathan  lived  over  at  the  southwesterly  corner,  beyond 
the  new  school-house.  {Question. — How  did  it  happen  that  the  monument 
ground  came  to  be  regarded  as  the  site  of  the  original  Duston  house?) 
I  don't  know,  unless  the  tradition  that  Mrs.  Duston  was  buried  from  that 
house,  became  confounded  with  the  other  traditions.  Old  Mrs.  Ayer  said 
that  after  Mr.  Duston  died,  Mrs.  Duston  lived  with  her  son,  Jonathan,  on 
that  place,  and  was  buried  from  his  house." 

o  A  pocket  compass  subsequently  jravc  us  the  fallowing  bearings  : — Mr.  Charles  Dustan's  house  in  the 
Korth  Parish,  hears  about  ten  degrees  north  of  east  from  the  Well;  and  the  house  of  Mr.  J.  Whitaker 
about  ten  degi-ees  west  of  south.  From  the  well  to  the  old  cellar  is  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  feet,  in  a 
west-north-west  direction.  From  the  latter  to  the  new  cellar  is  seventy-one  paces.  From  the  north-east 
corner  of  the  later,  the  North  Church  bears  almost  exactly  south-east.  The  well  of  the  new  house  is  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  from  the  new  cellar,  and  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  east  from  the 
road.  The  "Monument"  site  bears  south-west  from  the  last  named  well  and  cellar.  The  cellar  of  the 
house  of  Jonathan  Duston,  is  about  twenty  feet  north-west  from  the  site  of  the  "  Dustin  Monument." 


198  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

We  have  tlius  given  the  substance  of  such  deeds,  grants,  and  authorita- 
tive traditions,  as  bear  directly  upon  the  point  in  issue,  and  the  reader  is 
left  free  to  decide  the  matter  for  himself,  ^\e  will  only  add,  that  we 
commenced  the  investigation  unbiassed  in  favor  of  either  of  the  locations 
contended  for,  but  rise  from  it  fidly  convinced  that  the  one  designated  by 
Mr.  Merrill  is  the  true  one.=  ' 

But  to  return  from  this  long  digression,  to  our  narrative.  After  the 
attack  on  Duston's  house,  the  Indians  dispersed  themselves  in  small  par- 
ties, and  attacked  the  houses  in  the  vicinity.  Nine  houses  were  plundered 
and  reduced  to  ashes  on  that  eventful  day,  and  in  every  case  their  owners 
were  slain  while  defending  them.  Twenty-seven  persons  were  slaughtered, 
(fifteen  of  them  children)  and  thirteen  captured,  f  The  following  is  a  list 
of  the  killed :  —  John  Keezar,  his  father,  and  son,  George ;  John  Kimball 
and  his  mother,  Hannah  ;  Sarah  Eastman ;  Thomas  Eaton  ;  Thomas  Emer- 
son, his  wife,  Elizabeth,  and  two  children,  Timothy  and  Sarah  ;  Daniel 
Bradlc}^  his  wife,  Hannah,  and  two  children,  Mary  and  Hannah  ;  Martha 
Dow,  daughter  of  Stephen  Dow ;  Joseph,  Martha,  and  Sarah  Bradley, 
children  of  Joseph  Bradley  ;  Thomas  and  Mehitable  Kiugsbury  ;  Thomas 
Wood  and  his  daughter,  Susannah;  John  Woodman  and  his  daughter, 
Susannah ;  Zechariah  White ;  and  Martha,  the  infant  daughter  of  Mr. 
Duston. 

Having  fully  glutted  their  thirst  for  blood,  and  fearing  a  general  alarm 
of  the  town,  the  savages,  in  small  parties,  as  was  their  custom,  commenced 
a  hasty  retreat.  The  rumor  of  this  attack  soon  teached  the  village,  and 
an  armed  party  was  collected  and  started  in  pursuit,  but  without  success. 

Mirick  adds  the  following,  to  his  account  of  this  attack: — "  One  of 
their  number  stole  the  old  or  first  town  book,  and  with  a  few  others  re- 
treated up  the  river.  In  the  westerly  part  of  the  town,  now  Methuen, 
they  came  upon  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  with  that  hellish  barbarity  which  is 
their  principal  characteristic  in  war,  cut  out  their  tongues,  struck  up  a 
fire  and  broiled  them.  Had  they  despatched  the  oxen,  after  their  tongues 
were  out,  it  would  have  been  a  deed  of  mercy  ;  but  instead  of  doing  that, 
they  left  them  in  that  dreadful  situation.     After  their  repast  was  over, 

o  The  distance  from  that  spot  to  the  site  of  the  old  garrison  house  on  Pecker's  Hill,"  in  an  air  line, 
is  a  fraction  over  one  mile.  From  th«  monument  site,  to  the  same  place,  is  a  little  less  than  a  mile;  the 
diftercnce  bein^  about  fifty  rods.  So  far,  then,  as  the  distance  is  concerned,  either  place  will  agree  with 
the  tradition. 

t  From  a  petition  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  under  date  of  April  17, 1701,  we  learn  that  the  follow- 
in?  Haverhill  captives  were  still  missing: — D.iniel  Bradley,  aged  seven  ;  Abigail  Kimball,  aged  eight;  and 
Pli'llip  Cod,  agodsix; — all  talccn  Man:h  15,  1G97 :  Jonathan  Haines,  aged  twelve;  and  Joseph  Haines, 
aged  seven ; — talien  August  15, 1090 :  and  Abraham  Whittilicr,  aged  eight  or  nine,  taken  in  August,  1091. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  199 

they  continued  tlieir  retreat,  but  either  designedly  or  intentionally,  left  the 
town-book.  It  was  soon  found,  but  so  damaged  with  water,  that  many  of 
the  records  were  perfectly  illegible." 

We  feel  confident  that  Mirick  is  in  error  in  both  these  particulars — for 
the  following  reasons : — Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  who  was  then  Town  Clerk, 
and  had  held  the  office  constantly  since  1669,  lived  at  the  place,  east  of 
the  village,  so  long  in  possession  of  his  family,  and  we  can  hardly  see  how 
the  savages,  who  did  not  venture  within  about  two  miles  of  his  house, 
could  have  obtained  possession  of  the  town-book.  Perhaps,  however,  the 
book  was  at  that  time  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of  John  Carleton, 
the.  former  Clerk,  who  lived  on  the  place  west  of  the  village,  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  his  descendant  and  namesake.  But  even  in  that  case,  or, 
indeed,  in  any  case,  we  can  hardly  credit  the  story  of  an  Indian  making  a 
prize  of  an  old  record  book,  when  there  were  so  many  other  things  within 
his  grasp,  far  more  attractive  and  valuable  to  savage  eyes. 

But  in  regard  to  the  second  particular,  we  have  no  doubt  that  Mirick  is 
mistaken.  We  think  that  he  has  misplaced  the  incidents  belonging  to  a 
subsequent  outrage,  which  happened  in  the  same  vicinity.  We  refer  to 
the  massacre  of  Jonathan  Haynes  and  Samuel  Ladd,  which  took  place  near 
World's  End  Pond,  in  the  February  following.  Each  of  these  men  had  a 
yoke  of  oxen,  which  the  Indians  killed,  and  then  "  cut  out  their  tongues, 
and  the  best  pieces,"  to  carry  along  with  them.''''  This  party  camped  over 
night  in  "  Mill  Meadow,"  about  one  mile  and  a  half  north-east  of  the 
above  pond.  Considering  the  great  difficulty,  not  to  say  impossibility,  of 
cutting  out  the  tongue  of  a  living  ox,  iinder  such  circumstances,  and  the 
striking  similarity  of  the  two  traditions  in  other  respects,  we  have  no  hes- 
itation in  expressing  the  opinion  that  the  savages  were  not  guilty  of  the 
charge  thus  alledged  against  them. 

Erom  the  following,  which  passed  the  Assembly  March  22d,  1697,  it 
appears  that  at  the  time  an  opinion  prevailed  that  Col.  Saltonstall  was  cen- 
surable for  negligence  in  this  matter.  But  as  nothing  further  appears  to 
have  been  done  about  it,  we  are  bound  to  believe  thaji  the  complaint  origi- 
nated from  the  anguish  of  bereavement,  rather  than  from  any  fault  of  the 
Colonel. 

"  Whereas  it  is  reported  that  Col  Saltingstall  hath  been  very  negligent 
of  his  duty  as  Col:  &  that  the  late  damage  at  Haverhill  wherin  about  40 
of  his  majesties  subjects  were  killed  &  captivated  by  the  Heathin  enemie 
besides  six  houses  burnt  &  much  spoile,  &  yt  the  said  Coll  did  not  (as  he 

"  Tradition,  as  repeated  to  us  by  the  vener;iblo  Mr.  Isaiah  How,  who  lives  near  the  place  of  the 
massacre. 


200  HISTORY    OF    KAVERniLL. 

ougtt)  when  he  had  notice  of  the  enemies  approach  take  care  to  draw  them 
into  Garrison ;  nor  encourage  the  pursuit  of  them  "when  persons  offered  ; 
that  his  Honor  will  be  pleased  to  make  inquiry  into  said  affair  &  see  that 
there  may  be  due  annimadversons  ;  which  may  be  a  proper  means  to  pre- 
vent the  like  miscariages."=-= 

It  was  a  terrible  blow  for  the  town.  Some  of  its  most  useful  citizens, 
and  promising  youth,  were  among  the  slain ;  and  well  knowing  that  they 
were  daily  and  hourly  liable  to  similar  attacks,  it  needs  no  stretch  of  im- 
agination to  declare  that  fear  seized  the  herrts  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  most  vigorous  measures  were  speedily  taken  to  prevent,  if  possible, 
another  similar  bloody  massacre  :  guards  were  stationed  in  many  of  the 
houses,  and  the  brick  house  of  Thomas  Duston,  that  had  been  partly  fin- 
ished the  year  previous,  but  had  not  been  occupied,  was  ordered  to  be 
garrisoned.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  order  to  Mr.  Duston,  when 
appointed  to  command  it  :f 

"  To  Thomas  Dustin,  upon  the  settlement  of  garrisons.  April  5  169G-7. 
You  being  appointed  master  of  the  garrison  at  your  house,  you  are  hereby, 
in  his  Maj's  [Majesty's]  name,  required  to  see  that  a  good  watch  is  kept 
at  your  garrison  both  by  night  and  by  day,  by  those  persons  hereafter 
named  who  are  to  be  under  your  command  and  inspection  in  building  or 
rejiairing  3^  our  garrison ;  and  if  any  person  refuse  or  neglect  their  duty, 
you  are  accordingly  required  ta  make  return  of  the  same,  under  your  hand, 
to  the  Committee  of  militia  in  Haverhill.  The  persons  appointed  are  as 
followeth: — .losiah  Heath,  sen.,  Josiah  Heath,  jun.,  Joseph  Bradley,  John 
Heath,  Joseph  Kingsbury,  and  Thomas  Kingsbury. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  militia. 

Samuel  Aver,  Capt. 

Mr.  Duston  was,  for  the  times,  largely  engaged  in  brick-making.  The 
business,  however,  was  attended  with  no  little  danger,  on  account  of  the 
Indians,  who  were  almost  continually  lurking  in  the  vicinity,  watching  an 
opportunity  for  a  successful  attack,  'fhe  clay-pits  were  only  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  garrison,  but  the  enemy  were  so  bold  that  a  file  of  soldiers 
constantly  guarded  those  who  brought  the  clay  from  the  pits  to  the  yard 
near  the  house,  where  it  was  made  into  bricks. 

There  is  a  good  story  told  of  one  Joseph  AVhittaker,  one  of  the  guard 
stationed  at  this  garrison  while  commanded  by  Mr.  Dustin,  and  which  will 
doubtless  be  looked  for  in  this  place  : — 

Joseph  was  a  young,  unmarried  man,  full  of  "  marcury,"  as  the  story 
goes,  who  became  deeply  entangled  in  the  webs  unconsciously  wound 

<*  Slate  Archives.         t  ^^rs.  Duston  hail  not  yet  rcturncil  from  her  captivity.  ,  -. 


i 


HISTORY  OF  hayehhill.  201 

arotind  his  susceptible  heart,  by  one  Mary  Whittaker,  who  was  then  living 
in  the  garrison.  Joseph  struggled  long  and  manfully  to  escape  from  the 
silken  meshes,  but  in  vain.  At  last,  summoning  all  his  courage  to  his 
assistance,  he  improved  a  favorable  opportunity  to  make  a  declaration  of 
his  passion.  But,  ah !  most  unfortunate  Joseph,  Mary  did  not  listen 
with  favor  to  his  story.  He  pleaded,  he  entreated,  he  imploi-ed  her  to  take 
pity  on  his  forlorn  condition,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Mary  Whittaker  em- 
phatically declared  that  she  did  not  reciprocate  the  passion  of  the  aforesaid 
Joseph  Yv'hittaker — not  she.  Joseph  arose:  his  Whittaker  blood  was  up  ; 
and  he  was  not  to  be  turned  off  in  that  manner — and  by  aAVhittaker,  too — 
not  he.  He  told  Mary  that  unless  she  accepted  his  offer,  he  would  jump 
into  the  well,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  the  life  of  the  unhappy  Joseph  "\Miit- 
taker.  But  Mary  was  not  to  be  so  easily  won,  and,  "  with  one  long, 
lingering  look  behind,"  Joseph  immediately  left  the  garrison,  went  straight 
to  the  well,  seized  a  large  log  near  by.  and  —  threw  it  into  the  dark,  deep 
waters !  Mary  heard  the  plunge,  and  her  heart  relented.  She  suddenly 
remembered  how  fondly  she  loved  him,  and,  with  her  hair  streaming  in  the 
dark  night-wind,  she  rushed  to  the  well,  and,  with  bleeding,  agonizing 
heart,  cried  out — "Oh,  Joseph!  Joseph!  if  you  are  in  the  land  of  the 
living,  I  will  have  you."  Joseph  immediately  emerged  from  his  hiding 
place,  and  threw  himself  into  her  arms,  exclaiming — "  Mary,  I  will  take 
you  at  your  word." 

Although  the  two  Whittakers  were  soon  afterward  made  one,  we  do  not 
learn  that  the  number  of  Whittakers  was  thereby  permanently  diminished. 

No  further  attack  was  made  on  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  the  same 
year,  but  other  places  suffered  severely,  =■'  and  the  whole  frontier  was  kept 
in  a  state  of  continual  fear,  anxiety,  and  watchfulness. 

The  next  year,  the  Indians  commenced  their  incursions  unusually  early. 
On  the  22d  of  February,  a  party  fell  upon  Andover,  killed  five  of  the  in- 
habitants, and  captured  as  many  more.  On  their  return,  the  same  party 
killed  Jonathan  Haynes  and  Samuel  Ladd,  of  this  town,  and  captured  a 
son  of  each.f 

Haynes  and  Ladd,  who  lived  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  had 
started  that  morning,  with  their  teams,  consisting  of  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a 

o  At  Groton,  May  20,  one  person  was  killed  and  three  wounded ;  at  Exeter,  June  10th,  one  was  killed, 
one  wounded,  and  one  cnptured ;  the  same  day,  two  were  taken  captive  at  Amesbury ;  July  29th,  three 
were  killed  and  one  wounded,  at  Dover;  August  7th,  three  were  killed,  and  three  captured  at  Saco; 
September  8th,  twelve  were  killed,  and  twelve  wounded,  at  Damariscotta;  September  11th,  twenfy-one 
were  killed,  two  wounded,  and  six  captured  at  Lancaster ;  and  November  loth,  one  person  was  killed,  and 
one  captured  at  Jojjnson's  creek. 

T  Mirick. 

26 


202  HISTORY   OF   IIATBEHILL. 

horse,  each,  and  accompanied  with  their  eldest  sons,  Joseph  and  Daniel,  io 
bring  home  some  of  their  hay,  which  had  been  cut  and  stacked  the  preced- 
ing summer,  in  their  meadow,  in  the  extreme  western  part  of  the  town. 
"While  they  were  slowly  returning,  little  dreaming  of  present  danger,  they 
suddenly  found  themselves  between  two  files  of  Indians,  who  had  concealed 
themselves  in  the  bushes  on  each  side  of  their  path.  There  were  seven  of 
them  on  a  side.  With  guns  presented  and  cocked,  and  the  fathers,  seeing 
it  was  impossible  to  escape,  begged  for  "quarter."  To  this,  the  Indians 
twice  replied,  "boon  quarter !  boon  quarter ! "  (good  quarter.)  Young  Ladd, 
who  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  being  quietly  taken  prisoner,  told  his  father 
that  he  Avould  mount  the  horse,  and  endeavor  to  escape.  But  the  old  man 
forbid  him  to  make  the  attempt,  telling  him  it  was  better  to  risk  remaining 
a  prisoner.  He  cut  his  father's  horse  loose,  however,  and  giving  him  the 
lash,  he  started  off  at  full  speed,  and  though  repeatedly  fired  at  by 
the  Indians,  succeeded  in  reaching  home,  and  was  the  means  of  giving  an 
immediate  and  general  alarm.''' 

Two  of  the  Indians  then  stepped  behind  the  fathers,  and  dealt  them  a 
heavy  blow  upon  the  head.  Mr.  Haynes,  who  was  quite  aged,  instantly 
fell,  but  Ladd  did  not.  Another  of  the  savages  then  stepped  before  the 
latter,  and  raised  his  hatchet  as  if  to  strike.  Ladd  closed  his  eyes,  ex- 
pecting the  blow  would  fall — but  it  came  not  —  and  when  he  again  opened 
them,  he  saw  the  Indian  laughing  and  mocking  at  his  fears.  Another  im- 
mediately stepped  behind  him  and  felled  him  at  a  blow. 

"  The  Indians,  on  being  asked  why  they  killed  the  old  men,  said  that 
they  killed  Haynes  because  he  was  '  so  old  he  no  go  ivith  tis  ;  '  —  meaning 
that  he  was  too  aged  and  infirm  to  travel ;  and  that  they  killed  Ladd,  who 
was  a  fierce,  stern  looking  man,  because  '  he  so  sour.'  They  then  started 
for  Penacook,  where  they  arrived,  with  the  two  boys.  Young  Ladd  soon 
grew  weary  of  his  situation,  and  one  night  after  his  Indian  master  and 
family  had  fell  asleep,  he  attempted  to  escape.  He  had  proceeded  but  a 
short  distance,  when  he  thought  that  he  should  want  a  hatchet  to  fell  trees 
t )  assist  him  in"crossing  the  streams.  He  accordingly  returned,  entered  a 
wigwam  near  his  master's,  where  an  old  squaw  lay  sick,  and  took  a  hatchet. 
The  sipaw  watched  his  movements,  and  probably  thinking  that  he  intended 
to  kill  her,  vociferated  with  all  her  strength.  This  awakened  the  Indians 
in  the  wigwam,  who  instantly  arose,  re-captured  him,  and  delivered  him 
again  to  his  master,  who  bound  his  hands,  laid  him  upon  his  back,  fastened 

*  One  version  of  the  tnidition  is,  thut  the  horse  rushed  against  the  door  of  his  muster's  house,  bursting 
it  open,  and  fell  dead  upon  the  threshold,  upon  seeing  which,  Mrs.  Ladd  exclairatd,  in  agony,  "  Oh !  the 
Ind'ans  have  kiljed  Ladd," 


HISTORY    or   HAVERHILL.  203 

one  of  his  feet  to  a  tree,  and  in  that  manner  kept  him  fourteen  nights. 
They  then  gashed  his  face  with  their  knives,  filled  the  wounds  with  pow- 
der, and  kept  him  on  his  back  until  it  was  so  indented  in  the  flesh,  that  it 
was  impossible  to  extract  it.  He  carried  the  scars  to  his  gi-ave,  and  is 
now  frequently  spoken  of  by  his  descendants  as  the  '  marked  man.'  Some 
years  after,  he  found  means  to  return,  and  his  scarred  and  powdered  counte- 
nance produced  many  witticisms  at  his  expense.  He  was  one  day  walking 
the  streets  of  Boston,  and  a  parrot  observing  his  '  marked '  features,  vocif- 
erated, *  a  rogue  !  a  rogue  ! '  Haynes  remained  a  prisoner  with  the  Indians 
some  years,  and  was  at  last  redeemed  by  his  relatives. "=■•■' 

When  Haynes  was  about  leaving  the  Indians,  his  master,  in  token  of 
his  good  will  and  esteem,  presented  him  his  best  cane.  This  cane  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Guy  C.  Haynes,  of  East  Boston,  a  descendant.  The 
upper  half  is  neatly  ornamented  with  diamond-shaped  figures,  cut  with  a 
knife. 

On  the  -Sth  of  March,  a  party  of  about  forty  Indians  again  attacked 
Andover,  killed  five  persons,  burnt  two  houses,  and  two  barns  with  the 
cattle  in  them.     On  their  retvirn,  "they  made  spoil  on  Haverhill."f 

This  proved  to  be  the  last  attack  in  the  vicinity,  during  this  war.  Peace 
being  declared  between  France  and  England,  the  governor  of  Canada  in- 
formed the  Indians  that  he  could  no  longer  support  them  in  their  war 
against  the  English,  and  advised  them  to  bury  the  hatchet,  and  re- 
store their  captives.  This  they  concluded  to  do,  and  a  treaty  was  at  length 
made  with  them  at  Casco. 

During  this  war,  (from  June,  1689,  to  May,  1698,)  five  hundred  and 
sixty-one  persons  were  killed,  eighty-one  wounded,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty-one  captured  by  the  Indians,  in  Massachusetts,  Xcw  Hampshire, 
and  Maine,  including  Schnectady.  Soon  after  peace  was  declare^,  a  gen- 
eral contribution  was  taken  in  the  Province,  for  the  relief  of  those  who 
were  prisoners  with  the  French  and  Indians. 

On  the  return  of  peace,  the  settlers  were  again  allowed  to  engage  in  the 
cultivation  of  their  land,  and  in  the  increasing  of  their  flocks  and  herds, 
without  the  constant  fear  of  an  attack  from  an  unseen  and  barbarous  foe. 

**  Mirick. 

t  Hutchinson.     This  "  spoil,"  we  presume,  was  the  burning  of  the  house  and  buildings  of  Philip  East- 
naan,  which  were  destroyed  by  the  Indians  this  year. 


20-i  HISTORY    OP   DAVERHlLIw 


CHAPTER  XlY. 


Indian  Troubles — 1700  to  1710. 


At  the  annual  town  meeting  for  1699,  nine  applications  were  made  for 
grants  of  land,  all  of  tohich  were  denied.  The  town  had  for  some  time 
been  growing  more  sparing  in  its  grants  of  land,  and  it  now  seems  to  have 
decided  not  to  grant  any  more,  except  for  "value  received,"  cither  in 
money,  or  some  other  equally  tangible  and  valuable  equivalent. 

As  the  town  increased  in  population  and  importance,  its  lands  became 
the  more  valuable,  and  the  number  of  applications  for  new  grants  inci eased 
in  a  corresponding  ratio.  As  the  township  was  originally  purchased  by  a 
few  individuals,  their  descendants,  as  the  undivided  lands  become  more 
and  more  valuable,  must  have  frequently  found  themselves  considering  the 
question  totvhom  do  these  ungranted  lands  belong]  The  records  of  the  year 
1700,  for  the  first  time,  show  that  this  was  the  case,  and  that  the  general 
feeling  was  strongly  against  new  comers  into  town  having  any  voice  in  the 
further  disposition  of  the  "  common  lands."  It  appears  that  some  years 
previous,  a  committee  had  been  chosen  to  consider  the  matter,  but  nothing 
bad  been  done  by  them.  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year,  the  subject 
assumed  considerable  prominence,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following : — 

"  There  being  too  much  apparent  disorder  in  the  voting  about  disposal 
and  improvement  of  Common  land,  those  that  have  no  interest  in  Common 
land  putting  in  votes,  and  overrunning  by  violence  and  combination  the 
certain  Proprietors,  to  dispose  and  order  their  own :  it  is 

Ordered  that  Cornet  Peter  Ayer  being  deceased,  who  was  one  of  the 
Committee  men  formerly  appointed  for  the  examination  of  the  rights  that 
any  have  in  Common  land  in  this  town,  and  privilege  to  vote  about  the 
same ;  That  another  man  be  now  chosen  to  join  with  Nath:  Saltonstall  and 
John  White  who  are  yet  alive  of  said  Committee." 

Captain  Samuel  Ayer  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  then  "  after 
long  discourse,"  it  was  voted  "  That  there  shall  not  be  any  further  proceed 
for  ,Gift,  Grant,  Sale,  or  Exchange,  or  alteration  of  any  land  laying  in 
Common,  to,  or  with  any  person,  till  by  Law  or  Town  order,  it  be  known 
who  are  the  Proprietors  that  have  liberty  to  vote  about  the  disposal  of 
land,  which  they  are  to  make  out  to  the  said  Committee  men  this  day 
appointed  to  consider  the  same  and  make  report  thereon." 


HISTORY   OF   HAVEKHILL.  205 

The  next  vote  was  as  follows : — "  By  reason  of  many  alterations  of  the 
Proprietors  unto  lands  lying  in  Common,  either  stinted  or  not  already 
granted,  which  makes  it  uncertain  who  are  the  owners  who  have  a  right  to 
vote  and  order  the  same  which  hath  this  day  (upon  some  men's  claiming  a 
right  which  is  not  known)  put  a  stop  to  the  proprietors  in  the  business 
lying  before  them ;  the  Town  do  hereby  refer  the  examination  of  that 
matter  unto  the  said  Committee  this  day  appointed  thereunto." 

The  next  we  find  touching  the  matter,  is  the  record  of  a  meeting  August 
26,  1700,  designated  as  "  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  to  ungranted  and 
undivided  lands  to  consider  about  encroachments  &c.  called  by  the  Select- 
men's AYarrant.  At  this  meeting  nothing  was  done,  except  to  confirm  the 
doings  of  a  previous  meeting,  when  certain  things  were  done  "by  a  full 
and  unanimous,  though  mixed  vote  of  inhabitants  and  proprietors."  The 
object  seems  to  have  been  to  draw  and  preserve  the  line  of  distinction 
between  those  who  were  Proprietors  of  the  ungranted  lands  in  the  town,  and 
those  who  were  merely  inhabitants.  In  this  view,  the  Town  from  this 
time  refused  to  act  on  any  matters  involving  the  proprietorship  of  these 
ungranted  lands.  Thus,  in  1702,  in  reply  to  a  petition  of  Joseph  Peasely 
for  an  exchange  of  land,  the  town  refused  to  consider  the  matter,  because 
the  petition  was  "  not  directed  to  the  proprietors  of  lands,  but  to  the  Town, 
many  of  whom  have  no  power  to  vote  in  the  disposal  of  lands." 

Previous  to  this  time,  the  town  had  invariably  voted  upon  each  demand 
or  bill  against  the  town,  separately — or,  in  other  words,  had  been  its  own 
auditor— but  this  way  of  doing  the  business  had  now  become  too  cumber- 
some, and,  to  save  time  and  trouble,  a  committee  was  chosen  "  to  audit  the 
bills  of  claims,  and  so  to  settle  the  account  on  each  bill,  and  return  the 
sum  total  to  the  town."  The  amount  reported,  was  nineteen  pounds, 
seventeen  shillings,  two  and  a  half  pence,  for  which  the  selectmen  were 
ordered  to  lay  a  rate  upon  the  inhabitants. 

This  year,  a  building  was  ordered  to  be  erected  for  a  watch-house,  school- 
house,  and  for  any  other  use  to  which  it  might  be  appropriated.  It  was 
buflt  on  what  is  now  Main  street,  near  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  faced  the 
Merrimack. 

Trouble  with  the  Indians  already  again  threatened  the  frontier  towns, 
and  measures  of  defense  forced  themselves  upon  the  inhabitants.  From 
documents  in  the  State  Archives,  we  learn  that  in  March  and  April  of  this 
year,  (1700)  Capt.  Samuel  Ayer  had  twenty  soldiers  under  his  command, 
who  were  in  constant  service  during  that  time  in  this  town.  March  16th, 
twenty  men  were  sent  from  Ipswich  to  Haverhill ;  thirty  to  Wells ;  fifteen 
to  York  ;  fifteen  to  Kittery,  and  ten  to  Amesbury. 


20  G  HISTORY   OF   HATERniLL. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  a  grammar-scliool  was  ordered  to  be  established  im. 
mediately,  and  Mr.  Kichard  Saltonstall  was  appointed  to  procure  a  suitable 
instructor.  In  July  thirty  pounds  were  raised  to  be  appropriated  for  that 
purpose ;  and  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  "  write  a  letter  to  the  scholar 
that  Kichard  Saltonstall  had  treated  with,  or  to  some  other  meet  person, 
to  invite  him  to  come  and  be  the  school-master  for  this  town  of  Haverhill." 

The  school  was  not,  however,  established  ;  as  we  find  that  the  next  year, 
September  12th,  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  about  a  school-master,  when 

"  The  question  being  moved  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  whether  this 
Town  is  obliged  by  the  Law  to  be  provided  with  a  Grammar  school-master — 
Yea  or  no  :  the  Town  answers  in  the  negative  and  therefore  do  not  proceed 
to  do  it,  because  they  do  not  find  they  have  the  number  of  one  hundred 
families  or  householders  which  the  law  mentions." 

At  the  annual  election,  in  1701,  John  AYhite  was  chosen  Town  Clerk, 
in  place  of  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  who  had  filled  the  ofiice  regularly,  and 
acceptably,  since  1668,  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years.  The  latter 
was  now  an  old  man,  grown  gray  in  the  active  and  honorable  servive  of 
his  country,  and  his  town,  and  he  sought,  in  the  retirement  of  his  own 
fire-side,  that  repose  which  should  the  better  fit  him  for  his  approaching 
sunset  of  life.'" 

A  special  committee  was  chosen,  at  this  time,  "  to  seat  all  such  strangers 
as  are  come  to  town  since  the  last  seating,  or  such  as  may  come  the  present 
year  to  dwell  here  as  settled  inhabitants."  It  was  further  ordered  that, 
"  if  any  of  the  inhabitants  did  sit  in  any  seat  where  he  or  she  was  not 
seated,  should  pay  a  fine  of  one  shilling  in  money." 

It  appears  that  Joseph  Peasely  had  recently  suffered  considerably  by 
fire,  for  the  town  "  voted  to  give  him  his  rates"  on  that  account. 

Early  in  the  spring,  the  Indians  again  made  their  appearance,  in  small 
parties,  traversing  the  woods  in  every  direction.  They  soon  became  bold, 
and  attacked  the  garrison  of  Jonathan  Emerson  ;  but  were  repulsed  with 
the  loss  of  two  killed,  while  the  whites  sustained  no  injury.  One  of  the 
soldiers,  after  the  war  was  over,  meeting  one  of  the  Indians,  spoke  of 
the  attack,  when  the  following  dialogue  ensued  :  ■ — 

"  '  You  had  two  of  your  number  slain,'  said  the  garrison  man,  '  How 
do  you  know  that?'  asked  the  Indian.  *  "NVe  saw  your  biers,' was  the 
reply.  '  Ugh,  Ugh,'  grunted  the  tawny  fellow  of  the  woods.  'And  you 
put  them  in  the  great  hole,'  continued  the  garrison  man.  '  Ugh,  Ugh  I 
no,  we  did  not,'  muttered  the  Indian,  feeling  that  he  was  questioned  too 
closely.     '  What  did  you  do  with  them  ?  '  asked  the  garrison  man,  laugh- 

o  He  died  in  1707. 


HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL.  207 

ing  in  his  sleeve,  as  the  saying  is,  confident  that  he  had  the  best  end  of 
the  dispute.  '  We  carried  them  to  the  deep  hole  above,'  he  replied, 
sharply  ;  and  immediately  wheeled  about  and  marched  for  the  ■woods."'-' 

The  "  deep  holes,"  referred  to  by  the  Indian,  were  situated  in  the  low- 
lands, a  short  distance  from  the  junction  of  Fishing  and  Little  Eivers, 
and  not  far  from  the  present  brick-yards.  One  of  them  not  many  years 
since,  was  near  fifteen  feet  in  depth,  and  was  called  the  great  hole  ;  and 
the  other  was  called  the  deep  hole.  Soon  after  the  attack  on  the  garrison, 
'two  Indian  biers  were  found  near  them,  which  led  to  the  supposition  that 
two  of  the  enemy  were  slain. 

The  breaking  out  of  a  new  war  in  Europe,  was  the  occasion  of  this  re- 
newal of  Indian  hostilities.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  again  found 
themselves  exposed  to  all  the  dangers  and  horrors  of  a  savage  border  war- 
fare, and  were  obliged  to  resort  to  former  measures  of  defence  and  security. f 
In  addition  to  the  old  garrisons,  one  was  ordered  to  be  kept  in  the  north- 
easterly part  of  the  town,  in  the  house  of  James  Sanders,  who  lived  near 
the  foot  of  the  hill  still  known  by  his  name,  —  "Sander's  Hill."  His 
house  stood  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  house  of  Kichard  Stuart.| 

It  was  customary  for  the  nearest  neighbors  to  sleep  in  the  garrisons  at  night, 
but  one  Thomas  Whittier,§  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  who  lived  near 
the  garrison  above  mentioned,  always  refused  to  shelter  himself  and  family 
beneath  its  roof.  Belying  upon  the  weapons  of  his  faith,  he  left  his  own 
house  unguarded,  and  unprotected  with  palisades,  and  carried  with  him  no 
weapons  of  war.  The  Indians  frequently  visited  him,  and  the  family  often 
heard  them,  in  the  stillness  of  the  evening,  whispering  beneath  the 
windows,  and  sometimes  saw  them  peep  in  upon  the  little  group  of  prac- 
tical "non-resistants."  Friend  Whittier  always  treated  them  civilly 
and  hospitably,  and  they  ever  retired  without  molesting  him.  To  injure 
such  a  household,  was  too  diabolical,  even  for  a  blood-thirsting  savage. 

January  5,  1702,  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  about  laying  a  tax  "  for 
the  defraying  the  Town  charges  in  1701."  The  following,  which  is  given 
as  the  total  indebtedness  of  the  Town,  is  well  worth  a  place  in  our  pages : — 

"  To  Mr  Benj  Eolfe £01.10.00 

To  Capt  Ayre 09.15.00 

*  Tradition. — Mirich. 

t  The  House  of  Representatives  (1702)  ordered  snnw-shoes  to  be  provided  for  the  frontier  towns,  on 
account  of  their  exposure  to  Indian  depredations  in  the  winter. 

X  John  Sanders,  the  first  of  that  name  in  this  town,  was  from  Weeks,  in  the  Parish  of  Dainton,  County 
of  Wilts,  England.  He  made  his  will  in  1670.  The  above-named  James,  was,  we  believe,  a  son  of  the 
first  John. 

§  The  ancester  of  our  distinguished  Poet. 


208  HISTORY    OF    HAVERniLL. 

To  John  "V\Tiite 06,14.00 

To  the  Schoolmaster 06.00.00 

To  the  Selectmen's  salary 02.10.00 

To  the  Assessors  of  the  Country  Tax 01.04.00 

To  making  return  of  the  choice  of  Representative OO.OG.OO 

To  time  and  money  spent  to  obtain  a  Schoolmaster 00.06.00 

To  returning  an  account  of  the  Country  Tax 00.08.00 

To  Jotham  Hendrick 01.03.06 

To  Constable  Bartlitt 00.03.00 

To  Hanniel  Clark 00.12.00 

To  Constable  Simmons 00.03.00 

To  Capt  Simon  Wainwright 00.02.00 

To  the  Committee  for  Micall  Emerson's  land 01.10.00 

Tlie  above  sums  the  Town  voted  to  pay,  after  deducting  the  following 
credits :  — 

"  Due  to  the  Town  from  Ens.  Saml  Hutchins £00.09.09 

from  Joseph  Bond 00.08.06 

from  Serjt  Josiah  Gage 00.07.03 

from  Const.  Saml  Ayer 00.08.06 

Leaving  the  Town's  indebtedness  £31.12.06,  for  which  a  rate,  or  tax, 
was  voted  to  be  made.  This  year,  John  Hutchins  was  chosen  "  Sealer  of 
Leather.""  Such  an  officer  was  first  chosen  in  1675,  and  from  that  time 
to  1702,  Michael  Emerson  had  been  annually  re-elected.f 

The  minister,  Mr.  Eolfe,  applying  to  the  town  for  a  supply  of  wood,  ten 
pounds  was  added  to  his  salary  for  that  purpose,  and  he  was  also  allowed 
"  four  public  contributions."! 

The  Selectmen  being  ordered  to  get  a  Schoolmaster,  for  this  year,  "  with 
all  the  speed  they  possibly  can,"  engaged  a  Mr.  Tufts,  and  agreed  to  pay 
him  thirty-four  pounds  for  his  services.  The  cause  of  this  great  hurry  to 
get  a  schoolmaster,  was  the  fact,  which  afterward  appears,  that  the  town 
had  been  again  "presented"  for  being  destitute  of  a  school.  Their  post- 
haste compliance  with  the  law  did  not,  however,  save  them  from  a  fine  for 
previous  neglect.  § 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1 703,  Captain  Eichard  Saltonstall  petitioned 
for  liberty  to  run  a  fence  "  from  the  pound  cross  over  the  spot  where  the 

°  John  Hutchins  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  of  this  town,  who  was  probably  a  son  of  John,  of  Newbury,  as 
were  also  John  and  Samuel,  of  this  town. 

t  A  Cleric  of  the  Market  was  first  chosen  in  1098.  Ensign  Thomas  Eatton  was  the  first,  and  continued 
in  the  office  until  1706. 

t  Four  public  contributions  were  first  granted  him  the  year  previous,  and  were  annually  voted  him  until 
his  death,  in  1708. 

§  Court  Records, 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  ^  209 

old  meeting-house  formerly  stood,  to  his  fence,"  and  to  "  feed  the  burying- 
place."  or  else  he  wanted  the  town  themselves  to  fence  in  the  burying- 
place  by  itself.  They  voted  to  do  the  latter.  Prom  this  it  appears  that 
the  old  meeting-house  had  already  disappeared,  though  it  was  only  about 
three  years  since  it  was  abandoned  for  worship.  Let  us,  then,  fondly 
believe  that  it  was  not,  after  all,  occupied  as  a  horse  shed  ! 

Mr.  Tufts'  engagement  as  schoolmaster  having  expired,  a  meeting  was 
held  July  21,  to  see  what  should  be  done  for  the  future.  After  much  dis- 
cussion, the  meeting  adjourned  to  August  ISth,  when  they  met,  and  again 
adjourned  to  September  loth,  without  coming  to  any  decision.  At  the 
meeting  in  September,  "  after  much  discourse  about  getting  a  school- 
master, the  town,  on  consideration  of  their  troubles  with  the  Indians, 
resolved  that  nothing  should  be  done  about  it,  and  the  meeting  was 
dissolved. 

That  the  town  had  good  excuse  for  declining  to  assume  the  expense  of  a 
school  in  their  then  exposed  and  straightened  condition,  is  made  evident 
by  a  subsequent  order  of  the  General  Court  (November  1705)  exempting 
all  towns  of  less  than  two  hundred  families  from  keeping  a  Grammar 
School  for  three  years, — on  account  of  their  being  impoverished  by  the 
Indian  war. 

The  Indians  had  been  quite  peaceable  for  a  year  or  two,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants pleased  themselves  with  the  hope  that  they  would  not  again  trouble 
them.  They  therefore  relaxed  their  watchfulness,  and  neglected  to  guard 
their  dwellings  as  strictly  as  in  former  years.  But  the  French  in  Canada 
were  again  stirring  up  the  savages  to  deeds  of  blood  and  cruelty,  and 
plotting  the  ruin  of  the  frontier  settlements  of  New  England. 

The  first  important  attack  in  this  war,"  was  made  on  the  10th  of  August, 
when  five  hundred  French  and  Indians  ravaged  the  settlements  from  Casco 
to  AVells,  and  killed  and  captured  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons.  The 
news  of  this  incursion  had  hardly  reached  this  town,  when  intelligence 
was  received  of  an  attack  on  Hampton,  by  a  party  of  thirty  Indians,  in 
which  five  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed.  It  was  this  alarming  intelli- 
gence, that  led  to  the  adjournment  of  the  second  meeting  above  alluded  to, 
and  the  final  decision  of  September  15th. 

The  attack  on  Hampton  proved  to  be  the  last  one  of  that  season,  and  the 
inhabitants  were  left  to  pass  a  few  months  in  gloomy  anxiety,  and  fearful 
apprehensions. 

During  the  winter,  as  the  Indians  had  heretofore  seldom  made  their 
appearance  before  the  opening  of  spring,  less  care  was  taken  to  guard 

^  Which  is  known  as  the  French  a7id  Indian  War. 

27 


210  niSTORY    OF   HAVERniLL. 

0 

against  surprise.  This  carelessness  proved  fatal,  ere  winter  was  over,  aa 
luay  be  seen  from  tbe  following  account,  wliich  we  copy  from  Mirich:  — 

"  On  the  8tli  of  February,  about  3  or  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,-'  a 
party  of  six  Indians  attacked  the  garrison  of  Joseph  Bradley,  which  was 
unhappily  in  an  unguarded  state — even  the  sentries  had  left  their  stations, 
and  the  gates  were  open.  The  Indians  approached  cautiously,  and  were 
rushing  into  the  open  gates,  before  they  were  discovered.  Jonathan  John- 
son, a  sentinel,  who  was  standing  in  the  house,  shot  at  and  wounded  the 
foremost,  and  Mrs.  Bradley,  who  had  a  kettle  of  boiling  soap  over  the  fire, 
seized  her  ladle,  and  filling  it  with  the  steaming  liquid,  discharged  it  on 
his  tawuy  pate  —  a  i'oa/v-orific  that  almost  instantly  brought  on  a  sleep, 
from  which  he  has  never  since  awoke.f  The  rest  of  tbe  party  immediately 
rushed  forward,  killed  Johnson, |  made  prisoner  of  the  intrepid  woman, 
and  of  some  otliers.  Pike  in  his  Journal  says  four.§  Three  persons  es- 
caped from  the  garrison.  The  Indians,  then  fearing  lest  they  should  soon 
be  attacked  by  a  stronger  party,  commenced  a  hasty  retreat,  aiming  for 
Canada,  which  was  their  place  of  resort  when  they  had  been  so  successful 
as  to  take  a  number  of  prisoners. 

Mrs.  Bradley  was  in  delicate  circumstances,  and  in  slender  health  ;  still 
she  received  no  kindness  from  her  savage  conquerors.  No  situation  of 
woman  would  ever  protect  her  from  their  demon-like  cruelties.  The 
weather  was  cold ;  the  wind  blew  keenly  over  the  hills,  and  the  ground 
was  covered  with  a  deep  snow, — -yet  they  obliged  her  to  travel  on  foot, 
and  carry  a  heavy  burthen,  too  large  even  for  the  strength  of  man.  In 
this  manner  they  proceeded  through  the  wild  wilderness  ;  and  Mrs.  Brad- 
ley informed  her  family,  after  she  returned,  that  for  many  days  in  succes- 
sion, she  subsisted  on  nothing  but  bits  of  skin,  ground-nuts,  the  bark  of 
trees,  wild  onions,  and  lily  roots. 

°  Pike's  Journal.        t  Penhallow.        %  Town  Records. 

§  We  copy  the  following  from  Mr.  Pike's  Journal  —  it  is  all  that  he  says  of  the  affair.  "Feb.  8. 
About  3  or  4  o'clock,  afternoon,  Joseph  Bradley's  house,  at  Haverhill,  was  taken  by  six  Indians ;  13  per- 
sons killed  and  5  carried  away,  whereof  one  returned.  3  more  persons  escaped  out  of  the  house,  and  1  In- 
dian was  slain  in  it  by  Jonathan  Johnson."  Mr.  Pike  is  the  only  one  that  we  can  find,  who  says  that 
thirteen  persons  were  killed  in  this  attack.  Penhallow,  in  his  history  of  the  "Indian  Wars,"  speaks  of 
no  other  slain,  than  Jonathan  Johnson  and  the  Indian;  and  if  there  were  thirteen  killed,  it  appears 
rather  singular  that  he  did  not  mention  it.  Mr.  Pike  says  there  were  only  six  Indians,  and  thirteen  slain 
—  the  disparity  of  the  two  parties  seem  to  invalidate  his  statement,  for,  unless  they  were  all  children, 
which  is  not  probable,  they  must  have  been  positive  cowards,  or  been  taken  extremely  unawares.  Or,  if 
they  were  women,  it  hardly  seems  probable  to  us,  for  women  at  that  period,  seem  to  possess,  at  times,  as 
much  courage  and  fortitude  as  the  men.  Another  reason  we  have  for  doubting  the  statement  of  Mr. 
Pike,  is  the  silence  of  the  Town-Records  on  the  subject.  The  death  of  Mr.  Johnson  is  there  faithfully  re- 
corded, thus:  —  "Jonathan  Johnson  [birth]  killed  by  the  Indians,  Feb.  8,  1703-4."  Why  did  they 
neglect  to  record  the  deaths  of  the  others  ?  It  appears  to  us  that,  if  other  persons  were  slain,  their  deaths 
would  have  been  recorded  as  well  as  that  of  Mr.  Johnson. — Mirick, 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  211 

"WTiile  in  this  situation,  with  none  but  savages  for  her  assistants  and 
protectors,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  thick  forest,  she  gave  hirth  to  a  child. 
The  Indians  then,  as  if  they  were  not  satisfied  with  persecuting  the  mother, 
extended  their  cruelties  to  the  innocent  and  almost  friendless  babe.  For 
the  want  of  proper  attention,  it  was  sickly,  and  probably  troublesome ; 
and  when  it  cried,  these  remorseless  fiends  showed  their  pity,  by  throwing 
embers  into  its  mouth.''  They  told  the  mother  that  if  she  would  permit 
them  to  baptize  it  in  their  manner,  they  would  suffer  it  to  live.  Unwil- 
ling to  deny  their  request,  lest  it  should  enrage  their  fierce  and  diabolical 
passions,  and  hoping  that  the  little  innocent  would  receive  kindness  at 
their  hands,  she  complied  with  their  request.  They  took  it  from  her,  and 
baptized  it  by  gashing  its  forehead  with  their  knives.f  The  feelings  of 
the  mother,  when  the  child  was  returned  to  her  with  its  smooth  and  white 
forehead  gashed  with  the  knife,  and  its  warm  blood  coursing  down  its 
cheeks,  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 

Soon  as  Mrs.  Bradley  had  regained  sufficient  strength  to  travel,  the  In- 
dians again  took  up  their  march  for  Canada.  But  before  they  arrived  at 
their  place  of  rendezvous,  she  had  occasion  to  go  a  little  distance  from  the 
party,  and  when  she  returned,  she  beheld  a  sight  shocking  to  a  mother, 
and  to  every  feeling  of  humanity.  Her  child,  which  was  born  in  sorrow, 
and  nursed  in  the  lap  of  affliction,  and  on  which  she  doted  with  maternal 
fondness,  was  piked  upon  a  pole.t  Its  excrutiating  agonies  were  over  — 
it  could  no  more  feel  the  tortures  of  the  merciless  savages  —  and  its  mother 
could  only  weep  over  its  memory.  Soon  after,  they  proceeded  to  Canada, 
where  Mrs.  Bradley  was  sold  to  the  French  for  eighty  livres.  She  informed 
her  friends,  after  her  return,  that  she  was  treated  kindly  by  the  family 
in  which  she  lived.  It  was  her  custom,  morning  and  evening,  when  she 
milked  her  master's  cow,  to  take  with  her  a  crust  of  bread,  soak  it  with 
milk,  and  eat  it ;  with  this,  and  with  the  rations  allowed  her  by  her  mas- 
ter, she  eked  out  a  comfortable  subsistance.§ 

In  March,  1705,  her  husband,  hearing  that  she  was  in  the  possession  of 
the  French,  started  for  Canada  with  the  intention  of  redeeming  her.  He 
travelled  on  foot,  accompanied  only  by  a  dog  that  drew  a  small  sled,  in 
which  he  carried  a  bag  of  snuff,  as  a  present  from  the  Governor  of  this 
Province  to  the  Governor  of  Canada. ]|  When  he  arrived,  he  immediately 
redeemed  her,^  and  set  sail  from  Montreal  for  Boston,  which  they  reached 
in  safety ;  and  from  thence  travelled  to  Haverhill. 

°  Penhallow.        t  Tradition.  I  Rev.  Abiel  Abbot's  MSS.        §  Tradition. 

II  The  only  authority  we  have  of  the  dog  and  sled,  and  bag  of  snuff,  is  tradition,  which  we  heard  related 
very  minutely  by  his  descendants. — Mirick. 
%  Penhallow,  p.  10, 


212  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILl. 

Penballow"'  mentions  this  as  her  second  captivity,  and  Hutchinson  says 
the  same  ;  but  Penballow  is,  without  doubt,  his  authority.  Diligent 
search  has  been  made  to  learn  the  history  of  her  first ;  but,  thus  far  it  has 
been  unsuccessful.  Very  accurate  traditions  of  the  captivities  of  the  other 
members  of  the  family,  have  been  transmitted  to  their  descendants,  but 
they  have  never  heard  their  fathers  tell  that  this  person  was  taken  at  any 
other  time  ;  at  least,  they  can  give  no  account  of  such  a  fact.  We  ex- 
tract the  following,  from  Kev.  Abiel  Abbot's  MS.,  taken  by  him  from 
Judith  AVhiting : — "Destitute  of  nurses  and  necessaries,  the  child  was 
sickly,  and  apt  to  cry,  and  they  would  put  hot  embers  in  its  mouth.  Be- 
ing obliged  to  leave  it  a  short  time,  on  her  return,  she  found  it  piked  on  a 
pole.     '■■'     '■'•     '•■=  Having  been  brought  home  by  her  husband,  she  was 

taken  a  second  time,  but  not  before  she  had  finished  and  wounded  an  In- 
dian, by  pouring  boiling  soap  into  his  mouth."  From  this,  it  appears  that 
she  was  twice  captivated ;  but  of  the  truth  of  the  statement,  in  this  par- 
ticular, we  will  not  undertake  to  judge.  It  certainly  does  not  agree  with 
Penhallow's,  and  if  we  rely  on  one,  we  must  throw  up  the  other,  at  least, 
in  part." 

Mrs.  Bradley's  deposition,  which  we  give  in  another  place,  is  conclusive 
evidence  that  the  above  was  her  second  captivity.  As  we  have  it  from 
one  of  her  descendants,  Mrs.  Bradley  was  engaged  in  boiling  soap,  when 
she  was  startled  by  the  appearance  of  Indians  at  her  very  door,  one  "of 
whom  exclaimed,  exultingly,  —  "  Now,  Hannah,  me  got  you."  Instead, 
however,  of  quietly  allowing  herself  to  be  captured  a  second  time,  Hannah 
saluted  the  savage  with  such  vigorous  applications  of  "  soft  soap,"  that  he 
quickly  gave  up  the  ghost.  After  a  desperate  resistance,  she  was  at  last 
made  a  prisoner.  Eevenge  for  the  death  of  their  comrade,  was  doubtless 
the  principal  cause  of  the  subsequent  tortures  of  the  child  by  the  savages. 
Their  extreme  barbarity,  in  this  particular  instance,  can  only  be  accounted 
for  upon  some  such  supposition.  Their  ingenuity  was  always  exerted  to 
the  utmost  in  devising  tortures  for  a  brave  wanior,  when  taken  prisoner, 
and  the  case  of  Mrs.  Bradley  is  but  a  similar  instance  of  their  revenge 
and  cruelty. 

On  the  29th  of  the  samcmonth  in  which  the  attack  was  made  on  the 
garrison  of  Mr.  Bradley,  Hertel  de  lioiiville,  with  two  hundred  French,  and 
one  hundred  and  forty-two  Indians,  fell  upon  the  town  of  Deerfield,  Mass., 
killed  forty-seven,  and  made  prisoners  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  of  its 

°  Ilist.  of  Indian  Wars,  p.  10. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  213 

inhabitants.  April  25tli,  two  persons  were  killed,  and  two  captured,  at 
Oyster  Kiver ;  and  again  in  August  several  more  were  killed  at  the  same 
place. 

It  was  indeed  a  time  of  trial  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  frontier.  =■■'  On  the 
3d  of  August,  Colonel  Saltonstall  thus  writes  to  Colonel  Thomas  Noyes,  of 
Newbury :  —  f 

*'  Sir,  by  his  excellency's  express  direction  I  command  you  in  her 
majesty's  name  forthwith  to  appoint  and  set  forth  one-half  of  your  com- 
pany by  name  and  have  them  ready,  well  fixt  with  arms  &  ammunition 
and  ten  day's  provision  to  march  at  an  hours  warning.  The  command  is 
strict." 

On  the  4th  of  August,  Joseph  Page,  and  Bartholomew  Heath,  of  this 
town,  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  a  lad  who  was  with  them,  narrowly 
escaped  the  same  fate.J     The  particulars  of  this  attack  are  now  lost. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  Colonel  Saltonstall  again  writes  to  Colonel 
Noyes :  — 

"  I  desire  and  order  that  by  tomorrow  morning  at  farthest  you  press 
and  post  at  your  block  houses  in  Newbury  twelve  able  souldiers,  three  at 
each  of  your  four  (block)  houses,  to  abide  there  night  and  day,  to  watch." 
.  Happily,  no  further  attacks  were  made  that  year ;  but  such  was  the 
distress  and  poverty  occasioned  by  the  Indian  hostilities,  that  the  town 
ordered  its  selectmen  to  petition  the  Assembly  for  an  abatement  of  tlais 
year's  taxes. 

During  the  next  year,  no  attacks  were  made  by  the  Indians,  but  the  in- 
habitants had  every  reason  to  expect  them,  and  were  obliged  to  keep  a 
constant  watch  and  guard,  day  and  night.  In  June,  Governor  Dudley 
ordered  Colonel  Saltonstall  "  to  detach  twenty  able  soldiers  of  the  New- 
bury militia  and  have  them  rendezvous  at  Haverhill  on  July  fifth." 

On  the  appearance  of  these  "  able  soldiers  "  in  this  town.  Colonel  Sal- 
tonstall thus  writes  to  Colonel  Noyes,  of  Newbury :  — § 

"Haverhill,  July  17,  1705. 

I  received  your  return  of  ye  twenty  men  ye  Governor  commanded  me 
to  call  for,  and  when  ye  persons  (which  I  cant't  call  men)  appeared,  even 
a  considerable  number  of  them,  to  be  but  boys,  or  children,  and  npt  fit  for 
service,  blind  in  part,  and  deaf,  and  cross-handed,  I  stopt  till  I  waited  on 

<*  April  4th,  a  general  Bast  was  held  throughout  the  New  England  colonies,  on  account  of  the  war  with 
France  and  Spain. 
t  Coffin. 

X  Pike's  Journal.    Joseph  Page  was  a  son  of  Joseph;  and  Bartholomew  Heath  was  a  son  of -John. 
§  Colliu. 


214  HISTORY   OP   HAYERHILL. 

ye  governor,  ye  twelfth  instant  and  upon  liberty  to  speak  with  him,  I  with 
yc  major  have  taken  yc  best  care  we  can  to  keep  the  men  and  children 
sent  hither  for  ye  present,  till  I  may  have  opportunity  to  tell  you  the 
queen  likes  it  not  to  be  served  in  this  manner. 

But  in  one  special,  Nicholas  •-  ' ■=  ^  by  name,  is  blind,  and  deaf,  and 

small,  and  not  fit  to  be  continued,  and  therefore  to  be  short,  I  send  Kicho- 
las  ''••■'■•''•*  ""=■' "  home  to  you,  and  do  expect  that  you  will  send  some  able 
man  in  his  place,  if  you  have  an  able  one  in  Newbury. 

The  other  diminutives  are  sent  out  to  garrison  at  present,  or  else  you 
had  mett  with  them  to  return  to  you  for  ye  like  exchange. 

My  heart,  if  it  speahs,  is  full.  I  wait  a  suitable  time,  to  tell  you  what 
I  have  to  say  on  her  majesty's  behalf.  To  take  hoyes  for  orriglnaUy  prest 
men,  and  they  hired  too,  I  know  not  ye  regularity  of  it.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
see  you,  and  intend  to  do  it  at  Haverhill  or  Newbury  or  a  middle  place, 
as  you  will  desire,  if  I  am  able  to  attend,  to  see  what  is  right  and  what  is 
our  duty  for  us  to  do. 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Nathaniel  Saltonstall. 

To  lieutenant-colonel  Thomas  Noyes." 

No  one,  we  think,  can  blame  the  Colonel  for  writing  thus  severely.  To 
send  hired  hoys,  in  place  of  able  soldiers,  to  defend  a  frontier  town  against 
merciless  savages,  was  indeed  cruel.  No  wonder  his  heart  was  full,  when 
he  contemplated  the  feeble  resistance  such  "  soldiers"  would  make,  incase 
of  an  attack.  The  bloody  record  of  1708  fully  reveals  the  sad  result  of 
depending  uj)on  "  hired  boys  "  for  defence  J 

A  fortnight  later,  Colonel  Saltonstall  again  writes  to  Colonel  Noyes :  — 

"August  4th  1705. 

One  Smith  came  this  day  with  two  of  his  sons  in  order  to  get  a  release 
for  John  Danford.  I  wonder  how  you  concern  yourself  so  much  about  this 
man,  to  get  Danford  home,  and  disregard  your  default  and  have  not  yet 
sent  a  good  man  for  that  pitiful  insufficient  sick  man  Nicholas  ■■■'  '•■'  =■•'  ■■•' "  '■'  ■■' 
whom  I  sent  off  ye  sixteenth  of  July  last  to  you  to  send  a  better  hand,  «&; 
he  to  returne  in  two  days  time  to  me  but  he  is  not  yet  come,  nor  other  for 
him.  Pray  consider  what  lyes  at  your  doore  and  do  not  deale  so  unhand- 
somely with  your  patient  friend  and  humble  servant,        N.  Saltonstall. 

To  lieutenant-colonel  Thomas  Noyes." 

Thank  Heaven,  no  attack  was  made  by  the  enemy  that  season.  Had  it 
been  otherwise,  Colonel  Noyes  would  have  had  bitter  cause  to  "  consider  " 
the  gi-evious  wrong  that  lay  at  his  door.'' 

*>  A  company  of  "  CentinelB,"  under  Captain  Saltonstall,  was  also  posted  at  Bradford  block-houses,  from 
April  Gth,  to  September  7th,  of  the  same  year,  and  probably  still  later. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  215 

But  little  business  was  done  by  the  town  in  this  and  the  two  succeeding 
years.  The  inhabitants  were  so  closely  occupied  in  guarding  the  lives  of 
their  families,  that  little  time  or  inclination  was  left  for  anything  else. 

In  170-5,  John  Swan,  and  Jonathan  Emerson,  were  granted  the  privilege 
of  setting  up  a  grist-mill,  on  Little  Eiver.  The  location  was,  we  judge, 
near  where  Mr,  Eich  recently  erected  a  mill,  —  about  midway  between 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  the  Winter  Street  Bridge,  —  and  near  where 
Ezekiel  Hale  formerly  had  a  grist-mill. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting,  John  White  was  allowed  to  build  a  "  full- 
ing-mill on  Mill  Brook,  near  his  now  dwelling  house."  The  location  was 
probably  near  where  the  plaster-mill  now  stands.  This  was  the  first  mill 
of  that  kind  in  town. 

The  granting  of  new  lands  was  still  held  in  abeyance,  as  it  was  not  yet 
known  to  whom  they  belonged.  The  town  were  evidently  determined  to 
move  carefully  in  the  matter,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following :  — 

"  Capt  Saml  Ayer  moving  to  the  proprietors  of  the  land  lying  in  Com- 
mon in  Haverhill  that  before  any  vote  or  act  pass  for  the  disposing  of  the 
land  or  timber  in  Haverhill,  it  may  be  known  who  by  law  have  right  to 
vote  in  the  aifair  :    This  petition  is  granted." 

"  Many  other  petitions  were  read  in  the  Town  meeting,  but  because  of 
the  last  vote,  nothing  was  acted  on  them." 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  motion  was  made  that  the  Town  Clerk  have  the 
keeping  of  the  "  Town's  old  book  of  grants  and  orders  so  that  copies  might 
be  given  out,  as  out  of  other  books  in  his  hands,"  but  being  strongly  ob- 
jected to,  it  was  not  put  to  vote." 

A  committee  of  five  were  chosen,  at  the  same  time,  to  "run  lines  and 
settle  bounds  between  individuals  and  the  common-lands,"  and  "  the  mod- 
erator gave  notice  for  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Common  or 
undivided  lands  in  Haverhill  for  April  2d." 

April  2d,  "  at  a  meeting  of  the  Commoners,"  the  old  committee  chosen 
to  examine  the  claims  of  persons  to  these  lands,  were  dismissed,  and  a  new 
one  chosen.f  This  new  committee  were  ordered  "to  do  it  as  speedily  as 
they  can." 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Commoners,  was  July  21,  1707,  when  nothing 
was  done  except  to  adjourn  to  September  2d.  At  the  latter  meeting,  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  prosecute  all  trespassers  on  the  common  lands, 

"'  We  do  not  learn  in  whose  hands  the  hook  was  at  this  time,  but  it  was  probably  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  township. 

t  Captain  Samuel  Ayre,  John  White,  Joseph  Peasely,  Sen. 


216  HISTORY   OF   HAVERniLL. 

and  the  Town  Clerk  was  empowered,  as  "  Clerk  of  the  Proprietors  in  Hav- 
erhill Commons,"  to  execute  a  power  of  attorney  for  the  committee." 

At  the  Commoners*  meeting  of  September  2d,  Thomas  Ayer  petitioned 
"for  a  small  piece  of  land  to  set  a  house  on  near  the  Meeting  house,  that 
so  the  said  Ayer's  wife  might  be  the  better  accommodated  for  the  keeping 
of  school  to  teach  children  to  read."  The  Selectmen  were  empowered  to 
lay  him  out  a  piece  for  that  purpose,  to  enjoy  during  her  lifetime. f 

AVith  the  opening  of  the  spring  of  1706,  the  Indians  again  commenced 
harrassing  the  frontier  settlements.  The  first  attack  was  made  in  April, 
at  Oyster  Kiver,  where  eight  persons  were  killed,  and  two  wounded.  On 
the  3d  of  July,  seven  were  killed  at  Dunstable,  and  the  same  day,  Ser- 
geant Kingsbury,  of  this  town,  was  killed,  or  taken  prisoner.^  A  few 
days  after,  (10th)  two  more  were  killed,  and  two  captured,  at  Dunstable  ; 
and  the  same  party  penetrated  as  far  as  Amesbury,  where  they  killed  some 
cattle.  At  Exeter,  the  same  day,  four  were  killed,  one  wounded,  and 
three  captured.     About  the  same  time,  one  person  was  killed  at  Hampton. 

To  add  to  the  general  alarm.  Governor  Dudley  received  intelligence  from 
Colonel  Schuyler,  of  Albany,  that  two  hundred  and  seventy  French  atid 
Indians  were  on  the  march  toward  Piscataqua  !  PortUnately  for  the  in- 
habitants, the  expedition  was  abandoned. 

Sometime  in  the  summer  of  this  year,  a  small  party  of  Indians  again 
visited  the  garrison  of  Joseph  Bradley ;  and  it  is  said  that  he,  his  wife 
and  children,  and  a  hired  man,  were  the  only  persons  in  it  at  the  time.  It 
was  in  the  night,  the  moon  shone  brightly,  and  they  could  be  easily  seen, 
silently  and  cautiously  approaching.  Mr.  Bradley  armed  himself,  his  wife 
and  man,  each  with  a  gun,  and  such  of  his  children  as  could  shoulder  one. 
INIrs.  Bradley,  supposing  that  they  had  come  purposely  for  her,  told  her 
husband  that  she  had  rather  be  killed  than  be  again  taken.  The  Indians 
rushed  upon  the  garrison,  and  endeavored  to  beat  down  the  door.  They 
succeeded  in  pushing  it  partly  open,  and  when  one  of  the  Indians  began 
to  crowd  himself  through  the  opening,  Mrs.  Bradley  fired  her  gun  and  shot 
him  dead.  The  rest  of  the  party,  seeing  their  companion  fall,  desisted 
from  their  purpose,  and  hastily  retreated. § 

Some  idea  of  the  dangers  and  alarms  of  these  years,  and  the  great  exer- 
tions made  for  the  security  of  the  frontier  towns,  may  be  had  from  the 

"  Suits  were  immediately  instituted  against  several  persons  by  the  Committee. 

t  Thomas  Ayer  married  Ruth  Wilford.  Children, — Euth,  born  1C95;  Josiah,  bom  1008;  Thomas, 
bom  icon ;  Qibberd,  born  1702 ;  Euth,  bom  1705,  killed  by  Indians  August  29,  1708.  Euth,  the  wife, 
was  also  killed  at  the  same  time.  Ayer  afterward  mai-ried  widow  Blasedell.  Children, — Euth,  born  1711, 
died  young. 

t  Pike's  Journal.  §  Tradition, — Mirick. 


HISTORY   OF   HATERHILL.  217 

large  numljer  of  soldiers  ferried  across  the  Merrimack  at  a  single  place  — 
Griffin's  ferry,  opposite  the  present  village:  —  Marcli  9,  1705,  thirty 
men;  July  1,  1706,  forty-seven  men  ;  6th,  forty-five  men  and  horses  ;  9th 
forty-one  men;  loth,  thirty-eight  men  and  horses;  June  -Ith,  1707,  eleven 
men  ;  14:th,  forty-five  men  and  horses;  30th,  thirty-one  men  and  horses  ; 
July  15th,  thirty-nine  men  and  horses;  August  1st  forty-five  men  and 
horses;  26th,  thirty-nine  men  and  horses;  September  27th,  thirty  men 
and  horses;  October  2-ith,  forty-four  men  and  horses.  In  1708,  Griffin 
fenried  across,  at  variovis  times,  one  hundred  and  eighty  men,  and  thirty- 
one  horses.  A  company  of  "  Centinels,"  under  Colonel  Saltonstall,  was 
posted  at  Bradford,  from  May  20th  to  October  7th ;  and  another  at  Ando- 
ver  for  the  same  time. 

Xo  further  damage  was  done  by  the  enemy,  until  the  next  spring,  when 
(May  22,  1707,)  a  small  party  killed  and  captured  four  persons  at  Oyster 
Eiver.  On  the  24th  of  June,  Joseph  and  Ebenezer  Page,  sons  of  Joseph 
Page  of  this  town,  were  killed  by  the  Indians.  In  August,  another  attack 
was  made  on  the  town,  in  which  Nathan  Simonds,  of  this  town,  and  Jon- 
athan Marsh,  of  Salem,  were  wounded.'-  The  particulars  of  these  attacks 
on  the  town  are  now  lost.  In  September,  two  persons  were  killed  at 
Kingston  and  Exeter,  and  a  party  of  Mohawks  attacked  the  settlement  at 
Oyster  Eiver,  killing  eight  of  the  inhabitants,  and  wounding  another. 

For  several  months  succeeding  this,  the  enemy  seemed  to  have  forsaken 
the  frontiers,  and  the  inhabitants  once  more  began  to  feel  some  degi-ee  of 
security.  But,  early  in  the  spring  of  1708,  intelligence  was  carried  to 
Governor  Dudley,  at  Boston,  that  an  army,  consisting  of  eight  hundred 
men,  was  about  marching  for  some  one  of  the  frontier  settlements.  Fpon 
the  receipt  of  this,  he  "  ordered  guards  in  the  most  exposed  places  of  both 
his  provinces."  A  body  of  troops,  under  Captain  Eobert  Coffin,  patrolled 
from  Kingston  to  Cocheco,  and  scouts  were  ordered  to  be  kept  out 
continually.  Four  hundred  Massachusetts  Militia  were  posted  in  N.  H. 
Province.  The  guard  sent  to  this  town,  consisted  of  about  forty  men, 
accompanied  with  three  officers,  from  Salem, — Major  Tui'ner,  (afterward 
Colonel,  a  principal  merchant  of  that  place,  and  for  many  years  a  member 
'  of  the  council) ,  Captain  Price,  and  Captain  Gardner,  and  soon  after  their 
arrival,  they  were  posted  in  the  frontier  houses  and  garrisons.  The  follow- 
ing account  is  copied  froin  Mirick  :  — 

"  Early  in  the  year,  a  grand  council  was  held  at  Montreal,  when  an 
extensive  engagement  was  agreed  upon ;  which  was  to  be  joined  by  the 
principal  Indians  of  every  tribe  in  Canada,  the  Abenakis  tribe,  one  hundred 

0  State  Archives,  Vol.  8. 
28 


218  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

select  French  Canadians,  and  a  number  of  volunteers,  several  of  whom 
were  officers  in  the  French  army,  composing  a  formidable  body  of  about 
four  hundred  men.  The  French  were  commanded  by  DeChaillons,  and  the 
infamous  Hertel  de  Eouville,  the  sacker  of  Deerfield,-''  and  the  Indians  by 
by  La  Perrierc.  The  Indians  were  merciless,  insolent  and  revengeful; 
but  the  French  at  that  period  equalled,  and  we  had  almost  said,  exceeded 
them  in  acts  of  wantonness  and  barbarity.  When  the  former  were  weary 
of  murdering  "  poor,  helpless  women  and  children" — when  they  were 
glutted  with  blood,  it  is  said  that  M.  Vaudreuil,  then  Governor  of  Canada, 
employed  the  latter  to  do  it.f 

To  excite  less  surprise  among  the  English,  they  divided  their  army  into 
two  bodies ;  the  French  with  the  Algonquin,  the  St.  Francois,  and  Huron 
Indians,  were  to  take  the  route  by  the  river  St.  Francois,  and  La  Perrierc 
and  the  French  Mohawks,  were  to  pass  by  Lake  Champlain.  Lake 
Nickisipiguc  was  appointed  the  place  of  rendezvous,  and  there  they  were  to 
meet  the  Norridgewock,  the  Penobscot,  and  other  eastern  tribes.  J  These 
arrangements  being  completed,  they  commenced  their  march  the  16th  of 
July ;  but  before  the  first  named  party  had  arrived  at  the  St.  Francois, 
a  Huron  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  companion,  which  was  considered  by 
the  tribe  as  an  ill-omen,  and  that  the  expedition,  though  commenced  under 
such  favorable  auspices,  would  certainly  prove  unfortunate.  Strongly 
impressed  with  this  idea,  and  not  wishing  to  be  connected  with  it  if  it 
should  so  prove,  they  deserted.  The  Mohawks  then  pretended  that  an 
infectious  distemper  had  broken  out  among  them,  and  that  it  would  soon 
spread  .  among  the  rest  of  the  tribes,  if  they  remained — and  they  also 
returned.  M.  Vaudreuil,  when  he  heard  of  this,  immediately  sent  word  to 
the  French  officers  to  proceed,  and  fall  upon  some  of  the  English  settle- 
ments, even  if  they  should  be  deserted  by  the  Algonquin  and  St.  Francois 
tribes.  Those,  however,  remained  firm  to  their  allegiance,  and  they 
continued  their  march ;  but  when  they  arrived  at  Nickisipigue,  their 
rendezvous,  what  was  their  astonishment  at  finding  that  the  eastern  Indians 
had  broken  faith  with  them. 

It  is  said  that  their  first  design  was  to  attack  Portsmouth,  and  then, 
marching  rapidly  onward  to  other  settlements,  spread  terror  and  desolation 

°  Dccrfield  was  desolated  in  the  winter  of  1704.  The  French  and  Indians  were  commanded  by  this 
same  Hertel  de  Eouville,  whose  name  will  ever  be  coni)led  with  infamy,  assisted  by  four  of  his  brothers ; 
all  of  whom  had  been  trained  up  to  the  business  by  their  father,  whj  had  been  a  famous  partizan  in  their 
former  wars.  They  slaughtered  forty-seven  of  the  inhabitants,  plundered  the  village,  and  set  it  on  fire. 
They  then  retreated,  carrying  with  them  one  hundred  and  twelve,  as  prisoners  of  war.  Dr.  Samuel 
Williams,  the  immediate  descendant  of  one  of  the  principal  sufferers,  and  the  accomidished  historian  of 
Vermont,  has  given  an  interesting  account  of  the  whole  affair. 

t  llutohinson.       t  Ibid, 


HISTORY    OF    HATERniLL.  219 

along  the  whole  frontier.  But  being  unable  to  accomplish  this,  on  account 
of  the  unexpected  desertions,  they  were  obliged  to  mofiify  their  plan. 
Their  whole  force  was  now  about  250,  a  small  number  when  compared 
with  that  which  started  from  Canada.  Probably  the  French  officers  felt 
ashamed  to  return  without  effecting  something,  after  they  had  been  at  so 
much  trouble  and  expense ;  accordingly,  Haverhill,  a  compact  village, 
consisting  of  about  thirty  houses,  =■■'  was  selected  for  the  slaughter. 

At  the  break  of  day,  on  the  29  th  of  August,  they  passed  the  frontier 
garrisons  undiscovered,  and  were  first  seen  near  the  pound,  marching  two 
and  two,  by  -John  Iveezar,|  who  was  returning  from  Amesbury.  He  im- 
mediately ran  into  the  village  and  alarmed  the  inhabitants,  who  seem  to 
have  slept  totally  unguarded,  by  firing  his  gun  near  the  meeting-house. 
The  enemy  soon  appeared,  making  the  air  ring  with  terrific  yells,  with  a 
sort  of  whistle,  which  says  tradition,  could  be  heard  as  far  as  a  horn,  and 
clothed  in  all  the  terrors  of  a  savage  war-dress.  They  scattered  in  every 
direction  over  the  village,  so  that  they  might  accomplish  their  bloody  work 
with  more  despatch.  The  first  person  they  saw,  was  Mrs.  Smith,  whom 
they  shot  as  she  was  flying  from  her  house  to  a  garrison.  The  foremost 
p'irty  attacked  the  house  J  of  Eev.  Benjamin  Eolfe,  which  was  then  garri- 
soned with  three  soldiers,  and  he,  and  a  part  of  his  beloved  family,  were 
suddenly  awakened  from  their  slumbers,  only  to  hear  the  horrid  knell  for 
their  departure.  Mr.  Kolfc  instantly  leaped  from  his  bed,  placed  himself 
against  the  door,  which  they  were  endeavoring  to  beat  in,  and  called  on 
the  soldiers  for  assistance  ;  but  these  craven-hearted  men  refused  to  give 
it,  for  they  .were  palsied  with  fear,  and  walked  to  and  fro  through  the 

*  Hutchinson. 

t  This  Keezar,  the  son  of  John  Keezar,  who  was  killed  when  Mrs.  Dustin  was  captured,  was  a  very 
eccentric  man,  and  a  jack  of  all  trades.  He  was  said  to  be  exceedingly  proud  of  his  proficiency  in  walking 
leaping,  and  other  manual  exercises ;  and,  if  tradition  may  be  relied  upon,  he  was  certainly  a  great  walker 
and  leaper ;  for  it  said  that  he  walked  to  Boston  and  back  again  in  one  night,  and  jumped  over  a  cart 
with  two  large  pails  full  of  milk  in  his  hands.  It  was  his  custom  to  go  from  this  town  to  Amesbury  and 
pHch  his  tent  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  where  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  shoemaking,  and  lived  in  all  respects, 
while  there,  like  an  austere  hermit.  Some  say,  that  when  he  discovered  the  enemy,  he  was  out  to  take  in 
his  horse,  which,  according  to  his  custom,  he  had  turned  into  his  neighbor's  field  to  feed.  Others  say  they 
were  discovered  by  one  Hutchins,  who  was  out  to  steal  milk  from  his  neighbor's  cows. 

Another  account  says  that  the  slaughter  might  have  been  prevented  had  it  not  been  for  the  agitation  of 
a  young  man,  who,  intending  to  start  very  early  that  morning  for  a  distant  town,  went  up  on  the  Common 
to  catch  his  horse,  and  while  there,  discovered  the  enemy  advancing  toward  the  village.  He  immediately 
hastened  to  the  town,  but  in  his  extreme  agitation,  he  thought  only  of  the  safety  of  the  young  lady  to 
whom  he  had  paid  very  particular  attention  some  time  previous.  It  is  said  that  he  passed  through  a  part 
of  the  village,  went  directly  to  the  abode  of  his  mistress,  and  concealed  her  in  a  pile  of  boards.  lie  then, 
after  seeing  his  own  property  safe,  and  which,  perhaps,  was  all  he  possessed  in  the  wide  world,  gave  the 
alarm ;  but  the  attack  had  already  commenced. 

X  Where  Dr.  Moses  Nichols'  house  now  stands. 


220  HISTORY    OF    IIAVERHILI.- 

chambcrs,  crying  and  swinging  their  arms.'-  Had  they  displayed  but  half 
the  ordinary  courage  of  men,  no  doubt  they  would  have  successfully  de- 
fended the  house.  But,  instead  of  that,  they  did  not  fire  a  gun,  or  even 
lift  a  finger  toward  its  defence.  The  enemy  finding  their  entrance  stren- 
uously opposed,  fired  two  balls  through  the  door,  one  of  which  took  eft'cct,  and 
wounded  Mr.  Ilolfe  in  the  elbow.  They  then  pressed  against  it  with  their 
united  strength,  and  Mr.  Eolfe,  finding  it  impossible  to  resist  them  any 
longer,  fled  precipitately  through  the  house,  and  out  at  the  back  door. 
The  Indians  followed,  overtook  him  at  the  well,  and  despatched  him  with 
their  tomahawks,  f  They  then  searched  every  part  of  the  house  for  plunder, 
and  also  for  other  victims,  on  whom  they  might  inflict  their  savage  cruelties. 
They  soon  found  Mrs.  Kolfe  and  her  youngest  child,  Mchitable,  and  while 
one  of  them  sunk  his  hatchet  deep  in  her  head,  another  took  the  infant 
from  her  dying  grasp,  and  dashed  its  head  against  a  stone  near  the  door. 

Two  of  Mr.  liolfe's  children,  about  six  and  eight  years  of  age,|  were 
providentially  saved  by  the  sagacity  and  courage  of  Hagar,  a  negro  slave, 
who  was  an  inmate  of  the  family.  Upon  the  first  alarm,  she  leaped  from 
her  bed,  carried  them  into  the  cellar,  covered  them  with  two  tubs,  and 
then  concealed  herself  The  enemy  entered  the  cellar  and  plundered  it  of 
every  thing  valuable.  They  repeatedly  passed  the  tubs  that  covered  the 
two  children,  and  even  trod  on  the  foot  of  one,  without  discovering  them. 
They  drank  milk  from  the  pans,  then  dashed  them  on  the  cellar  bottom, 
and  took  "meat  from  the  barrel,  behind  which  Hagar  was  concealed. § 

°  Just  what  we  might  expect  of  such  "  hired  hoys"  as  Colonel  Noyes  had  sent  to  defend  (!)  the  town, 
—Or.  W.  C. 

t  Another  account  says  that  he  was  killed  by  one  of  the  bullets  shot  through  the  door,  and  this  we  be- 
lieve is  the  prevailing  opinion  ;  but  we  feel  confident  that  it  is  untrue.  We  know  that  it  is  hard  for  others, 
as  well  as  ourselves,  to  give  up  a  tradition  which  we  have  often  heard  repeated  by  our  neighbors,  and  by 
our  fathers  ;  but  in  this  case  we  think  it  must  be  done,  if  the  truth  is  desired.  W'hen  we  first  began  to 
devclope  the  atlair,  we  felt  confident,  almost  to  a  certainty,  that  he  was  killed  through  the  door,  because 
every  body  said  so;  and  indeed,  we  had  so  wi'ote  it,  and  read  it  to  a  friend  of  ours,  who  agreed  with  us  on 
that  point,  at  least  he  made  no  objections  to  it.  But  while  examining  other  affairs,  we  were  shown  some 
extracts  from  the  manuscript  account  of  Rev.  Abiel  Abbot,  taken  by  him  ft-om  the  lips  of  Judith  Whiting, 
and  which  has  been  before  mentioned  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Whiting  was  eight  years  old  when  the  attack 
happened,  and  when  she  gave  the  account  to  Mr.  Abbot,  though  very  aged,  her  faculties  were  unimpaired  ; 
and  she  stated  that  he  was  shot  through  the  elbow,  ffed  through  the  house,  and  was  tomahawked  at  the 
well.  We  place  much  reliance  on  her  statement,  and  no  doubt,  the  story  of  Mr.  Rolfe's  being  killed 
through  the  door,  arose  from  the  wound  which  he  received  in  his  elbow.  It  appears  to  us  very  probable 
that  it  :.hould. — Mirick, 

X  Elizabeth,  was  afterward  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Checkley,  of  Boston,  and  was  the  mother  of 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Adams,  the  patriot.     Mary  became  the  wife  of  Colonel  Estcs  Hatch,  of  Dorchester. 

§  "  Iler  father's  maid-servant  hearing  that  the  Indians  were  upon  them,  jumped  from  her  bed,  and  with 
wonderful  presence  of  mind,  took  two  of  the  little  daughters,  who  probably  slept  in  the  room  with  her, 
one  in  and  the  other  9,  named  Mary  and  Elizabeth,  and  fled  with  them  into  the  cellar.  There,  under 
two  large  tubs,  she  concealed  them,  and  then  successfully  eoBccaled  herself." — Drake's  History  of  Jiostotl. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  221 

Anna  Whittaker,  wlio  was  then  living  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Eolfe,  pro- 
bably as  a  nurse,  concealed  herself  in  an  apple-chest,  under  the  stairs,  and 
escaped  unharmed.-'  But  it  fared  differently  with  the  cowardly  soldiers- 
They  earnestly  begged  for  mercy,  of  their  inhuman  conquerors,  but  their 
cries  were  unheeded ;  and  when  the  massacre  was  over,  their  bodies  were 
numbered  with  the  slain.  We  can  have  no  pity  for  the  fate  of  such 
contemptible  cowards.  A  man  who  will  shrink  from  danger  at  such  a  time, 
and  in  such  a  situation,  while  he  holds  the  weapons  of  defence  in  his  hands, 
should  be  ranked  with  the  reptile,  and  ever  be  looked  upon  with  scorn  by 
the  world.  The  names  of  such,  should  sink  in  oblivion,  or  survive  as 
memorials  of  surpassing  infamy. 

The  family  of  Thomas  Hartshorne  suffered  as  severely  as  that  of  Mr. 
Kolfe.  He  saw  a  party  approaching  to  assault  his  house,  which  stood  a 
few  rods  west  of  the  meeting-house,  and  escaped  out  of  it,  followed  by  two 
of  his  sons,  to  call  assistance ;  but  all  three  were  shot  dead  immediately 
after  leaving  it.  A  third  son  was  tomahawked  as  he  was  coming  out  at 
the  door.  Mrs.  Hartshorne,  with  that  presence  of  mind  which  is  a 
characteristic  of  her  sex,  when  surrounded  with  danger,  instantly  took  the 
rest  of  her  children — except  an  infant  which  she  left  on  the  bed  in  the 
garret,  and  which  she  was  afraid  would,  by  its  cries,  betray  their  place  of 
concealment,  if  she  took  it  with  her — through  a  trap  door  into  the  cellar. 
The  enemy  entered  the  house,  and  began  to  plunder  it,  but  happily  did 
not  discover  them.  They  went  into  the  garret,  took  the  infant  from  its 
bed,  and  threw  it  out  of  the  window.  It  fell  on  a  pile  of  clapboards,  and 
when  the  action  was  over,  it  was  found  completely  stunned.  It  lived, 
however,  and  became  a  man  of  uncommon  stature,  and  of  remarkable 
strength.  His  neighbors  would  frequently  joke  him,  and  say  that  the 
Indians  stunted  him  when  they  threw  him  from  the  garret- window.f 

One  of  the  parties  proceeded  towards  the  river,  and  attacked  the  house 
of  Lieutenant  John  Johnson.j     Mr.  Johnson  and  his  wife,  with  an  infant  a 

*^  From  the  following  extract,  it  would  scein  that  Anna  AA'hittaker  afterward  claimed  for  herself  the 
credit  of  saving  the  children.  The  abo^c,  however,  has  always  been  considered  the  correct  version  of  the 
incident :  —  "  Brpokfield,  Sep  2-1,  1764. 

On  the  8th  Inst,  died  after  a  few  Days  illness,  Mrs  Anna  JJcyward  in  the  74th  Year  of  her  Age, 
the  Wife  of  Oliver  Ileyward  Esq.  She  has  left  by  a  former  Husband  {John  Uincl)  13  Children,  82 
Grand-Children,  and  17  Great-Grand-Children,  in  all  112.  She  was  very  useful  as  a  Mid-wife,  and  in  her 
last  sickness  she  had  a  most  unshaken  Trust  in  the  Mercy  of  God,  through  the  Redeemer.  In  her  Youth, 
when  the  Savages  invaded  HavcrUill,  she  saved  two  Children  of  the  Ee^•  Mr  Molfe's,  by  hiding  them  ia 
the  Cellar  alter  the  Indians  had  entered  the  House  wh'le  they  were  glutting  their  Rage  on  the  Parents  : 
the  two  Indians  followed  he»  into  the  Cellar,  yet  sucli  was  her  Presence  of  i\Iind,  and  Dexterity,  that  she 
conceal'dthe  Children  and  herself  that  they  escaped  their  Notice;  and  they  were  the  only  Members  of 
the  Family  at  Home  who  survived  the  bloody  Carnage." — From  Massachusetts  Gazette,  Sej)t.  27,  1764. 

t  Abbott's  MSS. 

X  Johnson's  house  stood  on  the  spot  now  covered  by  the  Exchange  building,  on  Water  Street. 


222  HISTORY    OP    IIAVEEHILL. 

year  old  in  her  arms,  were  standing  at  the  door,  when  the  enemy  made 
their  appearance.  Mr.  Johnson  was  shot,  and  his  wife  fled  through  the 
house  into  the  garden,-  carrying  her  babe,  where  she  was  overtaken  by  the 
foe,  and  immediately  despatched.  But  when  she  fell,  she  was  careful  not 
to  injure  her  child,  and  it  seemed  as  if  her  last  thoughts  were  for  its 
safety.  The  enemy,  it  appears,  did  not  murder  it,  and  it  is  somewhat 
remarkable  that  they  did  not;  for  they  always  took  great  delight  in 
torturing  and  dashing  out  the  brains  of  innocent  babes.  Perhaps  it  was 
because  the  mother  was  not  alive  to  witness  its  agonies.  After  the  massa- 
cre was  over,  it  was  found  at  the  breast  of  its  dead  mother,  f 

Another  party  rifled  and  burnt  the  house  of  Mr.  Silver,  which  stood 
within  ten  rods  of  the  meeting  house,  and  others  attacked  the  watch-house, 
which  was,  however,  successfully  defended.  Another  party  went  to  the 
house  of  Captain  Simon  Wainwright,J  whom  they  killed  at  the  first  fire. 
The  soldiers  stationed  in  the  chambers,  were  preparing  to  defend  the  house 
till  the  last,  when  Mrs.  Wainwright  fearlessly  unbarred  the  door,  and  let 
them  in.  She  spoke  to  them  kindly,  waited  upon  them  with  seeming 
alacrity,  and  promised  to  procure  them  whatever  they  desired.  The  enemy 
knew  not  what  to  make  of  this ;  —  the  apparent  cheerfulness  with  which 
they  were  received,  and  the  kindness  with  which  they  were  treated,  was  so 
different  from  what  they  expected  to  meet  with,  that  it  seemed  to  para- 
lyze their  energies.  They,  however,  demanded  money  of  Mrs.  Wainwright, 
and  upon  her  retiring  '  to  bring  it,'  as  she  said,  she  fled  with  all  her  chil- 
dren, except  one  daughter  who  was  taken  captive,  and  were  not  afterwards 
discovered.  The  enemy,  so  soon  as  they  saw  how  completely  they  had 
been  deceived,  were  greatly  enraged,  and  attacked  the  chambers  with 
great  violence ;  but  the  soldiers  courageously  defended  them,  and  after 
attempting  to  fire  the  house,  they  retreated,  taking  with  them  three  pris- 
oners. In  the  mean-time,  two  Indians  skulked  behind  a  large  stone,  which 
stood  in  the  field  a  few  rods  east  of  the  house,  where  they  could  fire  up- 
on its  inmates  at  their  leisure.  The  soldiers  in  the  chambers  fired  upon 
them,  and  killed  them  both.  They  were  afterwards  buried  in  the  same 
field,  a  few  rods  south,  and  but  a  few  years  since,  the  water  washed  their 
skeletons  from  their  places  of  repose,  § 

Two  Indians  attacked  the  house  of  Mr.  Swan,  which  stood  in  the  field 
now  called  AVhite's  lot,l|  nearly  opposite  to  the  house  of  Capt.  Emerson. 

o  Where  the  Osgood  Block  now  stands.  t  Tradition.  • 

X  Captain  Wainwright  lived  in  a  house  which  stood  on  the  ground   now  covered  by  that  of  the  late 

Captain  Nehcniiah  Emerson's,  and  directly  opposite  the  Winter  Street  Church. — O.  W.  C.        §  Mirick. 
II   ir/u'te's  Lot  was  situated  between  White  and  Franklin  Streets.    Swan's  house  was  probably  very 

near  the  present  site  of  the  Winter  Street  Church. — G-.  W.  C. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  223 

Swan  and  his  wife  saw  tliem  approaching,  and  determined,  if  possible,  to 
save  their  own  lives,  and  the  lives  of  their  children,  from  the  knives  of  the 
ruthless  butchers.  They  immediately  placed  themselves  against  the  door, 
which  was  so  narrow  that  two  could  scarcely  enter  abreast.  The 
Indians  rushed  against  it,  but  finding  that  it  could  not  be  easily 
opened,  they  commenced  their  operations  more  systematically.  One  of 
them  placed  his  back  to  the  door,  so  that  he  could  make  'his  whole  strength 
bear  upon  it,  while  the  others  pushed  against  him.  The  strength  of  the 
besiegers  was  greater  than  that  of  the  besieged,  and  Mr.  Swan,  being 
rather  a  timid  man,  said  our  venerable  narrator,  almost  despaired  of  sav- 
ing himself  and  family,  and  told  his  wife  that  he  thought  it  would  be  bet- 
ter to  let  them  in.  But  this  resolute  and  courageous  woman  had  no  such 
idea.  The  Indians  had  now  succeeded  in  partly  opening  the  door,  and  one 
of  them  was  crowding  himself  in,  while  the  other  was  pushing  lustily  after. 
The  heroic  wife  saw  that  there  was  no  time  for  parleying  —  she  seized  her 
spit,  which  was  nearly  three  feet  in  length,  and  a  deadly  weapon  in  the 
hands  of  woman,  as  it  proved,  and  collecting  all  the  strength  she  pos- 
sessed, drove  it  through  the  body  of  the  foremost.  This  was  too  warm  a 
reception  for  the  besiegers  —  it  was  resistance  from  a  source,  and  with  a 
weapon  they  little  expected ;  and  surely,  who  else  would  ever  think  of 
spitting  a  man  ?  —  The  two  Indians,  thus  repulsed,  immediately  retreated 
and  did  not  molest  them  again.  Thus,  by  the  fortitude  and  heroic  courage 
of  a  wife  and  mother,  this  family  was  probably  saved  from  a  bloody 
grave.  ^'^ 

One  of  the  parties  set  fire  to  the  back  side  of  the  meeting-house,  a  new 
and,  for  that  period,  an  elegant  building.  These  transactions  were  all  per- 
formed about  the  same  time ;  but  they  were  not  permitted  to  continue 
their  work  of  murder  and  conflagration  long,  before  they  became  panic- 
struck.  Mr.  Davis,  an  intrepid  man,  went  behind  Mi-.  Eolfe's  barn,  which 
stood  near  the  house,  struck  it  violently  with  a  large  club,  called  on  men 
by  name,  gave  the  word  of  command,  as  though  he  were  ordering  an  at- 
tack, and  shouted  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Come  on !  come  on  !  we  will  have 
them ! "     The  party  in  Mr.  Eolfe's  house,  supposing  that  a  large  body  of 

<*  The  account  of  this  deed  is  received  wholly  from  tradition.  We  heard  it  related  hy  an  aged  and 
venerahle  gentleman,  Captain  Nehemiah  Emerson,  who  has  often  heard  it  told  by  his  grand-father,  who 
then  lived  in  the  garrison  of  his  father,  Jonathan  Emerson. — Miriclc 

The  house  of  Nathan  Simons  was  also  attacked,  and  he  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  by  a  ball.  Simons 
shot  two  Indians,  when  the  others  withdrew.  From  Sibley's  History  of  Union,  Me.,  we  learn  that  there 
is  a  tradition  in  the  Sibley  family,  that  Samuel  Sibley,  from  whom  the  settlers  in  Union  are  descended, 
was  killed  in  this  town  at  this  time,  whOe  throwing  water  upon  the  meeting-house  after  it  had  been  set 
on  fire  by  the  Indians.  He  belonged  in  Salem,  and  was  probably  one  of  the  men  under  Major  Turner  at 
this  time.— G.  W.  C. 


224  HISTORY   OF   nAVEIiniLL. 

the  English  had  come  upon  them,  began  the  cry  of  "  The  English  are 
come !  "■'  and  after  attempting  to  fire  the  house,  precipitately  left  it. 
About  this  time,  Major  Turner  arrived  with  a  company  of  soldiers,  and 
the  whole  body  of  the  enemy  then  commenced  a  rapid  retreat,  taking  with 
them  a  number  of  prisoners.  The  retreat  commenced  about  the  ris- 
ing of  the  sun.  Meantime,  Mr.  Davis  ran  to  the  meeting-house,  and 
with  the  aid  of  a  few  others,  succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  devour- 
ing element ;  but  it  was  mostly  owing  to  his  exertions,  that  the  house  was 
saved. 

The  town  by  this  time  was  generally  alarmed.  Joseph  Bradley  collec- 
ted a  small  party,  in  the  northerly  part  of  it,  and  secured  the  medicine- 
box  and  packs  of  the  enemy,  which  they  had  left  about  three  miles  from 
the  village.!  Capt.  Samuel  Ayer,  a  fearless  man,  and  of  great  strength, 
collected  a  body  of  about  twenty  men,  and  pursued  the  retreating  foe.  He 
came  up  with  them  just  as  they  were  entering  the  woods,  when  they  faced 
about,  and  though  they  numbered  thirteen  or  more  to  one,  still  Capt.  Ayer 
did  not  hesitate  to  give  them  battle.  These  gallant  men  were  soon  rein- 
forced by  another  party,  under  the  command  of  his  sonj  ;  and  after  a 
severe  skirmish,  which  lasted  about  an  hour,  they  retook  some  of  the  pris- 
oners, and  the  enemy  precipitately  retreated,  leaving  nine  of  their  number 
dead.§ 

The  French  and  Indians  continued  their  retreat,  and  so  great  were  their 
sufferings,  arising  from  the  loss  of  their  packs,  and  their  consecjuent  ex- 

o  Sketch  of  naverhill. — Saltonstall. 

t  A  short  distance  north  of  the  house  of  Deacon  Carleton,  in  the  West  Parish,  and  about  half  a  mile 
north  of  the  place  where  the  subsequent  skirniisli  took  place. — O.  W.  C. 

J  The  whole  number  is  supposed  to  have  been  sixty  or  seventy. — G.  W.  C. 

§  The  spot  where  this  skirmish  took  place,  was  the  rise  of  land  nearly  west  of  the  house  of  S.  Eaton 
Esq.,  about  half  way  between  the  Derry  Road  and  the  Parsonage  Road,  and  south-east  of  Long  Hill,  in  the 
West  Parish.  Among  the  enemy  who  fell  at  this  place,  were  Hcrtel  of  Chambly,  and  Vcrchcres,  both 
officers  of  experience.  In  this  bloody  affair,  the  renowned  chief  Assacamhuit,  or,  as  the  French  called 
him,  Nescamhiimit,  fought  side  by  side  with  the  French  Commander-in-Chief,  and  is  said  to  have  per- 
formed prodigies  of  valor  with  the  sword  picsented  to  him  by  Louis  XIV,  of  France,  in  1706.  The  enemy 
had  eighteen  wounded ;  and  three  Indians,  and  five  Frenchmen  killed.  Assacamhuit  was  himself 
wounded  in  the  foot  by  a  shot. 

Smith,  in  his  History  of  Canada,  (Quebec,  1815,  Vol.  1,  p.  105,)  gives  the  following  aceount  of  this 
memoraUe  attack  on  the  town  : — "  The  French  army  pushed  on  to  the  attack  of  a  village,  called  Haverhill, 
in  which  was  posted  fifty  soldiers,  sent  by  the  Governor  of  New  England,  in  consequence  of  the  information 
of  the  approach  of  a  French  force.  The  Village  was  attacked  at  day  break,  on  the  29th  day  of  August. 
was  well  defended  by  a  small  party  of  troops  and  by  the  inhabitants ;  at  length  overpowered  by  numbers, 
the  French  took  possession  of  it,  having  killed  not  less  than  one  hundred  men,  and  carried  several  into 
captivity.  The  French,  on  their  return  were  pursued,  and  overtaken  just  as  they  were  entering  the  woods, 
an  action  ensued  which  lasted  about  an  hour,  when  the  English  were  defeated  and  several  were  killed. 
The  French  luss,  amounted  only  to  eight  men  killed  and  eighteen  wounded  ;  among  the  slain,  were  two 
oihcers,  Ilcrtel  de  Chambly,  Rouville's  brother,  and  Vercheros." — G.  W.  C. 


HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL.  22o 

posure  to  famine,  tliat  many  of  the  Frenclimen  returned  and  surrendered 
themselves  prisoners  of  war ;  and  some  of  the  captives  were  dismissed, 
with  a  message  that,  if  they  were  pursued,  the  others  should  be  put  to 
death.  Perhaps,  if  they  had  been  pursued,  nearly  the  whole  of  their  force 
might  have  been  conquered ;  for  the  Governor,  in  his  address  to  the  As- 
sembly, says,  "  we  might  have  done  more  against  them  if  we  had  followed 
their  tracks."  As  it  was,  they  left  thirty  of  their  number  dead,  in 
both  engagements,  and  many  were  wounded,  whom  thc}'^  carried  with  them. 
The  French,  when  they  returned,  reported  very  diiferently  from  this ; 
they  said  that  they  "  faced  about,  and  that  our  people,  being  astonished, 
were  all  killed  or  taken,  except  ten  or  twelve,  who  escaped." 

The  inhabitants  were  now  left  to  perform  the  sorrowful  office  of  bury- 
ing their  dead  —  and  it  was  a  sorrowful  one  indeed.  The  day  was 
somewhat  advanced  when  the  battle  was  over,  and  it  being  extremely  warm 
the  interment  was  necessarily  hurried.  Coffins  could  not  be  made  for  all, 
and  a  large  pit  was  dug  in  the  burying  ground,  in  which  several  of  them 
were  laid.  Some  of  those  who  fell  in  the  last  engagement,  it  is  presumed, 
were  buried  on  the  spot. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  slain  who  belonged  to  this  town ;  perhaps 
it  is  not  full,  though  we  have  taken  great  pains  to  make  it  so :  —  Eev. 
Benjamin  Eolfe,  his  wife  and  one  child;  Mrs.  Smith,  Thomas  Hartshorne 
and  three  sons  ;  Lieut.  John  Johnson  and  his  wife,  Catharine  ;  Capt.  Simon 
"Wainwright ;  Capt.  Samuel  Ayer ;  John  Dalton ;  Euth  Ayer,  wife  of 
Thomas  Ayer,  and  one  daughter;  and  Euth  Johnson,  wife  of  Thomas 
Johnson.  The  whole  number  is  sixteen.  We  have  not  been  able  to  collect 
the  names  of  those  who  were  taken  prisoners,  or  the  exact  number.  Mr. 
Pike,  in  his  Joui*nal,  says  that  the  enemy  '  killed  and  carried  away  33 
persons,  and  burnt  several  houses.'  Mr.  Hutchinson  says  '  about  forty  ' 
were  killed  and  taken  prisoners ;  perhaps  the  truth  would  fall  between. 
A  daughter  of  Capt.  Simon  Wainwright,  who  was  not  so  fortunate  as  to 
escape  with  her  mother,  when  she  fled  with  the  rest  of  her  children,  was 
made  prisoner ;  and  in  1710,  her  mother,  Mary,  petitioned  the  General 
Court  to  redeem  her.     The  following  is  her  petition :  — 

"  Haverhill,  29th  April,  1710. 

To  his  Excellency,  Joseph  Dudley,  Captain-General  and  Governor  in 
chief,  &c.,  &c.,  to  the  Honorable  council  and  General  Assembly  now  mett; 
the  petition  of  Mary  Wainwright  sheweth  that,  whereas  my  daughter  hath 
been  for  a  long  time  in  captivity  with  the  French  of  Canada,  and  I  have 
late  reason  to  fear  that  her  soul  is  in  great  danger  if  not  already  capti- 
vated and  she  brought  to  their  way ;  therefore  I  humbly  intreate  your 


226  HISTOKY    OF   nAVERIIILL. 

Excellency,  that  some  care  may  be  taken  for  her  redemption  before  Canada 
be  so  endeared  to  her  that  I  shall  never  have  my  daughter  more.  Some 
arc  ready  to  say  that  there  are  so  few  captives  in  Canada  that  it  is  not 
worthe  while  to  put  the  country  to  the  charges  for  them  ;  but  I  hope  your 
Excellency,  nor  any  other  good,  judicious  man,  will  think  so;  for  St.  Jamea 
has  instructed  us,  as  you  may  see,  chapter  5,  v  20 — Let  him  know  that  he 
which  converteth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  shall  save  a  soul 
from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins.  This  is  all  I  can  do  at 
present,  but  I  desire  humbly  to  begg  of  God  that  he  would  direct  the  hearts 
of  our  rulers  to  do  that  which  may  be  most  for  his  glory  and  for  the  good 
of  his  poor  distressed  creatures,  and  so  I  take  leave  to  subscribe  myself 
your  most  humble  petitioner,  Widow  Mary  Wainwright. 

In  the  house  of  Representatives  read  and  recommended  12th  June." 

One  of  the  soldiers,  Joseph  Bartlett,  stationed  at  Capt.  Wainwright's 
house,  was  also  taken  prisoner ; "  he  was  a  native  of  Newbury,  was  born 
18th  November,  1G86,  taken  prisoner  29th  August,  1708,  returned  8th 
November,  1712,  and  died  1754,  aged  GS.  After  his  return,  he  published 
a  narrative  f  of  his  captivity,  and  perhaps  the  History  of  Haverhill  will 
not  be  deemed  an  improper  place  to  give  a  short  account  of  him. 

♦In  the  year  1707  —  says  the  narrative  —  in  November  1,  Joseph 
Bartlett  was  pressed  and  sent  to  Haverhill.  My  quarters  were  in  the 
house  of  Capt.  Waiudret,  [wright.]  August  29,  1708,  there  came  about 
100  French  and  oO  Indians  J  and  beset  the  town  of  Haverhill — set  fire 
to  several  houses;  among  which  was  that  of  Capt.  W,'  After  the  enemy 
entered  the  house,  they  took  him  and  another  soldier,  named  Newmarsh, 
and  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Wainwright,  prisoners.  Soon  after  the  different 
parties  commenced  their  retreat,  they  knocked  one  of  their  prisoners  in 
head,  named  Lindall,  a  soldier  belonging  to  Salem.  He  then  says: 
'  They  then  marched  on  together,  when  Capt.  Eaires  (Ayer,)  with  a  small 
company  waylaid  and  shot  upon  them,  which  put  them  to  flight,  so  that 
they  did  not  get  together  again  until  three  days  after.'  Bartlett  said 
that  he  was  first  taken  by  the  French,  but  after  the  battle  they  gave  him 
to  the  Indians.     The  three  first  days  they  travelled  hard. 

He  was  compelled  to  carry  a  heavy  pack,  and  travel  with  his  hands  tied 
behind  him.  A  part  of  the  time  he  was  led  by  an  Indian,  who  carried  a 
hatchet  in  his  hand  and  a  pistol  in  his  girdle,  with  a  cord  tied  about  his 


o  John  Gyles,  of  Lynn,  one  of  Major  Turner's  soldiers  was  wounded  in  the  attack. 
t  We  have  never  seen  but  one  copy  of  this  narrative,  and  that  was  obtained  for  us  by  John  Farmer, 
Esq.,  of  Concord. 

t  Most  of  the  accounts  agree  in  statin?  that  there  was  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  enemy. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVEUHILL.  227 

neck.  On  arriving  at  Lake  Winnipiseoge,  the  French  and  Indians  parted. 
The  latter  crossed  the  Lake ;  but  before  they  reached  the  opposite  shore, 
they  killed  a  bear  which  was  swimming  in  the  water,  towed  it  to  the 
shore  and  cooked  it.  They  then  fared  sumptuously,  and  remained  in  that 
place  about  a  day  and  a  half,  when  they  proceeded  on  their  journey,  and 
travelled  five  days,  with  scarcely  any  other  sustenance  than  pounded  corn. 
Having  arrived  at  a  river,  the  Indians  made  some  canoes  in  a  day  and  a 
half,  when  they  sailed  down  the  stream  three  days,  eating  nothing  for  four, 
but  a  few  sour  grapes  and  thorn  plums.  They  then  killed  a  hawk  and 
divided  it  among  fifteen — the  head  fell  to  the  share  of  Mr.  Bartlett,  which, 
he  says,  "  was  the  largest  meal  I  had  these  four  days."  From  thence  they 
proceeded  to  Chamble,  and  on  their  passage  they  met  with  some  Indians 
who  gave  them  a  little  corn  and  a  few  pumpkins.  He  there  saw  an 
Englishman,  named  Littlefield,  taken  from  Wells.  The  Indians  shaved 
the  hair  from  one  side  of  his  head,  greased  the  other,  and  painted  his  face. 
They  then  started  for  Montreal,  and  when  they  arrived,  he  was  examined 
by  the  Governor,  and  from  thence  went  to  the  house  of  a  Roman  Catholic 
Priest,  where  he  lodged  over  night.  The  next  morning  they  started  for  an 
Indian  fort,  nine  miles  distant.  When  about  half  way,  they  came  to  a  fire, 
surrounded  by  'fifteen  men  and  thirty  boj^s,'  where  they  held  a  consulta- 
tion about  burning  him ;  but  before  it  was  closed,  the  Indians,  who  owned 
him,  and  the  boys,  marched  away.  Soon  as  they  arrived  at  the  fort,  they 
began  to  abuse  their  prisoner — a  squaw  cut  off  his  little  finger,  and 
another  beat  him  with  a  pole.  The  Indians  danced  and  sung  all  night, 
and  invited  him  to  join  them,  but  he  refused  ;  they  pulled  him  into  the 
ring,  however,  and  he  went  once  round  it.  An  Indian  then  came  to  him, 
and,  after  making  a  long  speech,  gave  him  to  an  old  squaw,  who  took 
him  to  her  wigwam.  In  February  next,  he  went  to  live  with  a  French- 
man, named  Delude,  and  remained  with  him  until  Sunday,  October  5, 
1712,  when  he  started  to  return  to  his  friends  in  Newbury,  and  arrived 
on  the  8th  of  November,  after  a  captivity  of  four  years,  two  months,  and 
nine  days. 

After  his  return,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  '  the  sum  of  £20.  15s. 
be  allowed  and  paid  to  Joseph  Bartlett  in  full  of  his  petition  of  charges 
and  expenses  to  obtain  his  liberty  from  the  Indians,  being  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Indians  at  Haverhill  when  in  her  Majesties  service  in  the  year 
1708,  and  for  his  support  during  four  years  captivity  and  for  the  loss  of 
his  arms.' 

Mr.  Pike,  in  his  Journal,  says  that  '  many  soldiers  belonging  to  Salem, 
were  here  slain.'     Among  them  was  William  Coffin,  who  distinguished 


228  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

himself  for  his  bravery  ;  and  soon  after,  his  widow  petitioned  the  General 
Court  fur  relief,  when  it  passed  the  following  resolve :  — 

'  Nov.  3,  1708. — Kosolved  that  the  sum  of  £5  be  allowed  and  paid  out 
of  the  publick  Treasury  to  the  Petitioner,  Mrs.  Sarah  Coffin,  on  account  of 
the  remarkable  forwardness  and  courage  which  her  husband,  AVilliam 
Coffin  of  Salem,  distinguished  himself  by,  in  the  action  at  Haverhill 
where  he  was  slain.' 

Mr.  Eolfe,  his  wife  and  child,  were  buried  in  one  grave,  near  the  south 
end  of  the  burial-ground.  A  single  monument  was  erected  to  their  mem- 
ory, on  which  Avas  chiselled  an  inscription  for  each ;  but  the  hand  of  time 
has  been  rough  with  them  —  they  arc  overgrown  with  moss,  and  the  epi- 
taphs are  now  almost  illegible.-' 

The  following  is  the  epitaph  of  Mr.  Eolfe:  — 

*  Clauditur  hoc  tumulo  corpus  lieverendi  pii  doctique  viri,  D.  Benjamin 
Rolfe,  ecclesice  Christ  i  qtfce  est  in  haver  hill  pastoris  Jidelissimi ;  qui  domi 
Slice  ad  hostibiis  harhare  trucidatus.  A  laboribiis  siiis  requieiiit  mane  diei 
sacrce  quietis,  Aug.  XXIX   anno  domini,  MDCCVIII.     u3^tatis  suae 

XLVi:\ 

This  worthy  man  was  born  at  Newbury,  1662.  and  graduated  at  Cam- 
bridge, 1684r.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  pious  and  upright  man,  ardently 
devoting  his  time  and  talents  to  forward  the  cause  of  his  Saviour.  He 
was  respected  and  beloved  b}'^  his  people,  and  we  cannot  learn  that  any 
difficulty  arose  between  them,  after  his  settlement. 

The  grave-stones  of  Capt.  Ayer,  Capt.  Wainwright,  and  Lieut.  Johnson, 
are  nigh  to  Mr.  Eolfe's  but  are  considerably  damaged,  and  their  inscrip- 
tions have  become  nearly  illegible. 

°  In  1847-8,  a  neat  and  substantial  granite  monument  was  erected  over  the  grave  of  Mr.  Rolfe,  by  the 
Ladies,  who  Avere  then  ronking  much  needed  inipvovcments  in  tlie  "  Old  Burying  Ground."  The  monu-" 
ment  stands  about  six  and  one-half  feet  highr  is  of  Concord,  N.  H.,  granite,  and  was  finished  at  the 
establishment  of  Mr.  F.  A.  Brown,  in  this  town.     It  bears  the  following  inscription  ;— 

"  Enclosed  in  this  tomb,  is  the  body  of  a  man,  pious,  learned  and  reverend,  BENJAMIN  ROLFE,  a 
most  faithful  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Haverhill;  who  was  barbarously  slain  by  the  Indians  at 
his  own  house.  He  rested  from  his  labors  on  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  tlie  20th  of  Aug  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1708,  and  of  his  age  the  4Gth.  (On  the  second  side)  .Airs  .Alehitable  Rolfe,  aged  44  yrs. 
Mehitablc  Rolfe,  aged  2  yrs.  AVere  slain  Aug  29,  1708.  (On  the  third  side)  Capt  Samuel  Ayer,  Capt 
Simon  AVainwright,  Lieut  John  Johnson,  were  slain,  with  thirteen  others,  Aug.  29,  1708.  (On  the  fourth 
side)  Clauditur  hoc  tumulo  corpus  reverendi,  pii,  viri,  Benjamin  Rolfe,  ecclesla;  Christi  qua;  est  in 
Haverhill,  pastoris  fidelissimi ;  qui  domi  suasc  ab  hostibus  barbare  trucidatus. 

E  laboribus  suis  rcquievit  mane  diei  sacred  quietis  Aug  XXIX  Anno  Domini  MDCCVllI  iEtatis 
suic  XLA'I." 

Rev.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  married  Mehitabcl  Atwatcr,  March  12, 1693-4.  «  hildren, — Mary,  March  9, 1G9.5 ; 
Benjamin,  September  2,  1690:  John,  July  2,  1698,  died  August  3,  1098;  John  and  Elizabeth,  twins, 
September  1, 1099,  (John  died  September  18,  1099) ;  Francis,  January  16,  1702.— G.  AV.  C. 

t  "  Inclosed  in  this  tomb  is  the  body  of  the  reverend,  pious,  ct  learned  Benjamin  Rolfe,  the  faithful 
pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Haverhill ;  who  was  barbarously  slain  in  nis  own  house  by  the  enemy. 
He  rested  from  his  labors  early  on  the  day  of  sacred  rest,  Aug  29, 1708,  in  the  4Cth  year  of  his  age." 


HISTORY   OP    HAVERHILL.  229 

,  Capt.  Ayer  was  slain  in  tlie  last  engagement,  before  the  reinforcement 
arrived.  He  was  shot  in  the  groin,  and  being  a  large,  robust  man,  bled 
profusely.  When  his  son  arrived,  he  was  told  that  his  father  was  killed, 
and  the  informant  pointed  him  out.  He  looked  at  the  corpse  a  while,  as 
it  lay  on  the  grass,  all  covered  with  blood,  and  told  his  informant  that 
that  person  could  not  be  his  father,  for  he  (meaning  the  person  slain,)  had 
on  a  pair  of  red  breeches.  Capt.  Ayer  was  one  of  the  Selectmen,  a  Dea- 
con of  the  church,  and  one  of  the  most  worthy,  active  and  intelligent 
citizens  of  the  town.  He  lived  near  the  house  of  Capt.  John  Ayer,  2d  =■' 
Lieut.  Johnson  was  also  a  Deacon  of  the  church,  and  was  an  active  and 
useful  citizen.  He  is  supposed  to  be  descended  from  Capt.  Edward  Johu^ 
son,  the  author  of  the  '  Wonder  Working  Providence-  of  Zion's  Saviour  ' 
in  Xew  England,  and  who,  in  company  with  Jonathan  Ince,  of  Cambridge, 
and  Sergeant  John  Sherman,  of  Watertown,  surveyed  the  northern  bounds 
of  the  Patent  of  Massachusetts,  in  1652. 

Captain  Wainwright  came  from  Ipswich ;  he  had  two  brothers,  John  and 
Francis.  His  father,  whose  name  was  Francis,  came  from  Chelmsford,  in 
England,  when  a  boy,  and  died  about  1G90.  He  is  particularly  noticed 
in  the  Pequot  war,  where  he  was  simultaneously  attacked  by  two  Indians, 
and  while  defending  himself  broke  the  stock  of  his  gun ;  he  then  used  the 
barrel,  and  finally  killed  them  both. 

Captain  Wainwright  was  a  high-minded  and  influential  citizen.  He 
was  supposed  to  be  very  rich,  and  there  is  a  tradition  which  states  that  he 
had  a  large  chest  filled  with  dollars — and  that  he  offered  a  man  the  whole 
if  he  would  extract  one  of  them  with  his  fingers.  The  man  "  jiulled  and 
tugged,"  as  our  informant  said,  with  all  his  strength,  but  alas  !  the  thing 
was  impossible,  and  he  was  obliged  to  leave  it,  and  be  satisfied  with  only 
looking  at  the  precious  stuff.  It  was  also  said  that  he  buried  much  of  his 
money,  and  a  part  of  the  field  south  of  Captain  Nehemiah  Emerson's  house, 
has  been  dug  over,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  it.  The  large  oak-tree,  near 
Little  River,  has  been  twice  dvig  around  for  the  same  object,  within  the 
remembrance  of  many  of  our  citizens;  but  the  tantalizing  dreams  of  the 
"  money-diggers,"  it  is  believed,  were  never  realized."! 

The  29th  day  of  August,  1708,  will  ever  be  remembered  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Haverhill,  as  that  of  the  last,  and  the  most  formidable  attack 

*  Near  the  west  end  of  Plug  Pond. 

t  The  field  here  alluded  to  is  now  almost  completely  covered  with  dwelling  houses,  it  being  that  part  of 
the  village  bounded  by  Little  River  on  the  south  and  west,  Winter  Street  on  the  north,  and  the  easterly 
line  of  the  lots  on  the  easterly  side  of  Emerson  Street  on  the  cast.  The  old  oak  tree  is  yet  standing,  near 
the  south  w  est  corner  of  Emerson  Street. — G.  W.  C. 


230  HISTOEY    OF    UAVERIIILL. 

made  upon  the  town  during  the  long  years  of  troubles  with  the  Indians  and 
their  allies. 

There  was  an  alarm  in  the  town  on  the  night  of  the  25th  of  the  following 
month,  but,  fortunately,  no  attack  was  made.  Colonel  Saltonstall,  in  a  letter 
to  the  Governor  and  Council,  under  date  of  the  27th,  informs  them  "that 
a  party  of  the  enemj',  to  the  number  of  about  thirty,  were  discovered  in  the 
town  on  Saturday  night,  but  that  he  soon  gave  the  alarm,  drew  a  number 
of  soldiers  together,  and  had  repelled  and  driven  them  back  without 
suffering  any  loss." 

The  Boston  News  Letter,  of  October  4,  (1708,)  thus  alludes  to  the 
affair: — "  In  our  last  we  mentioned  a  second  attempt  upon  Haverhill ;  it 
issues  thus ;  that  some  few  sculking  Indians  were  discovered  in  the  Town 
in  the  night,  and  the  alarm  being  made,  they  were  soon  frighted,  and 
drew  off  without  doing  any  mischief."" 

The  distressed  condition  of  the  town  after  this  terrible  visitation,  induced 
them  to  petition  the  General  Court,  for  an  abatement  of  their  taxes, — 
which  was  granted.     The  following  was  their  petition : — 
"  The  Petition  of  Ye  Subscribers  humbly  showeth. 

That  whereas  ye  llighteous  and  Holy  God  hath  been  pleased  in  ye  dis- 
pensation of  his  Providence  to  suffer  ye  Enemy  to  break  in  upon  us,  »& 
by  their  violent  Assaults  &  Depredations  to  make  desolate  several  of  ye 
best  of  our  habitations  in  Haverhill,  Damnifying  us  to  ye  value  of  about 
1000 :  lb  beside  (which  is  more)  loss  of  lives,  thereby  reducing  us  to  great 
extremity  and  distraction,  discouraging  of  hearts  of  many  amongst  us  who 
are  upon  designs  &  endeavors  to  remove,  whereby  our  condition  is  rendered 
in  some  measure  comparable  to  yt  of  David's  &  ye  men  with  him  when 
Ziklag  was  Spoiled.  Considering  also  in  conjunction  therewith  ye  extreem 
charges  we  must  be  exposed  unto  (if  our  town  stands)  in  building  strong 
Garrisons.  Now  settling  a  Mimister.  The  great  obstructions  against 
carrying  on  our  dayly  occasions,  with  other  difficult  cii'cumstances  attend- 
ing us  too  tedious  here  to  enumerate.  We  makbold  to  spread  our  case 
before  Yor  Hours  supplicating  your  Heedful  &  compasionate  Regards 
thereto,  so  far  to  Alleviate  us,  as  to  grant  unto  us  a  Release  from  yt  part 
of  ye  Tax  to  her  Majesty  wh  is  set  upon  us  this  year.  And  hoping  yt  of 
yr  wonted  Clemency  &  Candor  you  will  not  pass  by  our  Sufferings  & 
Sorrows  as  those  yt  are  unconcerned.     We  beg  yr  favor  &  pardon,  &  Leave 

*  The  only  other  losses  by  the  Indians  this  season,  were  the  foUowins : — May  8th,  four  captured  at 
Exeter,  and  one  killed  at  Oyster  River;  July  22d,  three  killed  and  two  captured  at  the  latter  place,  four 
children  captured  at  Exeter,  and  two  killed  and  the  same  number  captured  at  Kingston. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  231 

to  say,  yt  your  G-ratification  of  our  request  will  strengthen  those  bonds  of 
obligation  to  Duty  &  Service  which  are  already  upon  us  who  freely  sub- 
scribe ourselves 

Yor  Humble  Servts  &  petitionrs. 
Haverhill  (^  ,     .  f  Jonathan  Emerson 

Dated  Octobr  n  „        i  -n  -s  Jouathan  Eatton 

18  1708.  ^^  Haverhill  l^y-^^-^^^  Johnson." 

The  Court  ordered  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  to  be  abated  from  their  tax. 

September  15th,  (1708)  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  about  a  new  minis- 
ter, and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  supply  the  pulpit,  "  for  the  present,  & 
for  the  coming  winter."  The  committee  engaged  a  Mr.  Nicholas  Seaver, 
who  preached  regularly  until  the  next  February,  (7th)  when  a  meeting  was 
called  "  about  a  minister,  as  Mr  Sever'stime  was  near  out  that  he  promised 
to  stay."  The  town  formally  thanked  Mr.  Seaver  for  his  pains  and  labor 
in  the  work  among  them ;  desired  his  continuance  and  settlement ;  and 
chose  a  committee  to  confer  with  him  about  the  matter.  March  1st, 
another  meeting  was  called,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Seaver 
annually  twenty  pounds  in  money,  and  forty  pounds  in  corn,  as  money,  if 
he  would  settle  in  the  town. 

Two  weeks  afterward,  they  voted  to  add  one  hundred  pounds  in  money 
to  their  former  offer,  "to  be  improved  by  him  in  settling  himself  with  a 
house,"  and  allow  him  the  use  of  all  the  parsonage  land.  This  was  indeed 
a  very  liberal  offer,  and  the  fact  that  but  four  persons  dissented  from  it, 
shows  that  Mr.  Seaver  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  people  of  the  town. 

June  14th,  another  meeting  was  held  to  see  about  settling  Mr.  Seaver, 
at  which  the  town  voted  to  give  him  four  contributions  annually,  and 
twenty  cords  of  wood,  in  addition  to  what  they  had  previously  offered 
him.  They  then  adjourned  to  the  2 1st,  when  Mr.  Seaver's  proposals  were 
received,  read,  and  declined.  The  records  do  not  inform  us  what  his  pro- 
posals were. 

Mr.  Seaver  did  not  continue  to  preach  in  town  after  his  proposals  were 
declined.  He  was  succeeded  by  Kev.  Mr.  Brown,  who  gave  such  complete 
satisfaction  to  the  church  and  the  people,  that  "At  a  church  meeting  in 
Haverhill,  Voted  that  the  thanks  of  this  church  be  returned  to  the  Eev. 
Mr.  Eichard  Brown  for  his  labors  with  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
hitherto,  and  that  they  desire  his  continuance  with  us  still  in  that  work  in 
order  to  a  settlement.  And  by  a  unanimous  vote,  not  one  person  then 
present  dissenting  the  Eev.  Mr.  Eichard  Brown  was  made  choice  of  to  be 
their  minister  and  Pastor  if  he  may  be  obtained." 

This  is  the  earliest  record  now  preserved  of  a  church  meetivg  in  the 
town. 


232  HISTORY    OF    HAVERniLL. 

The  same  day,  a  town  meeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  unanimously 
voted  to  "concur  with  the  church"  in  its  selection  of  Mr.  Brown  for  a 
minister,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  treat  with  him,  and  also  to  treat 
with  the  administrator  for  the  purchase  of  the  late  Mr.  Eolfe's  house." 

December  7th,  the  committee  reported  upon  the  latter  proposition,  and 
the  town  voted  to  purchase  the  house.  The  price  paid  for  the  house, 
and  all  his  land,  was  three  hundred  pounds. 

At  this  meeting,  fifteen  pcrsonsf  had  liberty  "to  build  a  scat  to  sit  in, 
in.  the  hind  seat  of  the  meeting  house,  in  the  west  gallery,  they  also  prom- 
ising that  they  would  not  build  so  high  as  to  damnify  the  light  of  them 
■jyindows  at  the  said  west  end  of  the  said  west  gallery,"  provided  they 
made  up  the  number  of  twenty  persons  to  sit  in  said  seat. 

At  the  next  meeting,  eight  others|  had  leave  "  to  build  a  pew  in  the 
hinder  seat  of  the  front  gallery ;"  and  thirteen  young  ladies§  were  granted 
permission  "  to  build  a  pew  in  the  hind  seat  in  the  east  end  of  the  meeting 
house  gallery,"  provided,  as  in  the  first  mentioned  case,  they  did  not 
*'  damnify  or  hinder  the  light." 

The  following  is  equally  curious: — "John  "White  desiring  leave  to  set 
up  a  shed  on  the  outside  of  the  window  at  the  west  end  of  the  meetinghouse 
to  keep  out  the  heat  of  the  sun  there,  it  was  readily  granted."  (Query, — 
"Were  window  curtains  then  unknown  ?) 

Another  Commoners'  meeting  was  held  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  (1709) 
at  which  John  "White,  the  Town  Clerk,  was  chosen  "Proprietors  Clerk," 
and  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  meeting  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  annu- 
ally. From  the  record  of  this  meeting  it  appears,  that  at  the  first  meeting, 
the  previously  chosen  committee  had  reported  the  names  of  all  those  who 
were  entitled  to  vote  as  proprietors  of  the  common  land.  The  same  per- 
son being  clerk  for  the  town,  and  also  for  the  Commoners,  the  record  of 
their  meetings  was  kept  in  the  town's  book  of  records  until  April  13th, 
1713,  T/hen  they  commenced  keeping  them  in  a  separate  book,  and  so 
continued  to  keep  them,  until  they  ceased  to  meet,  as  such. 

0  Mr.  Brown,  for  reasons  not  given,  declined  to  accept  the  call  to  settle  in  town.  He  preached  here 
twenty-four  Sabbaths,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joshua  Gardner. 

t  Nathaniel  Merrill,  Samuel  Roberts,  Henry  Sanders,  John  Corlist,  Joseph  Hutchins,  Nathanifel 
Clement,  Samuel  Watts,  Nathaniel  Merrill,  Jr.,  John  Mulckin,  William  Smith,  John  Silver,  Thomas 
Silver,  John  Reivy,  Ephraim  Roberts,  Jr.,  William  Whittier. 

The  following  afterward  joined  with  them:— Samuel  Haseltine,  Edward  Carleton,  Abell  Merrill, 
Nathaniel  Emerson,  Jr.,  John  Lad. 

1  John  Ela,  Samuel  Ela,  Ebenezer  Eatton,  Robert  Slackman,  Samuel  Peaty,  Jonathan  Clark,  Samuel 
Currier,  Jr.,  Hope  Rogers. 

§  Abig.iU  Duston,  Abigail  Mitchell,  Abigail  Lad,  Mary^rli.%  Elizabeth  Watts,  Mary  Mitchell,  Sarah 
Peasly,  Elizabeth  Simons,  Susannah  Hartshorn,  Abiah  Clement,  Abigail  Simons,  Bethiah  Bodwell,  Sarah 
Merrill, 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  233 

With  the  following,  from  Mirick,  we  close  our  record  of  this  year  :  — 
"  The  house  of  Col.  Richard  Saltonstall  was  blown  up  by  a  negro  wench, 
on  the  night  of  the  29th  of  March.  In  Mr.  Pike's  journal,  it  is  mentioned 
thus  :  —  '  Colo.  Saltonstall's  house  blown  up  by  negroes  29th  March,  1709. 
Though  many  lodged  that  night  in  the  house,  yet  nobody  hurt.  A  mar- 
vellous providence.'  Tradition  has  hoarded  many  stories  concerning  this 
affair,  some  of  which  are  extremely  ridiculous.  The  following,  it  is  be- 
lieved, is  a  true  statement  of  the  case.  It  appears  that  the  Col.  had 
severely  corrected  the  wench,  some  time  previous,  for  misbehaviour,  and 
ever  after,  she  cherished  a  feeling  of  hatred  toward  him,  and  determined 
to  take  signal  revenge.  In  the  dead  of  night,  on  the  29th,  when  the  house 
was  wrapped  in  a  profound  stillness,  she  carried  a  quantity  of  powder  into 
the  room,  directly  under  that  which  was  then  occupied  by  the  Col.  and  his 
wife.  Having  fixed  a  long  train  and  connected  it  with  the  powder,  she 
dropt  a  match  upon  it  and  fled  precipitately  to  the  farm-house,  which  stood 
but  a  few  rods  distant.  She  had  scarcely  secured  herself,  when  the  pow- 
der went  off  with  a  tremendous  explosion,  and  nearly  or  quite  demolished 
the  house.  The  Col.  and  his  wife  were  thrown  in  their  Ked  some  distance 
from  the  house,  without  receiving  any  injury.  The  soldiers  stationed  in 
the  house,  were  scattered  in  every  direction,  but  happily,  no  lives  were 
lost.  The  Col.,  after  recovering  from  his  surprise,  went  directly  to  the 
farm-house  and  found  his  servants  all  up,  excepting  this  wench,  who  feigned 
sleep.  He  suspected  and  charged  her  with  the  deed,  but  it  could  never 
be  proved." 

30 


234  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILU 


CHAPTER  XV. 


1710  TO  1722. 


At  a  meeting  of  tlie  town,  May  15,  1710,  it  was  unanimously  Totcd,  to 
invite  Eev.  Joshua  Gardner  to  settle  in  town,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the 
thanks  of  the  town  were  tendered  him  "  for  his  labors  hitherto." 

We  find  nothing  more  about  his  settlement,  until  October,  when  a  church 
meeting  was  held,  to  consider  the  matter,  at  which  he  was  unanimously 
made  choice  of ;  and,  at  a  town  meeting,  the  same  day,  this  action  of  the 
church  was  unanimously  concurred  in.  The  salary  voted  him  was  seventy 
pounds  per  annum,  payable  "  one  half  in  good  passable  money,  &  the  rest 
in  good  merchantable  corn,  at  money  price,  or  in  good  passable  money,  & 
the  use  of  all  the  Parsonage  Housing  &  lauds  &  meadous." 

This  offer,  though  not  so  large  as  the  one  made  Mr.  Seaver,  seems  to 
have  been  satisfactory  to  Mr,  Gardner,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following 
letter,  which  was  read  at  a  town  meeting  December  11th,  and  "  very  well 
accepted  " :  — 

"  To  the  church  and  inhabitants  of  Haverhill. 
Dearly  beloved  in  Christ 

Being  informed  by  your  Committee  that  it  is  your  unanimous  desire 
that  I  should  settle  with  you  for  the  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  ministry 
among  you  ;  and  also  what  you  have  freely  voted  to  do  for  my  mainten- 
ance :  I  have  taken  the  matter  into  consideration,  and  advised  with  my 
friends  upon  it,  who  universally  encourage  me  to  accept  the  invitation. 
Therefore  apprehending  that  providence  does  as  it  were  thrust  me  forth 
into  his  harvest,  and  finding  a  greater  inclination  &  more  encouragment  of 
late  to  enter  upon  the  work  than  formerly,  my  thoughts  are,  I  am  bound 
in  duty  to  give  up  myself  to  the  service  of  Christ  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry among  you  fearing  if  I  should  do  otherwise  God  would  be  displeased 
with  me. 

I  do  therefore  hereby  declare  that  I  do  cheerfully,  and  that  not  without 
a  sense  of  my*  own  insufficiency  for  so  great  &  solemn  a  work,  endeav- 
ouring to  place  my  entire  dependence  upon  God  for  direction  &  assistance 
to  carry  it  on —  accept  your  invitation  on  the  terms  you  propose. 

Thankfully  acknowledging  your  kind  acceptance  of  my  labors  with  you 
hitherto  ;  likewise  your  respect  &  love  shown  me  in  your  late  invitation  & 
proposals ;  earnestly  begging  your  prayers  to  God  for  me  that  he  will  abxin^ 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


235 


dantly  furnish  me  with  all  needful  qualifications  for  the  work  I  trust  he  is 
calling  me  unto ;  and  that  I  may  come  unto  you  in  the  fulness  of  the 
blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ 

I  take  leave  to  subscribe  myself  your  brother  in  Christ 

Joshua  Gardner." 

Mr.  Gardner  was  ordained  the  10th  of  January,  1711,  the  town  paying 
all  the  expenses  of  the  occasion,  —  amounting  to  twelve  pounds. 

Though  the  town  had  not  been  troubled  by  the  Indians  for  above  two 
years,  yet  they  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  relax  their  vigilance,  —  at 
least,  so  far  as  their  means  of  defence  werc  concerned.  Their  garrisons, 
and  houses  of  refuge,  were  kept  in  complete  order  for  occupation  at  a  mo- 
ment's notice,  and  the  parsonage  house  was  repaired  and  fortijiedp 

A  large  company  of  soldiers,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Saltonstall,  were  also  kept  constantly  armed  and  equipped,  and  exercised 
in  the  town ;  and,  that  these  soldiers  might  be  the  better  prepared  for 
every  emergency,  the  General  Court  (June  19.  1,710,)  ordered  them  to  be 
supplied  with  snow  shoes.  Snow  shoes  were  also  supplied  to  the  whole  of 
the  Xorth  Kegiment  of  Essex,  The  names  of  the  snow  shoe  men  in  Hav- 
erhill, were 


Thomas  Whittier, 
John  Eaton, 
Joseph  Emerson, 
Christopher  Bartlett,  Jr., 
Joseph  Bond, 
Anthony  Colby, 
Nathaniel  Duston, 
Samuel  Dow, 
Ephraim  Davis, 
Jonathan  Eaton, 
Job  Eaton, 
John  Ela, 
JPeter  Green,  Sen., 
Ephraim  Gilc, 
Matthew  Harriman,  Jr., 
Josiah  Heath,  Jr., 
John  Hutching,  Jr., 
Andrew  Michel, 
John  Marsh, 


John  Page,  Jr., 
Nathan  Simons, 
John  "Webster, 
Daniel  Lad,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Eastman, 
Samuel  Eobards, 
James  Ayer, 
Edward  Ordway, 
Elisha  Davis. 
William  Davis, 
Abraham  "VMiittiker, 
Jonathan  Simons, 
Eobert  Hunkius, 
Joseph  Bradley, 
Ephraim  Eobards, 
.John  Heath,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Page,  Jr., 
John  Shepard, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 


Stephen  Emerson, 
Stephen  Johnson, 
Jonathan  Hendrick, 
Samuel  Huckins, 
Adum  Draper, 
Eichard  AVhittier, 
John  AVatts, 
Stephen  Davis, 
Eobert  I'easly, 
Joshua  Padington, 
Samuel  Ayer, 
William  AVhittaker, 
John  Heseltiue, 
William  Johnson, 
Abraham  Bradley, 
Samuel  Davis, 
Thomas  Johnson, 
John  Stevens. 


®  The  expense  of  repairing  the  parsonage  was  eleven  pounds  fourteen  shillings  and  six  pence.  Among 
the  items  in  the  bill  we  find — Clear  white  pine  boards,  at  five  shillings  and  eight  pence  per  hundred ; 
plank,  at  seven  shillings  per  hundred;  labor,  at  three  shillings  per  day;  and  large  board  nails  at  one 
shilling  and  four  pence  per  hundred.  Among  the  bills  of  the  year,  we  find  one  for  a  barrel  of  cidir  for 
the  minister,  the  price  of  which  was  five  shillings  and  six  pence;  and  one  for  the  services  of  the  Town 
Clerk  for  the  past  year,  Un  shillings. 


236  HISTORY  OF  iiaveriiill. 

At  the  annuiil  meeting  for  1711,  the  Selectmen  were  ordered  to  hire  a 
Grammar  School  master,  who  was  "  to  move  quarterly  to  such  places  as 
the  Selectmen  agree  to,  as  shall  be  most  convenient  for  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town."  It  seems  that  no  school-master  could  be  found  who  would  move 
quarterly,  and  after  trying  for  six  months  to  hire  one,  another  meeting  was 
called,  and  a  proposition  submitted  that  the  town  pay  a  teacher  five  pounds 
to  keep  a  school  one  (parter  at  the  school-house.  This  was  voted  down 
immediately, — probably  by  those  who  lived  at  a  distance  from  the  village, 
and  who  desii'cd  to  share  with  the  villagers  in  the  advantages  of  such  a 
school,  as  will  appear  hereafter. 

From  the  bills  approved  this  year,  we  learn  that  Obadiah  Ayer  kept  a 
school  half  a  year  in  1710,  for  which  he  was  paid  fifteen  pounds.  He  also 
kept  this  year,  the  same  length  of  time.  It  was  not,  however,  what  they 
called  a  Grammar  School,  as  only  "  reading,  writing  and  cyphering"  were 
included  in  the  list  of  studies. 

Some  idea  of  the  extent,  as  well  as  location,  of  the  Cow  Common,  as 
first  laid  out,  may  be  formed  from  the  following  vote  of  the  Commoners, 
April  3,  1711  :  — 

"  Voted  and  granted  that  the  Cow  Common  may  be  fenced  in  from  the 
Pond  Bridge  &  so  by  Ephraim  Guile's,  and  as  far  as  the  river  runs  by 
Ephraim  Eoberts  sawmill,  and  so  to  Tho  Duston's :"  Those  that  fence  it 
in  to  set  up  convenient  gates  for  passage  with  teams;  one  at  the  Pond 
Bridge,  one  at  Ephraim  Guile's,  one  at  Tho  Duston's,  one  gate  by  Samuel 
Smith's  house,  another  by  Stephen  Dow's  on  the  Wid:  Bromege's,  and 
another,  if  need  be,  at  the  lane  by  Jonathan  Emerson's :  This  Common  to 
be  improved  by  those  that  fence  it  in,  &  not  others,  for  the  feeding  of  cows, 
sheep,  &  riding  horses,  &  no  other  cattle,  for  this  year  &  until  the  Com- 
moners shall  take  further  order." 

A  meeting  of  the  Commoners  was  called  October  15th,  to  consider  about 
making  some  more  stringent  regulation  in  relation  to  the  "  transporting  of 
timber,  staves,  and  firewood"  out  of  town.  The  vote  of  the  town,  passed 
in  1674,  being  read,  it  was  declared  that  it  could  not  well  be  mended,  and 
therefore  nothing  further  was  done. 

John  Swett,  a  native  of  Newbury,  was  this  year  appointed  ferryman  at 
the  Rocks  ; — hence  the  name  of  "  Swett's  ferry."  It  is  believed  that  there 
were  then  no  more  than  two  houses  at  that  place ;  and,  indeed,  the  whole 
town  had  increased  but  very  little,  if  any,  in  population,  during  the  last 

"  Th«t  is,  the  fence  followed  the  utrenm  from  the  ontkt  of  the  Great  Pond,  arounil  to  Tho  Duston's, — 
or  near  the  junction  of  Fishing  nud  Little  Rivers. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  237 

thirty  years.  Strangers  would  not  move  into  it,  on  account  of  the  danger 
arising  from  the  Indian  war,  and  it  is  probable  that  those  who  sickened  and 
died,  and  those  who  were  slain  by  the  enemy,  nearly  equalled  the  births. 

The  only  damage  done  by  the  Indians  this  year,  was  at  Cocheco  (Dover) 
in  the  spring,  when  five  persons  were  killed.  But  the  constant  fear  of 
them  caused  a  strong  force  to  be  kept  in  the  frontier  towns.  As  late  as 
August  27,  1712,  a  foot  company  of  fifty  men  was  ordered  to  be  raised, 
and  posted  at  Haverhill. 

At  the  annual  meeting  for  1712,  several  persons''^  applied  for  an  abate- 
ment of  their  taxes  for  the  ministry,  and  the  school,  on  account  of  the  great 
distance  they  lived  from  the  Town,  and  the  difficulty  they  met  with  in 
coming.     The  town  voted  to  abate  one  half  of  their  ministry  rates. 

This  year  the  town  was  again  presented  for  being  destitute  of  a  school- 
master, and  on  the  12th  of  May,  Nathaniel  Haseltine  was  chosen  to  appear 
at  the  Court  of  Gleneral  Sessions,  held  at  Salem,  to  answer  it.  Nothing 
further  was  done  in  this  matter  until  the  following  March,  when  the  town 
refused  to  give  the  Selectmen  power  to  hire  a  school-master,  and  thus  the 
subject  rested  until  June,  when  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  what  should  be 
done  about  schools  in  town. 

By  a  law  of  1700,  every  town  of  fifty  families  and  upwards  was  required 
to  be  coustanly  provided  with  a  school-master  to  teach  children  to  read 
and  write ;  and  every  town  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  families  was  required 
to  have  a  free  grammar  school,  where  youth  could  be  instructed  "in  such 
grammar  learning  as  may  fit  them  for  admittance  into  the  college." 

Previous  to  this  time,  there  had  been  but  one  place  in  town  for  a  school 
—  in  the  village  —  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  those  who  lived  in  distant 
parts  of  the  town  could  have  but  little  benefit  from  it.  That  this  disad- 
vantage was  felt,  is  seen  from  the  vote,  in  1711,— to  engage  a  school-master 
who  should  "  move  quarterly."  But  now  the  question  assumed  a  more 
definite  form.  Petitions  were  received  from  several  of  the  inhabitants,! 
for  a  school  house  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  near  Job  Clements' 
at  the  town's  cost,  and  a  school  one  quarter  of  a  year,  "  that  they  might 
have  the  benefit  of  having  their  children  brought  up  to  learning  as  well 
as  the  children  of  those  that  live  in  the  center  of  the  Town;  "  and  also 

"  Henry  Bodwell,  John  ftuttersou,  Thomas  Austin,  Joshua  Stephens,  Robert  Swan,  John  Cross,  William 
Cross,  Robert  Swan,  Jr.,  Joshua  Swan.     These  all  lived  In  that  part  of  the  t'bwn  now  Methuen. 

t  Joseph  Emerson,  Mathcw  Herriman,  Jobe  Clements,  Joseph  Heath,  John  Stephens,  Aaron  Stephens, 
Ephraim  Roberts,  Josiah  Heath,  sen..  Benjamin  Emerson,  Josejjh  Johnson,  Samuel  Worthen,  James 
Heath,  Thomas  Johnson,  William  Whittiker,  John  Simons,  Josiah  Heath. 


238  HISTORY    OP    nAVERIIILL. 

from  several  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  north-easterly  part  of  the  town/-  for 
a  school-house  and  school  "near  the  house  of  Mr  John  Whittier,  on  the 
common,  between  the  two  bridges,  &  between  the  house  of  Danl  Ela,  and 
the  Country  road."  Both  petitions  were  granted  ;  and  the  selectmen  were 
ordered  to  provide  a  school-master  :  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  build 
the  school-houses  immediately.  The  latter  were  to  be  "  20  ft  long,  16  ft 
wide,  &  8  ft  stiid,  &  furnished  so  as  may  be  comfortable  &  convenient." 

Mr.  Ayer  kept  the  school  in  the  town  this  summer,  and  a  Mr.  Stedman, 
of  Cambridge,  kept  the  succeeding  fall  and  winter. 

Hostilities  having  ceased  in  Europe  early  in  this  year,  the  Indians  again 
expressed  a  desire  for  j)eace,  and  a  treaty  was  entered  into  with  them  at 
Portsmouth,  which  was  attended  by  delegates  from  the  tribes  on  the  St. 
John,  Kennebeck,  Ameriscoggin,  Saco,  and  Merrimack,  and  articles  of 
pacification  were  duly  signed  July  18th,  1713,  and  were  formally  con- 
firmed, with  loud  demonstrations  of  joy,  by  a  great  body  of  Indians  who 
were  assembled  at  Falmouth,  waiting  the  result.  Thus  was  peace  once 
more  permitted  to  smile  on  the  New  England  frontiers. 

By  the  terms  of  this  treaty,  the  English  were  allowed  to  enter  upon 
their  former  settlements,  without  molestation  or  claim  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians,  while  to  the  latter  was  reserved  the  right  of  hunting,  fishing  and 
fowling,  as  freely  as  they  enjoyed  in  1693  ;  and  government  was  to  estab- 
lish convenient  trading  houses  for  the  Indians,  where  they  might  obtain 
their  supplies  without  the  fraud  and  extortion  which  had  been  practiced 
in  former  years. f  The  next  spring,  a  ship  was  sent  to  Quebec,  to  exchange 
prisoners. 

Among  the  town  votes  of  1713,  we  find  one  in  which  the  selectmen  and 
constables  were  ordered  "  to  regulate  the  conduct  of  disorderly  boys  on 
the  Sabbath,  in  the  meeting  house."  From  this  it  is  evident  that  boys 
were  —  hoys,  as  long  ago,  at  least,  as  the  time  of  our  great-grand-parents. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1714,  Eobert  Swan  petitioned  for  permission 
to  keep  a  ferry  near  his  house,  but  the  town  declined  to  grant  the  request. 

Another  petition  was  received  at  this  meeting  for  permission  to  build  a 
"women's  pew"  in  the  meeting  house.f  The  place  proposed  was  "the 
hind  seat  in  the  women's  gallery."     The  matter  was  left  with  the  Selectmen. 

o  John  Sanders,  Robert  Ilustings,  Anthony  Colbie,  Joseph  Whittier,  James  Snnders,  Robert  Hcnkins, 
Samuel  Currii-r,  John  Currier,  John  Page,  Jr.,  Robert  Hastings,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Peasly,  T3enjamin  Page, 
Jr.,  Daniel  Ela,  Benjamin  Page,  Sen.,  Abraham  Page,  Thomas  Johnson,  Jr.,  Joseph  Qrcly,  John  George, 
John  Kleh. 

t  Hutchinson  estimates  that,  "from  1875  to  1713,  5  to  6000  of  the  youth  of  the  country  had  perished 
by  the  enemy,  or  by  distempers  contracted  in  the  service." 

X  The  petition  was  signed  by  Hannah  Simons,  Elizabeth  Currier,  Hannah  Eatton,  Judith  Eatton, 
Mchetable  Guile,  Ruth  Dow,  Abigail  Dow,  Sarah  Johnson,  Sarah  Uaseltiuc,  Hannah  Heath,  Sarah  Guile. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  "  239 

A  petition  was  also  received  for  a  school-liouse  in  the  northwesterly  part 
of  the  town,  "between  Hog-hill  and  the  hrick-kill  bridge;"  but  "very- 
few  if  any  persons  voted  for  it,"  and  the  request  was  therefore  denied." 

At  this  meeting,  the  Selectmen  were  "  desired  to  seat  the  negroes  in  some 
convenient  place  in  the  meeting-house,  if  they  can."  This  appears  to  have 
been  the  origin  of  the  "negro  pew,"  in  this  town;  and  it  is  worthy  of 
note,  that  the  practice  thus  inaugurated,  continued  so  long  as  there  were 
negroes  in  the  town, — a  period  within  the  memory  of  many  persons  now 
living. 

In  this  connection,  we  give  the  following  synopsis  of  the  history  of 
slavery  in  Massachusetts.  We  condense  it  from  the  reply  of  Dr.  Belknap 
of  Boston,  to  Judge  Tucker  of  Virginia,  in  179o.| 

Samuel  Maverick  resided  on  Noddle's  Island  when  Winthrop  came  over 
in  1630.  He  had  a  fort  and  four  great  guns,  John  Joselyn,  who  came  to 
New  England  in  1638,  mentions  Mr.  Maverick's  negro  woman  and  a 
negro  man,  and  "another  negro  who  was  her  maid,"  and  that  "Mr. 
Maverick  was  desirous  to  have  a  breed  of  negroes."  He  understood  that 
the  negro  woman  "had  been  a  queen  in  her  own  country,"  &c. 

The  laws  enacted  between  1630  and  1641,  make  mention  of  servants 
and  masters,  man-servant,  and  maid-servant ;  in  16-45  mention  is  made  of 
negroes  "  fraudulently  and  injuriously  taken  and  brought  from  Guinea"  by 
Captain  Smith  to  Piscataqua.  About  the  same  time  (1645)  a  law  was 
made  "  prohibiting  the  buying  and  selling  of  slaves,  except  those  taken  in 
lawful  war,  or  reduced  to  servitude  for  their  crimes  by  a  judicial  sentence, 
and  these  were  to  have  the  same  privileges  as  were  allowed  by  the  law  of 
Moses,"  In  1649  it  was  enacted — "  If  any  man  stealeth  a  man  or  man- 
kind, he  shall  surely  be  put  to  death.     Exodus  xxi — 16." 

In  1675-6-7  some  Indians,  who  had  submitted  to  the  government, 
joined  against  the  English  in  Phillips  war.  Those  taken  in  arms,  were 
adjudged  guilty  of  rebellion.  Some  were  put  to  death,  but  most  of  them 
were  sold  into  slavery  in  foreign  countries.  Some  of  these  latter  found 
their  way  home,  and  joined  with  the  hostile  Indians  in  a  succeeding  war, 
in  revenge. 

African  trade  was  never  prosecuted,  in  any  great  degree,  by  merchants 
of  Massachusetts.  Negroes  were  probably  introduced  via  trade  with 
Barbadoes.  In  1703,  a  duty  of  four  pounds  was  laid  on  every  negro 
imported.     Not  over  three  ships  a  year  ever  engaged  in  the  African  trade. 

.=  The  names  of  the  petitioners  were — Peter  Green,  Jotham   Hendrick,  Nathaniel  Peasly,  Samuel 
Clements,  James  Sanders,  Peter  Green,  Jr.,  John  Page,  John  Eatton,  Matthew  Herriman,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Peasly,  Abraham  Page,  Henry  Sanders. 
t  From  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.  Vol.  4,  194. 


240  '  HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL. 

Rum  was  the  main  spring  of  it.  Slaves  purchased  in  Africa  were  chiefly 
sold  in  the  West  Indies,  or  Southern  colonies.  AVhen  the  markets  were 
glutted,  and  prices  low,  some  were  brought  here.  Very  few  whole  cargoes 
ever  came.  One  gentleman  remembers  only  two  or  three : — One  thirty  to 
forty  years  ago,  which  was  mostly  children.  Ehode  Island  did  much  more 
of  this  than  Boston.  Some  of  their  vecsels,  after  selling  prime  slaves  at 
the  West  Indies,  brought  the  remnant  to  Boston.  Boston  is  the  only 
seaport  in  Massachusetts  ever  concerned  in  the  business.  About  the  time 
of  the  stamp  act,  the  trade  declined,  and  in  1788  was  prohibited  by  law. 

The  causes  of  its  declension  were, —  it  required  large  capitol — was 
hazardous — was  never  supported  by  popular  opinion — the  voice  of  con- 
science was  against  it — those  engaged  in  it,  in  their  last  hours  bitterly 
lamented  it — the  laboring  people  complained  of  the  blacks,  as  intruders — 
the  inconsistency  of  pleading  our  own  rights  and  liberties,  while  we 
encouraged  the  subjugation  of  others. 

There  was  never  anything  like  a  census  before  1763,  and  it  was  not  then 
very  accurate.  It  was  very  unpopular.  The  second  was  in  1776  ;  the 
third  in  178*1. 

In  1763  there  were  in  Mass.  5,214  blacks,  or  45  to  1  of  population. 
1776         "  "  5,249     "     "       65  "  1     " 

1784         "  "  4,377     "     "       80  "  1     "         " 

In  1700,  (first  United  States  Census)  there  were  in  Massachusetts  and 
Maine,  six  thousand  blacks  and  Indians  —  about  two  thousand  were  mixed 
and  blacks.  Slaves  were  most  numerous  previous  to  1763.  Prince  Hall, 
a  very  intelligent  black  man,  aged  fifty-seven  years,  thinks  slaves  were 
most  numerous  about  1745.  Boston  contained  one-fourth  part  of  all  of 
them.  In  country  towns,  he  never  heard  of  more  than  three  or  four  on  a 
farm,  except  one,  which  had  sixteen,  and  "  it  was  a  distinguished  singu- 
larity." They  were  employed  as  rope-makers,  anchor-smiths,  ship-carpen- 
ters, and  in  families,  as  servants. 

Negro  children  were  always  reckoned  incumbrances,  and  when  weaned, 
were  given  away  like  puppies.  The  negroes  were  inventoried  and  taxed 
as  ratable  property.  Some  of  them  purchased  their  freedom ;  and  some 
were  liberated  by  their  masters.  The  law  was  against  manumission,  un- 
less the  master  gave  bonds  for  maintenance  in  case  of  sickness,  or 
decrepitude.  Negroes  were  forbidden  to  strike  a  white  man,  on  pain  of 
being  sold  out  of  the  province.  If  found  out  after  nine  o'clock,  P.  M., 
they  were  sent  to  the  House  of  Correction.  Inter-marriage  was  prohibited, 
under  severe  penalties. 


HISTORY   OT"   nAVERHILL.  241 

The  controversy  about  slavery  began  about  17G6,  and  was  warmly  con- 
tinued till  1773,  by  newspaper  articles,  pamphlets,  speeches,  &c.  The 
Quakers  helped  the  cause  along.  In  17G7,  an  attempt  was  made  in  the 
legislature  to  discourage  the  slave  trade,  but  it  failed  ;  and  again,  in  1773, 
on  petition  from  the  negroes.  In  1774,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Assem- 
bly, to  prevent  importation  ;  but  it  was  vetoed  by  Governor  Hutchinson. 
After  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1780,  which  declares  "  all  men  free 
and  equal,"  many  asked  for,  and  obtained  their  freedom.  Some  took  it 
without  leave.  Many  aged  and  infirm  continued  in  the  families  where 
they  had  lived.  In  1781,  an  indictment  was  found  against  a  white  man 
in  Worcester  County,  for  assaulting,  beating,  and  imprisoning  a  black. 
He  was  tried  in  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  in  1783.  His  Defence  was, 
that  the  black  was  his  slave,  and  the  beating,  kc.,  were  necessary  correc- 
tion. The  Ansiver  was  the  foregoing  clause  of  the  Constitution.  The 
judges  and  jury  decided  that  he  had  no  right  to  beat  or  imprison  the  negro, 
and  he  was  found  guilty  and  fined  forty  shillings.  This  was  tiie  death- 
blow to  slavery  in  Massachusetts. 

We  believe  that  the  earliest  distinct  allusion  to  "servants"  we  have 
met  with  in  the  records  or  traditions  of  this  town,  is  the  record  of  the  death 
of  "  Hopewell,  an  Indian  Servant  of  John  Hutchins,"  in  1668.  The  next, 
is  found  in  the  account  of  the  remarkable  preservation  of  Eev.  Mr.  Rolfc's 
children,  by  his  "negro  woman,"  Hagar,  in  1708.  Hagar  "  owned  the 
covenant,  and  was  baptized,"  with  her  children,  (two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter) by  Eev.  Mr.  G-ardnei-,  in  1711.  In  1709,  the  house  of  Colonel 
Eichard  Saltonstall  was  blown  up,  by  "his  negro  wench,"  whom  he  had 
previously  "corrected."  In  1723,  Eev.  Mr.  Brown  had  an  Indian  ser- 
vant, as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  entry  in  his  book  of  church 
records:  — "  Baptized  Phillis  an  Indian  Girl,  Servant  of  John  &  Joanna 
Brown."  In  1728,  Mr.  Brown  baptized  "  Mariah,  negro  servant  of  Eich- 
ard Saltonstall."  In  1738,  Eev.  Mr.  Bachellor  baptized  "  Celia,  Negro 
child  of  John  Corliss."  In  1740,  he  baptized  "Levi,  Negro  child  of  Sam- 
uel Parker."  In  1757,  he  baptized  "Dinah,  negro  child  of  Samuel 
Haseltine ;  "  and,  also,  "  Lot  &  Candace,  negroes  belonging  to  Eichard  and 
Martha  Ayer.  In  1764,  he  baptized  "Gin,  negro  Girl  of  Peter  Carleton." 
Mr.  Bachellor  had  himself  a  negro  servant,  as  we  find,  in  the  church  book 
of  records  of  the  West  Parish,  under  date  of  March  24,  1785,  the  follow- 
ing entry  among  the  deaths:  —  " Nero,  servant  to  ye  Eevd  Mr  Bacheller." 
There  is  a  tradition  that  he  had  a  negro  named  "  Pomp,"  who  is  said  to 
have  dug  the  well  near  the  old  meeting-house.  As  the  story  goes,  just 
before  setting  out  for  an  exchange  with  a  distant  minister,  Mr.  Bachellor 
31 


242  HISTORY    OP    nAVERHILL. 

Bet  Pomp  at  work  to  dig  the  well,  and  gave  him  positive  instructions  to 
have  it  done  by  the  time  he  returned.  Pomp  labored  diligently,  and  with 
good  success,  until  he  came  to  a  solid  ledge.  This  was  too  hard  for  his 
pick  and  spade,  and  poor  Pomp  was  greatly  perplexed.  His  "  massa  "  had 
directed  him  to  have  the  well  done  when  he  returned,  but  how  to  get 
through  the  solid  rock  was  more  than  Pomp  could  tell.  While  in  this 
dilemma,  a  neighbor  happened  along,  who  advised  that  the  ledge  should 
be  blasted  with  powder,  and  kindly  instructed  Pomp  how  to  drill  a  hole 
for  the  blast.  The  latter,  much  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  getting  his  job 
finished  in  season,  worked  vigorously  at  his  drill,  and  soon  had  a  hole  nearly 
deep  enough,  when  he  suddenly  struck  through  the  ledge,  and  the  water 
commenced  rushing  up  through  the  hole  with  such  force,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  scramble  out  of  the  well  as  fast  as  possible,  to  escape  drowning. 
It  is  said  that  the  well  has  never  been  dry  since. 

From  Eev.  Mr.  Parker's  book  of  church  records,  in  the  East  Parish,  we 
find  that,  in  1750,  he  "baptized  Jenny,  the  Servant  child  of  Joseph  & 
Mary  Greelee ; "  in  1758,  "  Phillis,  the  negro  child  of  Ezekiel  and  Sarah 
Davis;"  and,  in  1764,  "Mercy,  the  negro  child  of  Seth  &  Hannah 
Johnson." 

Prom  the  official  census  of  1754,  we  find  that  there  were  then  in  this 
town  sixteen  slaves,  "of  sixteen  years  old  and  upwards,"  In  1764,  the 
number  was  twenty-five. 

From  a  partial  file  of  the  town  valuation  lists,  from  1750  to  1800,  we 
learn  that  the  following  persons  in  this  town  owned  slaves.  It  is  worthy 
of  note,  that  with  the  very  few  exceptions  noted,  but  one  negro  was  owned 
by  each  person :  — 

1753.  John  Cogswell,  John  Dimond,  Benj  Harrod,  John  Hazzen  (2), 
Col  Eichd  Saltonstall  (2),  Wm  Swonten  (2),  John  Sawyer,  Saml  AYhite. 
These  Avere  all  in  the  First  Parish. 

1754.  In  the  East  Parish,  Joseph  Greelee,  Wm  Morse,  Amos  Peaslee, 
Timothy  Hardey. 

1755.  In  the  First  Parish,  John  Cogswell.  In  the  West  Parish,  John 
Corlis. 

1759.  In  the  First  Parish,  Moses  Clements,  Samuel  AYhite,  Samuel 
ANTiite  Esq,  Thos  AYest.     In  the  AYest  Parish,  Joseph  Haynes. 

1761.     In  the  AA'est  Parish,  Samuel  Bacheller,  Joseph  Haynes. 

1766.  In  the  First  Parish,  Moses  Clements,  Xathl  Cogswell,  James 
McHard,  Samuel  AAlxite,  Samuel  AA'hite  juu  (2),  John  \Yhite. 

17G9.     In  the  East  Parish,  Dudly  Tyler. 


mSTOUY   OP   HAVERHILL.  243 

1770.  In  tlie  First  Parish,  Moses  Clements,  James  McHard,-  Samuel 
Souther,  Saml  White,  Saml  "White  jun  (2),  John  White. 

1771.  In  the  First  Parish,  Jona  Webster,  Saml  Souther,  John  White, 
Saml  White  Esq,f  James  McHard,  Moses  Clement,  Enoch  Bartlett.  In 
the  East  Parish,  Dudley  Tyler. 

1776.  In  the  East  Parish,  Wm  Moors,  Dudley  Tyler.  This  is  the 
latest  date  we  find  "negroes,"  or  "servants,"  entered  in  the  valuation 
lists  in  the  town. 

In  one  list,  the  date  of  which  is  lost,  but  which  was  apparently  some- 
where between  1750  and  1 760,  we  find  the  following :  —  Eobert  Hutchins, 
Moses  Hazzen  (2),  Eobert  Peaslee  (2),  John  Sanders,  John  Sweat,  Saml 
White,  Saml  White  jun,  Christ:  Bartlett,  John  Clements,  Joseph  Harimin, 
Joshua  Harimin,  Eadmun  Hale,  Daniel  Johnson,  Jona  Eoberds,  Wm 
Whitiker. 

We  are  informed  by  Mr.  James  Davis,  that  his  father,  Amos  Davis,  of 
the  East  Parish,  owned  two  negToes  named  Prince  and  Judith,  whom  he 
purchased  when  young,  in  Newburyport.  The  bill  of  sale  of  them  is  still 
preserved  in  the  family.  Prince  married  a  white  woman,  and,  after  secur- 
ing his  freedom,  removed  to  Sanbornton,  N.  H.,  where  he  has  descendants 
still  living,     Judith  remained  in  the  family  until  her  death. 

Deacon Chase,  who  lived  in  the  edge  of  Amesbury,  not  far  from 

the  Eocks'  Village,  also  owned  a  negro,  named  Peter,  who  is  remembered 
by  many  persons  now  living.  After  the  death  of  his  master,  he  passed 
into  the  posession  of  a  Mr.  Pilsbury,  with  whom  he  lived  until  his  death. 
William  Morse,  of  the  East  Parish,  had  a  negro  servant,  named  Jenny. 
We  also  learn  of  one  in  the  family  of  Job  Tyler  in  the  same  Pai-isL 

From  the  town  records,  we  learn,  that  in  the  month  of  September,  1714, 
there  was  a  "  great  fire  in  the  woods,  whereby  the  hay  was  in  general  & 
great  danger."  We  persume  that  a  large  part  of  their  hay  was  usually 
stacked  in  the  meadows,  where  it  was  cut,  until  wanted  for  feeding  out  in 
the  winter,  and  it  was  these  stacks  which  were  thus  endangered.  The 
danger  was  so  great,  that  but  few  of  the  inhabitants  could  leave  home  to 
attend  town  meeting,  and  it  was  therefore  adjourned. 

In  the  records  of  this  year,  (1714)  we  find  the  first  allusion  to  Stocks, 
in  the  form  of  an  item  in  a  bill :  —  "  iron  for  the  Stocks,  3s.  10."  Judging 
from  the  cost  of  the  iron  they  were  either  the  first  Stocks  in  town,  or,  at 
any  rate,  neio  ones. 

•'  The  niime  of  this  negro  ■n-as  "Jenny." — Tradition. 

t  At  a  town  meeting,  September  22,  1705,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  assist  "  Salem,  a  black  man,  late 
a  servant  of  Samuel  V/hite,"  who  had  become  chargeable  to  the  town.  Many  now  living  remember  "Old 
8alem,"  who  lived  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  the  foot  of  Kent  Street. 


244  uiSTORY  OF  havehhill. 

In  October,  the  bounds  of  the  town  were  renewed,  by  Samuel  Danforth, 
a  son  of  the  person  who  first  surveyed  them.  The  following  is  his  report 
to  the  General  Court : — 

"  Oct.  25,  1714.  At  the  request  of  the  Selectmen  of  Haverhill  to  renew 
the  bounds  of  their  town :  I  began  al  i\Ierrimack  lliver  upon  Denisens 
where  it  was  asserted  by  Lieut  Stephen  Barker  &  Kobert  Swan,  and  Henry 
Bodwell  of  an  old  marked  tree,  &  run  north  by  a  line  of  marked  trees  & 
heaps  of  stones  to  the  north  angle  of  the  town,  which  was  a  great  heap  of 
stones ;  This  line  we  renewed  well :  then  I  run  southeast  by  a  line  of 
marked  trees  to  the  eastward  side  of  Cedar  Swamp ;  &  this  line  we  renewed 
until  we  came  to  a  white  oak  tree  marked  with  the  letter  X :  and  another 
tree  marked  H :  and  we  found  several  of  the  trees  on  both  lines  marked 
with  the  letter  H.  Then  I  began  at  Holt's  Eock's  at  Mcrrimac  River  & 
run  northwest  until  I  met  with  the  line  I  left  on  the  eastward  side  of  Cedar 
Swamp :  and  I  found  one  great  j)illar  of  stones  upon  the  line  near  the  old 
Bam.  I  find  these  two  lines  accarding  to  the  return  that  my  honord 
father  made  to'  the  General  Court ;  and  the  Selectmen  and  several  others 

assisted  me  in  said  work. 

Samuel  Danforth  Surveyor." 

Though  highway  surveyors  had  been  regularly  chosen  by  the  town, 
since  1693,  and  had  been  appointed  by  the  Selectmen  for  many  years 
previous  to  that  time,  yet  wc  find  no  record  or  hint  that  money  had  been 
expended  by  them,  or  work  done,  except  upon  three  or  four  bridges,  until 
the  year  1715,  when  "Jotham  Hendrick,  surveyor,"  was  allowed  six 
shillings  for  "  mending  the  highway."  As  the  smallest  matters  of  town 
expense  were  recorded,  we  are  confident  that  if  any  work  or  money  had 
been  expended  upon  the  roads  previous  to  this  time,  the  records  would 
surely  contain  some  hint  of  the  fact.  As  they  do  not,  we  feel  safe  in  saying 
that  the  town  did  not,  as  such,  expend  a  penny,  or  a  day's  labor,  upon  its 
roads,  except  for  bridges,  during  the  first  seventy-five  years  of  its  settlement! 
Subsequent  to  this  date,  highway  expenses  are  regularly  mentioned. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1715,  the  town  voted  that  Mr.  Gardner  might 
have  a  weekly  contribution  if  he  desired  it,  so  that  he  might  have  some 
money  "  before  the  town  rate  was  raised  for  him."  At  the  next  annual 
meeting  (1715-16)  a  committee  was  chosen  to  join  with  him  in  leasing  the 
Parsonage  farm  for  twenty  years,  "  if  he  live  so  long."  Two  weeks  after- 
ward, Mr.  Gardner  was  dead,  and  a  town  meeting  was  held  (March  28) 
to  see  about  finding  some  one  to  take  his  place. 

Mr.  Barnard,  his  second  successor,  in  a  sermon,  thus  speaks  of  him :  — 
"  Mr.  Gardner,  who  is  warm  in  the  hearts  of  a  few  of  you  to  this  day,  was 


HISTORY   OP   HAVEKIIILL.  245 

soon  ripe  for  heaven,  according  to  the  account  whicL  was  handed  down  of 
him.  He  was  not  suiFered  to  remain  long  by  reason  of  death.  Neither 
prayers  nor  tears  could  detain  him  from  his  inheritance  above.  In  a  few 
years  he  finished  his  course  with  joy." 

The  following  epitaph  is  taken  from  the  simple  monument  raised  to  his 
memory :  — 

'■^  Rev.  Joshua  Gardner  died  March  21,  1715,  a  man  good  betimes  and 
full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  faith,  of  an  excellent  temper,  of  great  integrity, 
prudence  and  courage — pastor  of  the  church  in  Haverhill  five  years — who, 
having  faithfully  improved  his  talents,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  toent 
triumjihantly  to  receive  his  reivard  in  heaven.^^ 

After  his  death,  the  town  voted  to  pay  the  expenses  of  his  funeral,  which 
amounted  to  thirty-four  pounds  nine  shillings  and  six  pence.  =■•= 

A  petition  was  this  year  presented  to  the  town,  signed  by  thirty  of  the 
inhabitants,  desiring  that  the  obstruction  in  Merrie's  Creek,  and  the  Fish- 
ing, or  Little  Eiver,  might  be  removed,  "  so  that  a  free  passage  for  the 
fish  might  be  obtained."     The  petition  was  granted. 

From  the  records  of  the  same  year,  we  learn,  that  the  "  Town's  old  book 
of  grants  and_^orders"  was  lost,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  see  if  they 
could  find  it.  From  the  bill  presented  by  the  committee  the  next  year,  it 
appears  that  they  spent  three  days  each  in  the  business ;  that  Captain 
White,  the  Town  Clerk,  attended  on  the  committee  two  days ;  and  that 
James  Sanders  made  one  journey  to  Salem  to  enquire  after  it,  and  another 
journey  to  "  Sandige  "  to  "enquire  after  and  bring  home  the  old  town 
books."  The  whole  expenses  were  four  pounds,  sixteen  shillings.  The 
books  were  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  the  Town  Clerk.  The  town  had 
once  before  refused  to  allow  these  books  to  be  kept  by  that  ofiicer,  but  hav- 
ing thus  narrowly  escaped  a  total  loss,  they  wisely  concluded  they  would 
be  safest  in  his  hands. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Gardner,  the  pulpit  was  occupied  by  various 
ministers,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Jonathan  Cushiug,  and  Mr.  Eobert  Stan- 
ton. At  a  church  meeting,  held  July  27th,  1716,  to  choose  a  minister, 
Mr.  Cushing  received  twenty ^out  of  thirty-five  votes  ;  and  at  a  town  meet- 
ing, the  same  day,  he  received  one  hundred  and  two  out  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  votes.f  The  town  then  voted  to  oifcr  him  the  same  that 
they  had  paid  Mr.  Glardner. 

*  William  White  made  a  journey  to  Boston  to  get  supplies  for  the  funeral.  Among  the  items  of  ex- 
pense, was  "  one  bbl  cyder."  Joshua  Gardner  married  Mercy  Pike,  November  22,1711.  Children, — 
Samuel,  December  9,  1713;  Nathaniel,  August  27,  1715. 

t  As  our  ancestors  were  always  out  in  full  force  upon  all  such  occasions,  the  above,  we  thiuk,  is  very 
near  the  full  number  of  church  members  and  voters  in  the  town  at  this  time. 


246  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

It  seems,  however,  that  the  minority,  who  had  all  voted  for  Mr.  Stanton, 
were  not  merely  in  favor  of  the  latter,  but  were  opposed  to  Mr.  Gushing ; 
and,  Xovember  28th,  a  meeting  was  called  to  hear  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee chosen  to  treat  with  3Ir.  Cushing,  and  "  to  hear  what  those  persons 
have  to  allege  against  his  settling  here  that  are  uneasy  under  his  min- 
istry." 

The  result  was,  that  a  Committee  was  chosen  to  consult  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Leverett  and  Eev.  Mr.  Brattle,  of  Cambridge,  as  to  the  best  course  to  be 
pursued.  According  to  their  advice  a  Committee  was  chosen  to  treat  with 
a  Mr.  Fiske,  who  had  preached  iu  town  several  times  since  the  death  of 
Mr.  Gardner.  But  it  seems  that  they  could  not  unite  peaceably  upon  Mr. 
Fiske,  and  recourse  was  again  had  to  Cambridge  for  advice. 

January  2 2d  a  meeting  was  called  "  to  hear  the  advice  of  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Leverett,  &  Mr.  Brattle."  The  record  does  not  say  what  their  further 
advice  was,  but  from  the  following,  which  was  the  first  vote  passed  at  the 
meeting,  we  presume  they  recommended  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer :  — 

"  Voted  that  the  Eevd  Mr  AEoody,  Mr  Parson,  ^Ir  A\'ise  of  Chebacco, 
Mr  Wells,  Mr  Tappin,  &  Mr  White  be  desired  with  the  Eevd  Mr  Barnard, 
Mr  Cushing,  Mr  Symes,  &  Mr  Tufts,  in  keeping  a  day  of  humiliation,  to 
seek  for  wisdom  of  hea.ven  in  our  great  affairs,  on  Wednesday  the  sixth  day 
of  February  next." 

A  Committee  was  chosen  to  invite  the  above  named  ministers,  and  receive 
their  advice  in  the  matter,  and  also  to  make  provision  for  their  entertain- 
ment on  the  day  of  the  Fast. 

The  result  of  the  fast,  was,  that  the  Eev.  Joseph  Parsons,  of  Lebanon, 
was  selected  by  the  church  for  their  minister. 

The  church  having  made  choice  of  Mr.  Parsons,  a  meeting  of  the  town 
was  called.  May  28,  to  consider  the  matter.  As  "  a  great  many  people 
were  unsatisfied  about  his  leaving  his  church"  at  Lebanon,"  several  papers 
were  read  in  the  town  meeting ;  among  them  the  determination  of  a  Council 
acquitting  him  "  from  crimes  laid  to  his  charge,"  and  declaring  their 
approbation  of  his  removal.  The  town  voted  that  they  were  satisfied,  and, 
by  a  vote  of  sixty-five  to  forty-eight,  chose  him  to  settle  here  as  minister, 
offering  him  a  salary  of  one  hundred  pounds,  besides  the  use  of  the  Parsonage 
lands  and  buildings.  The  minority,  however,  were  so  strongly  opposed  to 
his  settlement,  that,  at  a  meeting  called  in  the  following  August,  (13th) 
the  town,  with  but  one  dissenting  voice,  reconsidered  the  vote. 

October  30,  a  meeting  was  called,  •'  to  forgive  all  past  offences  that  have 
been  given  among  us,  concerning  the  settlement  of  a  minister,  and  agree  iu 

**  Jlr.  Parsons  was  now  preaching  in  Uaverhill. 


HISTORY   OF   HATERHILL  247 

love  and  peace  to  consider  &  agree  upon  a  suitable  person  to  caiTy  on 
the  work  of  the  ministry  among  us."  The  moderator,  Ephraim  Eoberts, 
proposed  that  all  who  wished  to  signify  "  their  desires  for  peace  and  love 
one  towards  another,  &  for  the  sending  for  a  minister  to  preach  with  us," 
should  move  to  the  east  end  of  the  meeting-house.  They  all  moved  to  the 
east  end,  except  three  or  four  persons.     The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Another  meeting  was  held  November  12,  but,  after  "considerable  dis- 
course" it  adjourned  without  accomplishing  anything,  and  the  year  closed 
without  the  settlement  of  a  minister  in  the  town. 

Sunday,  October  21,  1716,  was  what  is  called  "a  dark  day."  It  was 
so  dark  that  candles  were  lighted  at  noon.  Stephen  Jaques,  of  Newbury, 
in  his  diary,  says :  — 

"  On  the  sabath  day  about  eleven  of  the  clock  in  sarman  time  it  grue  so 
dark  that  one  could  not  see  a  parson  from  one  end  of  the  metting  hous  to 
the  other  except  it  was  against  a  window,  nor  could  know  another  four 
seats  off,  nor  read  a  word  in  a  psalm  boolP.  It  continued  near  half  an 
hour.  Sum  ministers  sent  for  candels,  sum  set  still,  till  it  was  lighter. 
Sum  was  ready  to  think  the  world  was  at  an  end ;  all  seemed  to  be  con- 
sarued.  It  was  a  time  when  ye  air  was  very  full  of  smoke.  It  came 
dayly  down  when  it  was  a  south  west  wind,  the  wind  being  now  as  I  re- 
member at  est,  which  might  bring  ye  smoak  back,  &  dark  clouds  pass  over, 
as  it  being  cloudy  weather.     I  was  an  eie  witness  of  this  myself." 

The  winter  of  1710-17,  is  memorable  for  the  unusual  quantity  of  snow 
that  fell  between  the  1 8th  and  the  24th  of  February.  In  these  storms, 
the  earth  was  covered  with  snow  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet,  and,  in  some 
places,  even  twenty  feet  deep.  Many  one  story  houses  were  entirely  cov- 
ered, and,  in  many  places,  paths  were  dug  from  house  to  house,  under  the 
snow.  Visits  were  made  from  place  to  place  by  means  of  snow  shoes,  — 
the  wearers,  in  many  cases,  stepping  out  of  their  chamber  windows  on  to 
the  snow.  In  this  manner,  one  Abraham  Pierce,  of  Newbury,  paid  a  visit 
to  his  "  ladye  love,"  and  was  the  first  person  the  family  had  seen  abroad 
for  more  than  a  week.  Cotton  Mather  has  left  a  particular  account  of  this 
"  great  snow,"  and  the  many  marA^els  and  prodigies  attending  it. 

The  town  were  yet  without  a  settled  minister,  and,  at  one  time,  it 
seemed  doubtful  whether  they  would  very  soon  be  able  to  unite  upon  any 
one  to  settle  among  them.  But  the  cloud  of  dissentiou  at  last  blew  over, 
and  at  a  meeting  held  early  in  February,  1718,  "  Mr  Samuel  Chickley-  " 
was  unanimously  made  choice  of  for  their  minister.  Two  months  after- 
ward, (April  23)  he  received  a  formal  call  from  the  town,  accompanied 

o  ChecJdey.  ~'~^  " 


248  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

with  the  offer  of  one  hundred  pounds  salary,  and  the  use  of  all  the  Par- 
sonage land  east  of  sawmill  river.'*  For  reasons  not  given,  Mr.  Checkley 
declined  the  offer. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Checkley,  as  occasional  minister,  or  candidate  for 
Bettlement,  was  Mr.  John  Brown,  of  Little  Cambridge,  (now  Brighton)  who 
pleased  the  people  so  well,  that  in  October  they  unanimously  invited  him 
to  settle  among  them,  and  offered  him  the  same  salary  that  they  had 
previously  voted  to  give  Mr.  Checkley.  Mr.  Brown  accepted  the  invita- 
tion, and  was  ordained  on  the  13th  of  the  next  May,  (1719.) 

Mr.  Brown  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1714.  He  married  Joanna 
Cotton,  daughter  of  Kev.  Eowland  Cotton,  of  Sandwich,  an  "  eminently 
pious  and  worthy  Lady."  They  had  ten  children,  six  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Four  of  the  sons  were  educated  at  Cambridge.  John 
graduated  in  1741,  and  was  ordained  in  Cohasset.  He  died  1792,  aged 
sixty-nine.  Cotton  graduated  in  1743,  was  ordained  at  Brookline,  on 
2Gth  of  October,  1748,  and  dieft  13th  of  April,  1751.  Dr.  Cooper  notices 
him  as  one  who  "had  raised  in  his  friends  the  fairest  hopes,  and  given 
them  just  reason  to  expect  in  him  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  society, 
and  a  peculiar  blessing  to  the  church."  Ward  graduated  in  1748,  and 
died  the  same  year.  Thomas  graduated  in  1752,  and  was  a  minister  at 
Stroudwater.  He  died^  in  1797.  His  eldest  daughter  married  John 
Chipman,  Esq.,  of  Marblehead;  another,  a  Mr.  Dana,  of  Brookline,  and 
a  third  Rev.  Edward  Brooks,  of  Medford,  formerly  minister  at  North 
Yarmouth.! 

The  ferry,  established  in  1711,  at  Holt's  Rocks,  and  kept  by  John 
Swett,  was  this  year  (1718)  granted  by  the  General  Court  to  Haverhill 
and  Xewbury  for  the  term  of  forty  years.  In  answer  to  Mr.  Swett's  peti- 
tion, this  town  granted  him  all  its  right  in  the  ferry,  if  he  would  engage 
to  carry  the  inhabitants  over  the  river  "  for  a  penny  a  single  person  and 
four  pence  for  a  man  and  horse." 

AVe  notice  that,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  the  bounty  of  twenty 
shillings  on  wolves  had  been  annually  voted  up  to  this  time.  The  num- 
ber of  these  troublesome  animals  in  the  vicinity  may  be  judged  from  the 
fact  that  in  1716,  five  full-grown  ones  were  killed  in  town.  The  bounty 
was  continued  for  many  years  after  this  time. 

o  The  reason  given  for  not  including  the  parsonage  land  west  of  the  atove  river,  was,  —  "  not  knowing 
hut  ■what  they  may  in  some  convenient  time  settle  another  minister  there." 

t  The  following  is  IVom  the  Town  Kecords  : — John   Brown,  m  Joanna  Cotton. Ch. —  Elizabeth, 

Oft  20,  1721;  Martha  Feb  0,  1723,  d   Oct  5,  173G;  John,  Mar  9.  1724;  Nathaniel,  Sep  20,  172;J,  d.  Oct 

21,  1736;  Cotton,  Jan  21,  1726;  Ward,  July  19,  1728;  Meriel,  3n]yo,  1730;  Abig.ail, ;  Thomas. 

}May  17,  1734 ;  Samuel,  Sep  17,  1736,  d  Nov  8, 1736 ;  The  Rev.  John  Brown,  died  Pec.  2, 1742.  "  Phillis, 
»n  Indian  servant"  of  Mr.  Brown's,  d  Apl  22,  1729. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  249 

The  first  mention  we  find  of  a  deacon  in  town,  is  in  the  records  of  1717. 
\vlien  "Deacon  John  Haseltine  "  was  chosen  moderator  of  one  of  the  meet- 
ings about  a  minister.  A  few  weeks  later,  we  find  '-Deacon  "White" 
(John)  among  the  names.  These  two.  then,  were  undoubtedly  the  active 
chui'ch  deacons  at  this  time.  Deacon  Hasc^ltiue  was  moderator  of  all  the 
meetings  called  to  see  about  a  minister  at  this  period,  but  not  of  other 
town  meetings.  Deacon  White's  seems  to  have  been  the  usual  stopping 
place  for  those  who  supplied  the  pulpit  while  there  was  no  settled  minister 
in  town.  The  celebrated  George  Whitefield,  who  visited  the  town  twice 
during  bis  well  known  labors  in  the  vicinity,  was,  on  both  occasions,  the 
guest  of  Deacon  White.  Whitefield  did  not  preach  in  town  on  his  first 
visit,  as  strong  objections  were  made  to  allowing  him  the  use  of  the  meet- 
ing-house ;  but,  on  his  second  visit,  he  preached  to  a  large  congregation  of 
people  in  the  open  air,  opposite' the  Deacon's  house,  on  Mill  Street.  So 
strong  was  the  prejudice  against  Whitefield,  that  the  authorities  of  the 
town,  hearing  that  he  was  to  preach,  sent  him  a  warning  to  dej)art  out  of 
the  town.  Instead  of  complying  with  their  request,  he  read  their  letter 
at  the  close  of  his  afternoon  discourse,  and  observing  "Poor  souls!  they 
shall  have  another  sermon,"  proceeded  to  give  notice  that  he  should  preach 
at  the  same  place,  at  sunrise,  the  next  morning.  He  kept  his  word,  and 
addressed  a  large  ajidience. 

The  following  brief  notice  of  the  first  settlement  of  Londonderry  may 
not  be  considered  inappropriate  in  this  place,  for  reasons  which  will  after- 
ward appear. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1718,  there  arrived  in  Boston  five  ship-loads 
of  emigrants  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  =  ■  They  were  descendants  of  a 
colony  which  went  from  Argjdeshire,  in  Scotland,  about  the  middle  of  the 
seventeeth  century.  They  were  rigid  Presbyterians,  and  fled  from  Scot- 
land to  avoid  the  persecutions  of  Charles  I.  Soon  after  their  arrival  in 
New  England,  they  petitioned  the  Assembly  for  a  grant  of  land,  and  ob- 
tained liberty  to  make  a  settlement  of  twelve  miles  square  in  any  of  the 
unappropriated  lands  to  the  eastward.  Twenty  families  of  them  sailed 
for  Casco,  where  they  remained  until  spring,  when,  not  finding  land  whicL 
pleased  them,  most  of  them  embarked  for  the  Merrimack.  They  reached 
Haverhill  April  2d,  and  while  here,  hearing  of  a  fine  tract  of  land  about 
fifteen  miles  distant,  called  Nutjield,  from  the  abundance  of  chesnut,  but- 
ternut, and  walnut  trees,  which  distinguished  its  forests,  the  men  left  their 

*  There  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  families  in  all. 

32 


250  HISTORY    OF    HAVERniLL. 

families  in  Haverhill,  and  went  to  view  Nutfield.  Being  well  pleased  witli 
the  location,  and  finding  it  unappropriated,  they  concluded  to  take  it  up. 
Having  selected  a  spot,  and  built  a  few  huts,  they  returned  for  their  fami- 
lies, with  whom  they  finally  arrived  at  Nutfield  April  11,  0.  S.,  1719. 
There  were  sixteen  families  of  them.  In  1720,  they  purchased  the  Indian 
title,  and,  although  it  was  long  a  frontier  town,  they  were  never  molested 
Tby  the  Indians.  In  1722  their  settlement  was  incorporated  by  the  name 
of  Londonderry, — from  a  city  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  near  which  they 
had  formerly  resided. 

These  settlers  introduced  the  culture  of  the  potato, — a  vegetable  till  then 
iinknown  in  New  England,  —  and  also  the  manufacture  of  linen  cloth."' 

Potatoes  were  first  raised  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Walker,  of 
Andover,  and  gradually,  but  very  slowly,  found  their  way  into  general 
cultivation.  They  are  first  mentioned  in  Newbury,  in  1732;  in  Lynn, 
1733;  in  1737,  Ecv.  Thomas  Smith,  of  Portland,  says  "there  is  not  a 
peck  of  potatoes  in  the  whole  eastern  country."  So  late  as  1750,  if  any 
person  raised  so  large  a  quantity  as  five  bushels,  great  was  the  inquiry 
among  his  neighbors  as  to  how  he  could  dispose  of  the  enormous  quantity. 
They  were  first  planted  in  this  town  by  William  White,  who  raised  four 
bushels ;  but  he  knew  not  how  to  make  use  of  so  large  a  quantity,  and 
gave  many  of  them  to  his  neighbors. 

Eev.  Mr.  Parker,  in  his  History  of  Londonderry,  gives  the  following 
interesting  account  of  their  first  cultivation  in  Andover :  — 

"Previous  to  a  permanent  settlement  at  Londonderry,  some  of  these 
people  resided  a  few  months  at  Andover,  Mass.,  and  on  taking  their  depar- 
ture, a  few  potatoes  were  left  with  one  of  the  families  there,  for  seed. 
The  potatoes  were  accordingly  planted ;  came  up,  and  flourished  well ; 
blossomed  and  produced  balls,  which  the  family  supposed  were  the  fruit 
to  be  eaten.  They  cooked  the  balls  in  various  ways,  but  could  not  make 
them  palatable,  and  pronounced  them  unfit  for  food.  The  next  spring, 
while  ploughing  their  garden,  the  plough  turned  out  some  of  the  potatoes, 
of  great  size,  and  thus  discovered  to  them  their  previous  mistake." 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  this  town,  in  1719,  it  was  voted  "to  make  all 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Town  proprietors  in  Common  lands  according  to  the 
charges  they  have  borne  in  the  town  in  the  time  of  the  war ;  "  and  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  "to  examine  what  every  man  paid  to  the  rates  in  the 
time  of  the  war  in  this  town."  AVe  do  not  learn  that  this  proposition  was 
finally  carried  out. 

o  Belknap,  Hist.  N.  H. 


HISTOKY   OF   HAVERHILL.  251 

The  proceedings  of  the  "  Commoners,"  in  holding  separate  meetings, 
and  taking  the  management  of  the  common  land^  into  their  own  hands, 
was  not  entirely  satisfactory  to  all  the  inhabitants,  and,  early  in  June, 
1719,  "upwards  of  twenty  of  the  Inhabitants  &  Freeholders"  petitioned 
the  selectmen  to  call  a  town  meeting  "  to  prevent  the  disposing  of  any 
more  of  the  common-lands  belonging  to  said  Town  by  a  few  men  contrary 
to  a  former  vote  of  said  Town  ;  "  and  also,  "  to  choose  a  committee  to  pros- 
ecute any  that  have  or  shall  encroach  upon  any  of  the  lands,  at  the  Town's 
cost."  The  selectmen  refused  to  call  such  a  meeting,  and  a  warrant  was 
thereupon  issued  by  "  Joseph  Woodbridge  Justice  of  the  Peace." 

Nothing  was  done  at  the  meeting  thus  called,  except  the  dismissal 
of  all  committees  previously  chosen  by  the  town,  and  the  choice  of  a  new 
committee,  to  prosecute  encroachers  upon  the  common  lands  of  the  town. 
From  these  proceedings,  it  will  be  seen,  that  the  non-commoners  were  deter- 
mined to  try  their  strength  with  the  commoners,  and  the  consequence  was 
that  the  town  soon  became  the  seat  of  warm  contentions,  and  disputes. 
At  the  time  of  the  last  named  meeting,  the  feeling  ran  so  high,  that  the 
commoners  were  refused  the  key  of  the  meeting-house,  and  after  organizing 
their  meeting  at  its  door,  they  adjourned  to  the  tavern  of  James  Pecker, 
where  several  subsequent  meetings  were  also  convened. 

In  July  of  this  year,  Stephen  Barker,  Henry  BodAvell,  and  others,  peti- 
tioned the  town  "  to  grant  or  set  them  off  a  certain  tract  of  land  lying  in 
the  township  of  Haverhill  that  so  they  might  be  a  township  or  parish," 
but  their  request  was  denied.* 

At  the  next  March  meeting,  the  following  petition  was  presented  :  — 

"  Whereas  there  is  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  the  West  end  of  Haverhill 
containing  Fifty  or  Sixty  acres,  lying  on  the  south  and  south  west  of  a 
Meadow  commonly  called  bare  meadow,  which  land,  together  with  a  piece 
of  land  lying  on  a  hill  called  meetinghouse  hill,  in  times  past  reserved  by 
our  forefathers  for  the  use  of  the  ministry,  might  in  hard  times  make  a 
convenient  Parsonage  ;  if  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the  gospel  might  so 
flourish  amongst  us,  and  we  grow  so  populous,  as  to  be  able  to  maintain 
and  carry  on  the  gospel  ministry  amongst  us. 

We  therefore  humbly  pray  that  you  would  take  into  consideration  the 
circumstances  we  are  in,  &  the  difficulty  we  may  hereafter  meet  with  in 
procuring  a  privilege  for  the  ministry  ;  and  that  you  would  gi*ant,  &  settle 
&  record  the  above  said  lands  in  your  Town  book,  for  the  above  said  use, 

<*  The  petitioners  lived  in  that  part  of  the  town  now  Methuen. 


252  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

&.  you  will  gratify  your  humble  petitioners  and  oblige  us  &  our  posterity 

to  serve  you  hereafter  in  what  we  may. 

Joshua  Swan,  *Thos  Johnson,  Thos  Whittier, 

Henry  Bodwell,  Edwd  Carleton,  Ephraim  Clark, 

Henry  Bodwell  jun,         Saml  Hutchins,  Thos  Whittier  sen, 

Danl  Eodwell,  Elisha  Davis,  Mathw  Harriman, 

Jas  Bodwell,  John  Hastings,  Saml  Smith; 

Thos  Massar,  John  Gutterson,  Saml  Currier, 

James  Davis,  John  Lad,  Jona  Clark,, 

Ahiall  Masser,  James  Sanders  jun,         Stephen  Barker, 

Henry  Sanders,  Wm  Whittier,  John  Sanders." 

"  This  petition  was  granted  according  to  the  proposals  therein  made," 
and  in  July  a  committee  was  chosen  to  lay  out  the  land. 

This  spring  (1720)  the  dispute  between  the  commoners  and  non-com- 
mouors  again  came  up  for  consideration,  and  at  the  annual  meeting,  the 
town  unanimously  voted  to  make  the  following  proposal  to  the  commoners: 

"  That  the  inhabitants  or  nan-commoners  so  called,  should  have  their 
right  in  all  the  Common  or  undivided  lands  in  said  Haverhill,  lying  on 
the  West  side  of  the  way  from  William  Johnson's  to  Jonathan  Cloughs,  in 
proportion  with  the  Commoners  according  to  the  rates  &  taxes  they  have 
borne  from  the  year  1094  to  the  year  1714." 

*'  Nathan  AVebster  was  chosen  to  prefer  this  request  to  the  Commoners 
or  Proprietors  of  the  Common  land  in  Haverhill." 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  May  29,  "  The  Commoners  answer  to  the 
Town's  proposal  was  brought  into  the  Town  meeting  &  read ;  and  the  Com- 
moners therein  signify  to  the  Town  that  they  can't  see  reason  to  grant 
their  proposals  at  present." 

Upon  this,  the  non-commoners  appear  to  have  decided  to  do  as  they 
pleased  with  the  lands  in  dispute,  as  the  very  first  vote  at  the  next  meeting, 
was,  to  "  sell  some  common-land  to  pay  the  Towns  debts  or  charges;" 
and  the  second  was  as  follows:  —  "  Voted  and  granted  that  that  tract  of 
land  lying  beyond  Hoghill  mill  that  lyeth  within  our  Township  not  intrud- 
ing on  the  fourth  division  land  shall  be  laid  out  to  those  men  that  have 
been  out  in  long  marches  in  the  time  of  the  war,  and  to  others  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Town,  that  will  make  speedy  settlement  on  the  same." 

A  committee  of  five  was  chosen  to  lay  it  out  forthwith,  in  fifty  acre  lots. 

At  the  July  meeting,  Ann  Pecker  petitioned  for  liberty  to  build  a  small 
pew  in  the  meeting-house,  "  as  through  my  infirmity  and  weakness,  by 
reason  of  my  age  I  cannot  sit  comfortably  in  the  meetinghouse,  during  the 
time  of  divine  service,  the  seat  being  so  very  narrow."     Her  recjuest  was 


HISTORY   OS"   HAVERHILL       '  253 

granted,  and  also  one  from  Kichard  Hazzen,  who  preferred  a  similar  request, 
as  he  had  "no  place  to  sit  but  upon  courtesy  of  Mr  Eastman  or  ciowding 
into  some  fore  seat,  too  honorable  for  me." 

Samuel  Haseltine  was  granted  a  piece  of  common-land,  for  his  work  in 
"  enlarging  the  galleries  of  the  meeting-house  ;  "  and  various  other  grants 
and  sales  of  common-land  were  also  made  at  the  same  meeting.  The  town 
seem  to  have  renewed  the  business  of  disposing  of  these  surplus  lands  in 
good  earnest.  At  the  nest  meeting  they  voted  to  "  defend  the  land  that 
they  have  sold  or  shall  sell,"  and  also  to  "  bear  all  the  charges  that  any 
man  or  men  shall  be  put  to,  to  defend  the  land  that  he  hath  bought  or 
shall  buy  of  the  Town,  by  any  suits  in  law  until  the  title  of  said  land 
shall  be  tried  out." 

In  October,  a  nreeting  was  held  to  see  about  the  town's  proportion  of  the 
£50,000  "  Bank  money  "  granted  by  the  Great  and  General  Court  in  1720. 
Trustees  were  appointed  to  receive  it,  and  were  directed  to  let  it  out  to 
individuals,  inhabitants  of  Haverhill,  in  sums  of  £10  to  £20,  at  five  per 
cent,  interest,  payable  annually. 

This  year,  there  was  a  new  "  seating  of  persons  in  the  meeting-house." 
The  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  it 
took  the  committee  four  days  to  do  the  job.  As  before,  a  second  committee 
were  appointed  to  assign  seats  for  the  first  committee. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  December  11th,  the  following  important  action 
was  taken  in  relation  to  the  common  lands  in  town  : — 

'•  Voted  and  granted  that  the  common  land  in  Haverhill  except  the  Cow 
common  and  the  land  beyond  Hoghill  mill,  shall  be  laid  out  into  rate  lots, 
according  to  the  Charges  or  Eates  that  every  person  in  this  town  has  paid 
from  the  year  1692  to  1712,  except  those  persons  that  removed  out  of  the 
Town  in  the  time  of  the  war  ;  &  excepting  some  land  to  make  good  old 
grants,  if  any  do  appear  to  be  justly  due  from  the  Town." 

"  Voted  and  granted  that  every  five  pounds  that  has  been  paid  in  public 
charges  or  rates  in  this  Town  by  any  persons  within  the  time  above  men- 
tioned, shall  draw  one  acre  of  land  in  the  rate  lots ;  and  so  proportionably 
according  to  what  sum  they  have  paid  Avithin  the  time  above  prefixed." 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  take  an  account  of  the  rates  paid  during  the 
years  specified,  and  also  one  to  lay  out  the  land  according  to  the  above  votes. 

During  this  time  the  commoners  were  not  by  any  means  idle.  At  a 
meeting  in  January,  (Jan.  2,  1721)  Samuel  White  and  William  White 
were  granted  permission  to  set  up  a  grist-mill  and  fulling-mill  on  Sawmill 
Eiver.  The  reason  given  for  desiring  to  move  their  mill  from  Mill  Brook 
to  the  above  place,  was, — the  scarcity  of  water  during  a  part  of  the  year 
at  Mill  Brook. 


254  HISTORY    OF    UAVERHILL. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  fifth  division  of  land  was  ordered,  which  was  to 
include  all  the  undivided  lands  in  town,  except  the  cow-common. 

At  a  meeting  in  February.  "  the  island  or  islands  just  above  Spicket 
Falls  "  were  sold  to  Asa  and  Kichard  Swan,  for  £2,  10  s. 

At  a  meeting  in  June,  the  following  interesting  petition  was  presented : — 
"  HaverhillJune  26,  1721: 

I'o  ye  commoners  or  proprietors  of  ye  common  lands  in  Haverhill : 
Ye  petition  of  Ebenezer  Eastman  of  ye  sd  Town  humbly  sheweth  yt  for  as 
much  as  Trading  by  sea  is  one  way  whereby  I  expect  to  gett  my  living 
and  furnish  out  my  good  neighbors  wth  many  such  nessisarys  of  life  as 
are  most  conveniant,  and  ye  Incouragmcnt  of  shipping  being  of  very  great 
consequence  and  a  great  Interest  to  this  Town  as  well  as  my  own,  I  would 
humbly  request  yt  I  may  have  liberty  to  erect  a  wharff  some  what  above 
ye  house  where  I  now  dwell  yt  soe  navigation  may  be  promoted,  and  yt 
Thereby  ye  whole  Town  of  Haverhill  as  well  as  my  self  may  receive  an 
Annuall  Income  Thereby  and  you  Infinitely  oblige  your  humble  petitioner 

Ebenezer  Eastman." 

Ebenezer,  son  of  Phillip  Eastman,  was  born  in  Haverhill,  February  17, 
1681.  His  father  was  the  person  already  mentioned  as  having  been  taken 
captive  at  the  same  time  with  the  wife  and  children  of  Thomas  Kimball, 
of  Bradford  ;  and  whose  house  and  buildings  were  burned  by  the  Indians, 
in  1698. 

From  his  youth,  Ebenezer  had  been  inured  to  hardship.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  joined  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Wainwright  in  the  expedition 
against  Port  Eoyal.  In  1711,  when  the  British  fleet,  under  Admiral 
Walker,  destined  against  Canada,  arrived  at  Boston,  Eastman,  then  about 
thirty  years  of  age,  had  command  of  a  company  of  infantry,  which 
embarked  with  others  in  one  of  the  transports. 

In  going  up  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  they  encountered  a  violent  north- 
east storm,  in  which  eight  or  nine  of  the  transports  were  wrecked  and 
about  one  thousand  men  lost.--' 

The  following  anecdote  is  related  of  Captain  Eastman :  —  As  night 
came  on,  the  orders  were  that  all  the  transports  should  follow  the  admiral's 
ship,  which  had  a  large  light  hoisted  at  mast-head  for  a  signal.  Captain 
Eastman  was  somewhat  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the  river,  having 
sailed  up  and  down  before.  In  the  night,  the  light  of  the  admiral's  ship 
was  not  to  be  seen,  and  at  the  time  when  the  fleet  were  doubling  a  very 
dangerous  and  rocky  point.     AVhcn  the  admiral's  ship  had  fairly  doubled 

o  Ilolmes'  Am.  Annals. 


HISTOKY   OF    HAVERHILL.  255 

the  point  and  got  into  line,  the  light  appeared  in  such  a  position  as  to 
draw  the  line  of  ships  directly  on  to  that  dangerous  point.  Aware  of  the 
danger,  Captain  Eastman  went  to  the  commander,  informed  him  of  the  peril, 
and  begged  him  to  alter  the  course  of  the  vessel ;  but,  being  then  under 
the  influence  of  licpor,  the  Captain  positively  refused  to  do  so,  saying  he 
"  would  follow  his  admiral  if  he  went  to  h — 1."  "  Well,"  said  Captain 
Eastman,  "I  have  no  notion  of  going  there,  and  if  you  wont  alter  the 
course  of  the  vessel,  I  will."  "  If  you  do,"  replied  the  Captain,  "your 
head  shall  be  a  button  for  a  halter  the  next  morning."  Informing  his 
company  of  their  danger,  and  relying  on  their  support,  Captain  Eastman 
ordered  the  Captain  below,  and  the  helmsman  to  change  his  course.  Thus 
they  escaped  the  wreck  which  befel  other  vessels  of  the  fleet.  The  next 
morning,  the  humbled  Captain  on  his  knees  acknowledged  his  deliverer 
and  begged  his  friendship.  On  the  following  day,  the  admiral  came  on 
board,  and  on  seeing  Captain  Eastman,  abruptly  asked :  "  Captain  East- 
man, where  were  you  when  the  fleet  was  cast  away?"  " Following  my 
admiral,"  replied  he.  "  Following  your  tidmiral !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  you 
Yankees  are  a  pack  of  praying  devils  —  you  saved  yourselves  but  sent  my 
men  to  h — 1."  ■■= 

Soon  after  his  return,  Eastman  entered  with  zeal  into  the  projected  set- 
tlement of  Penacook,  and  was  one  of  its  most  influential,  j^ersevering  and 
useful  citizens.  He  married,  March  4,  1710,  Sarah  Peaslee^  of  Haverhill, 
daughter  of  Colonel  Nathaniel  Peaslee. 

Among  the  many  traditionary  anecdotes,  it  is  related  that  soon  after 
settling  in  Penacook,  Eastman  made  a  journey  to  Haverhill,  on  horse-back, 
purchased  a  barrel  of  molasses,  and  contriving  what  was  called  a  car,  — 
formed  with  two  shafts,  one  end  of  which  was  fastened  to  the  horse  and 
the  other  dragged  on  the  ground — lashed  on  his  barrel  of  molasses,  and 
proceeded  on  his  journey  homeward,  along  the  path  through  the  wilderness. 
He  got  along  very  well  until  he  came  to  the  Soucook  Eiver.  After  crossing, 
the  hill  was  very  steep,  and  the  horse  would  frequently  stop  to  rest  a  few 
moments.  Having  nearly  reached  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  rigging  gave 
way,  down  went  his  barrel  of  molasses  at  full  speed,  and,  striking  a  tree, 
was  dashed  in  pieces.  "  Oh  dear  T"  exclaimed  the  Captain,  "  my  wife 
will  comb  my  head  —  yes,  and  harrow  it  too  !  "f 

Captain  Eastman  went  to  Cape  Breton  twice  —  the  first  time,  March  1, 
1745,  in  command  of  a  company,  and  was  present  at  the  reduction  and 
surrender  of  Louisburg,  June  16th.  He  returned  November  10,  1745. 
Early  the  next  year  he  went  again,  and  returned  home  July  9,  1746.     He 

o  Bouton's  Hist.  Concord.        t  Bouton. 


256  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILI,. 

died  July  28.  1748,  and  bis  descendants  are  to  this  day  among  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  Concord. 

This  jDctition  of  Captain  Eastman,  is  the  first  mention  we  can  find  of 
the  commerce  of  Haverhill,  or  "  trading  by  sea  ;  "  though  it  hardly  seems 
probable  that  he  was  the  pioneer  in  that  direction.  And  yet,  there  are 
strong  reasons  for  believing  that  he  was  the  first  loho  inade  it  a  bushiess. 
The  sugar  and  wine,  for  Mr.  Gardner's  ordination,  were  brought  from 
Boston,  on  horseback,  by  Deacon  White  ;  the  lime  for  plastering  the  par- 
sonage house,  in  1719,  was  hauled  from  Newbury,  by  oxen  ;  and  the  nails 
for  the  watch-house  were  brought  from  Ipswich,  on  horseback.  These 
small  matters,  and  many  similar  that  might  be  mentioned,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  silence  of  the  records,  in  regard  to  the  navigation  of 
the  Merrimack,  favor  the  supposition,  that,  up  to  this  time,  but  little  use 
had  been  made  of  the  river  for  commercial  purposes. 

The  lots  in  the  fifth  division  of  land,  were  drawn  November  20th,  1721, 
and,  as  showing  who,  or  rather  whose  representatives,  were  the  commoners 
at  this  time,  the  list  is  well  wortK  inserting  in  this  place :  — 
"  The  first  lot  to  Jno  Ayer  27 — Jno   Dow   purchased  from    mr 

2 — Mr  clemens  Executors  Coffins  Eight 

3 — ]\Ir  Joseph  Jewitt  28 — peter  Ayer 

4 — Jno  page  29 — Richard  Singletery 

5 — Thomas  Davis  30 — Jno  Ayer 

6 — Jno  Williams  sen.  31 — -Jno  Hutchius 

7 — Eobert  Ayer  32 — wm  Simons  on  the  Eight  of  Jno 

8 — James  Davis  jun  Davis 

9_Tho  Whittier  33— Eob  Swan 

10 — John  Johnson  34 — Jno  chenary 

11 — Thomas  Sleeper  35 — proprietors 

12 — Henry  palmer  36 — Eichd  littlchale 

13_\Villm  Holdridg  37— Tho  Eatton 

14_Stcphen  Kent  38 — To  nathll  Ayer  on  his  father  Jno 

1 5 — proprietors  Ayers  Eight 

in_Samll  Guile  39— Edward  dark 

1 7 — To  Eobt  clement  or  Jno  clemt  40 — Danll  lad 

Eight  41 — James  Davis  sen 

18 — Georg  Brown  42 — James  fisk 

1 9 — ]\Iatthais  Button  43 — Georg  Corliss  . 

20— Danll  Hendrick  44— John  Eatton 

21 — proprietors  45 — BarthoU  Heath 

22 — obadiah  Ayer  on  his  father  Jno  46 — Theophilas  Satchesell 

Ayers  Eight  47 — proprietors 

23 — Wm  white  48 — hew  shcrratt 

24— Tho  linforth  49— Abraham  Tyler 

25 — Mr  Jno  Ward  50 — To  James  pressess  Eight," 

26 — Joseph  peasly 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  257 

Tlie  fact  that  all  these  names,  except  seven, '■■=  are  to  be  found  in  the 
records  within  three  years  from  the  date  of  the  Indian  deed,  and  before  the 
town  was  incorporated,  shows  most  clearly  who  were  at  this  time,  consid- 
ered to  be  the  proprietors  of  the  undivided  lands  in  the  town.  They  were 
the  heirs  and  assigns  of  the  orifjinal  purchasers.  Those  to  whom  lands 
had  been  granted  since  that  time,  were  considered  to  have  no  further  rights 
than  had  been  granted  them.  That  is,  they  could  only  claim  the  amount  of 
land  that  the  proprietors  had  specifically  granted  them.  "  The  inhabitants 
of  Pentucket,"  —  their  ancestors,  — ha,d  purchased  every  foot  of  the  ter- 
ritory covered  by  the  Indian  deed,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  were 
therefore  the  sole  proprietors  of  it.  Grants  and  sales  made  subsequent  to 
the  original  purchase,  by  the  proprietors  as  a  body,  did  not  include  an  in- 
terest in  the  remaining  undivided  lands,  but  only  affected  the  title  to  the 
particular  lands  thus  alienated.  This  seems  to  us  be  the  position  taken 
by  the  "  commoners,"  or  "proprietors,"  at  this  time. 

The  "  «o?i-comm oners,"  or  "  legal  voters "  in  the  town,  on  the  other 
hand,  seem  to  have  taken  the  ground,  that  the  territory  having  been  origin- 
ally granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  generally,  all  the  common  or 
undivided  lands  remaining  at  any  time,  belonged  to  all  ivho  loere  legal  in- 
habitants, or  voters,  at  the  time  the  toion  should  please  to  dispose  of  them. 
It  mattered  not  whether  one  had  been  an  inhabitant,  or  legal  voter,  one 
day  or  fifty  years  ;  it  was  sufiicient  if  he  was  entitled  to  vote  in  town  affairs 
at  the  time  the  disposal  of  the  undivided  lands  came  up  for  consideration. 
If  he  was  so  entitled,  he  had  an  equal  interest,  or  proprietorship,  in  such 
lands,  with  each  and  every  other  inhabitant  of  the  town  at  the  time. 

These  widely  different  and  opposing  conclusions,  furnish  a  key  to  the 
long,  and,  at  times,  warm  controversy,  carried  on  concerning  the  undivided 
lands  in  the  town. 

The  loss  of  the  town's  books,  which  we  have  before  noticed,  is  doubtless 
to  be  accounted  for  by  this  controversy.  When  the  books  were  finally 
recovered,  it  seems  that  they  were  in  a  mutilated  state,  and  caused  a  great 
deal  of  trouble  in  the  copying.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1721,  it  was 
voted  "that  there  shall  be  a  committee  chosen  to  prefer  a  petition  to  the 
General  Court  for  redi-ess,  in  behalf  of  the  damage  that  the  town  sustained 
by  the  town-books  being  part  of  them  cut  and  torn  out."  That  is,  they 
desired  to  know  how  they  could  obtain  redress  for  the  injury  done  to  the 
books. 


o  Joseph  Jcwitt,  Thomas  Whittier,  John  Johnson,  Thomas  Sleeper,  Thomas  Linfoi-th,  Thomas  Eatton, 
James  Pressey. 

33 


258  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

Perhaps  we  cannot  better  close  this  chapter,  than  by  giving  a  brief  ac- 
count of  the  introduction  of  tea  into  New  England,  which  occurred  about 
this  time.-* 

The  first  tea-kettles  were  small  copper  articles,  and  were  first  nsed  in 
Plymouth,  in  1702,  though,  for  a  long  time  afterward,  tea  was  but  little 
used.  The  first  cast  iron  tea-kettles,  were  made  in  Plympton,  now  Carver, 
between  1760  and  1765,  and  it  was  about  this  period  that  the  use  of  tea 
became  common.  Lewis,  in  his  History  of  Lynn,  says, —  "  when  ladies 
went  to  visiting  parties,  each  one  carried  her  tea-cup,  saucer  and  spoon. 
The  tea-cups  were  of  the  best  china,  very  small,  containing  as  much  as  a 
common  wine-glass." 

From  a  letter  written  in  England,  in  1740,  we  copy  the  following  ex- 
tractf  :  — 

"  They  are  not  much  esteemed  now  that  will  not  treat  high  &  gossip 
about.  Tea  is  now  become  the  darling  of  our  women.  Almost  every 
little  tradesman's  wife  must  set  sipping  tea  for  an  hour  or  more  in  the 
morning,  and  it  may  be  again  in  the  afternoon,  if  they  can  get  it,  and 
nothing  will  please  them  to  sip  it  out  of  but  china  ware,  if  they  can  get 
it.  They  talk  of  bestowing  thirty  or  forty  shillings  upon  a  tea  equipage, 
as  they  call  it.  There  is  the  silver  spoons,  silver  tongs,  and  many  other 
trinkets  that  I  cannot  name." 

We  are  unable  to  say  when  tea  was  first  introduced  into  this  town,  but 
it  was  probably  soon  after  its  introduction  into  Boston,  as  our  people  were 
in  frequent  communication  with  that  place,  and  have  never  been  far  be- 
hind them  in  the  adoption  of  new  fashions.  There  is  a  tradition,  that  a 
Mr.  Gilc,  of  this  town,  had  a  present  sent  to  him,  from  Boston,  of  one 
pound  of  tea.  His  good  wife  knew  not  exactly  how  to  make  it,  but  she 
concluded  to  hang  on  her  dinner-pot,  and  cook  it  in  that.  The  dinner-pot 
was  hung  over  the  fire,  partly  filled  with  water,  and  the  whole  pound  was 
put  into  it.  But  to  make  it  more  luscious,  the  good  lady  put  in  a  large 
piece  of  beef  for  she  intended  to  have  a  real  dish  of  tea,  —  we  presume 
that  she  had  heard  of  the  old  proverb,  "the  more  good  things  the  better." 
After  it  had  boiled  sufficiently,  the  pot  was  taken  off,  "  but  the  liquor  was 
so  despot  strong,"  that  they  could  not  drink  it;  and,  besides,  it  had  made 
a  complete  jelly  of  the  meat. 

In  regard  to  the  use  of  coffee  in  town,  we  have  an  equally  amusing 
tradition  :  — 

About  the  year  1757,  a  party  of  gentlemen  arrived  from  Boston  and  put 
up  at  Lieutenant  Ebenezer  Eastman's  tavern.     They  brought  their  coflfee 

o  Holmes,  in  his  annals,  under  date  of  1720,  says,  "  Tliis  year  tea  began  to  be  used  in  New  England." 
t  Coffin. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  259 

witli  them,  and  requested  the  landlady  to  cook  it.  The  good  lady,  not 
being  particularly  acquainted  with  the  article,  nor  the  manner  of  cooking 
it,  hardly  knew  what  to  do.  But  having  a  little  self-confidence,  with  her 
other  good  qualities,  she  scorned  to  ask  advice,  and  proceeded  to  cook  it 
in  her  best  manner.  Accordingly,  she  took  her  bean-pot,  put  the  coffee 
into  it,  filled  it  with  water,  and  boiled  it  as  she  would  beans.  At  length, 
the  refreshment  was  ready,  and  when  the  gentlemen  sat  down,  they  were 
not  a  little  surprised  to  see  their  coffee  set  before  them,  well  boiled,  in  the 
kernel.  They,  however,  took  it  very  good-naturedly,  and  afterward  in- 
structed her  in  the  mystery  of  cooking  coffee. 


260.  HISTOKT    OP    HATEEHILL. 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 


INDIAN   TROUBLES. — 1713    TO    1725. 


The  peace  made  witli  tlie  Indians,  in  1713,  proved  of  short  duration. 
The  French,  who  saw  in  the  progress  of  the  English,  the  downfall  of  their 
own  power  on  the  continent,  employed  the  great  influence  of  their  mission- 
aries, Kalle,  and  La  Chasse,  to  arouse  the  Indians,  and  stimulate  them  to 
jealousy  and  revenge."  A  conference  was  finally  held  with  the  Indians,  at 
Arowsic  Island,  in  1717,  by  Governor  Shutc,  which  resulted  in  a  confirma- 
tion of  the  treaty  of  1713,  and  the  apparent  satisfaction  of  the  Indians. 
But  the  Fi-cnch  were  far  from  willing  to  allow  the  savages  to  be  at  peace 
with  the  English,  and,  in  1719,  they  again  renewed  their  claims  for  the 
removal  of  the  English  from  their  lands,  but  a  small  force  on  the  frontiers 
prevented  an  open  violation  of  the  treaty. 

In  1720,  the  Indians  were  persuaded  to  commit  depredations,  and  parties 
from  the  Norridgwock  and  Penobscot  tribes  killed  some  cattle,  and  threat- 
ened the  lives  of  the  English.  The  Nova  Scotia  Indians  went  still  further, 
and  added  murder  to  robbery.  Further  hostilities  at  this  time  were  pre- 
vented by  Colonel  Walton,  of  New  Hampshire,  who  was  detached  with  a 
force  of  two  hundred  men  to  guard  the  frontiers.  In  August,  1721,  a 
party  of  two  hundred  Indians,  accompanied  by  their  spiritual  leaders, 
Ealle  and  La  Chasse,  under  French  colors,  and  armed,  appeared  at  Arowsic, 
for  a  "talk"  with  the  commander.  This  ended  without  satisfaction  to 
either  party,  and  the  Indians  left  with  complaints  and  threats.  They 
warned  the  English  to  remove  from  their  lands  in  three  weeks,  or  they 
would  kill,  burn,  and  destroy.  Iritated  by  the  conduct  of  the  French, 
government  determined  to  attempt  the  removal  of  the  cause  of  all  the 
trouble,  and  for  that  purpose,  three  hundred  men  were  sent  to  Norridgwock, 
with  orders  to  seize  Father  Kalle,  and  bring  him  to  Boston.  No  other 
success  attended  this  expedition,  than  the  seizure  of  his  private  papers, 
which  fully  revealed  the  secret  machinations  of  the  French. 

This  invasion  of  their  head-quarters,  exasperated  the  enemy  in  an  unus- 
ual degree,  and,  in  June,  1722,  a  party  of  sixty  men,  in  twenty  canoes, 
captured  nine  families,  at  Merrymeeting  5ay,  and  committed  other  depre- 
dations, soon  followed  by  the  destruction  of  Brunswick,  Maine. 

*>  Sec  nutcbinson,  Douglas,  and  utbcrs,  upon  this  puiut. 


HISTORY   or   HATESHILL.  261 

Immediately  after  the  news  of  the  latter  reached  Boston,  the  Governor 
and  council  made  a  formal  declaration  of  •war. 

Though  so  far  removed  from  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  troubles,  the 
inhabitants  of  this  town  well  knew  that  they  were  not  safe  from  savage 
outrage,  and  they  determined  to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency.  "With 
the  bloody  scenes  of  August  29, 1708,  still  fresh  in  their  memory,  we  need 
not  wonder  that  their  first  care  was  for  their  minister.  At  a  meeting  held 
on  the  10th  of  August,  the  Selectmen  were  ordered  "  to  build  a  good  fort 
round  Kev.  Mr.  Brown's  house  with  what  speed  they  could." 

The  enemy  committed  no  further  violence  that  season,  but  early  in  the 
spring,  they  divided  into  small  parties  and  harassed  the  whole  line  of  fron- 
tier settlements,  —  Falmouth,  Scarboro,  Berwick,  Wells,  York,  Dover,  and 
Lampray  Eiver.  This  intelligence,  as  may  be  supposed,  thoroughly 
alarmed  the  people  of  Haverhill,  and,  at  a  meeting  called  March  19th,  the 
town  voted  to  buy  a  house  of  Jeremiah  Page,  and  set  it  up  between  the 
parsonage  house  and  Samuel  Smith's,  for  a  watch-house,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done,  with  all  possible  dispatch.'-' 

On  the  opening  of  the  spring  of  172-t,  the  enemy  were  again  found  in 
numerous  parties,  scattered  over  the  country,  plundering  and  murdering 
the  inhabitants,  and  threatening  the  entire  destruction  of  the  English 
settlements.  A  constant  watch  was  found  necessary  in  the  frontier  towns, 
and  those  less  exposed  were  called  upon  to  furnish  their  proportion  of 
soldiers  for  the  common  defence.  In  July,  Colonel  Noyes,  of  Newbury,  was 
ordered  to  send  twelve  men  to  Haverhill,  and  six  to  Amesbury,  to  serve  as 
scouts.  A  few  weeks  later,  (September  15,)  "  John  "White,  Capt ;  Richard 
Kimball  Capt;  Jonathan  Woodman,  Capt;  and  Richard  Hazzen,  Lieut;" 
wrote  from  this  town  to  the  governor,  strongly  urging  the  importance  of 
sending  an  army  of  men  to  AVinnipiseogee  Lake,  to  surprise  the  Indians 
in  that  vicinity,  and  utterly  rout  them. 

Determined  to  beard  the  lion  in  his  den,  government  fitted  out  a  force  of 
two  hundred  and  eight  men,  and  attacked  the  head  quarters  of  the  Indians 
at  Xorridgwock.  The  settlement  was  entirely  destroyed,  and  about  eighty 
killed  and  drowned,  among  whom  was  father  Ralle,  the  Jesuit  missionary. 
This  achievement  completely  broke  the  power  of  the  Norridgwocks.f 

The  nest  and  last  considerable  engagement  in  this  war,  took  place  at 
Pequawket,  now  Fry  burg,  Me.,  in  May,  1725,  by  a  party  of  volunteers, 

o  The  town  clerk  made  a  journey  to  Ipswich  for  the  nails,  on  horseback.    At  the  raising,  "  two  quarts 
Bum  "  were  employed,  at  an  expense  of  four  shillings. 
t  Sea  Hutchinion,  for  a  full  account. 


262  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

under  Captain  Lovewell.  In  this  bloody  fight,  the  English,  after  sustaining 
themselves  against  great  odds,  almost  an  entire  day,  were  left  in  possession 
of  the  field. 

Lovcwell's  (or  Lovell's)  company  consisted  of  forty-six  men,  besides 
himself,  including  a  chaplain  and  surgeon.  Four  of  these  men  were  from 
Haverhill,  viz:  Abiel-Asten,  Ebcnezer  Ayer,  Doctor  William  Ayer,  and 
Zebediah  Austin.''^  Captain  Lovewell  was  from  Dunstable,  and  had 
already  distinguished  himself  on  several  occasions. 

The  Haverhill  men  probably  joined  Lovewell  at  this  town,  where  the 
expedition  was  furnished  with  supplies,  by  John  White,  who  had  charge  of 
the  Province  stores  in  Haverhill. f  They  started  about  April  16,  0.  S. 
On  arriving  at  Ossipee  lake,  one  of  their  number  was  taken  sick,  and  they 
built  a  small  fort,  as  a  place  of  refuge  in  case  of  mishaps,  and  left  the  sick 
man,  with  the  doctor,  and  eight  men  to  hold  the  fort.  With  the  rest  of  his 
company,  Lovewell  boldly  marched  for  Pequaquake,  to  attack  the  bold 
Paugus  in  his  own  home.  On  the  morning  of  May  8th,  as  they  came  near 
Saco  Pond,  they  discovered  a  solitary  Indian  shooting  ducks,  and,  leaving 
their  packs  unguarded,  they  prepared  to  attack  the  enemy  whom  they 
supposed  must  be  near  by.  Not  finding  the  enemy  as  they  had  expected, 
the  company  were  leisurely  retui-ning  upon  their  own  trail,  when  they  fell 
into  an  ambuscade.  It  seems  that  Paugus  and  a  party  of  about  forty 
Indians,  returning  from  a  scout  down  the  Saco,  came  upon  the  packs  of 
Lovewell's  men,  and  finding  them  less  in  number  then  their  own,  they 
resolved  to  attack  them.  For  this  purpose  they  formed  an  ambuscade,  and 
when  the  company  reached  the  little  brook  on  the  east  side  of  the  above 
named  pond,  the  Indians  rose  on  all  sides,  fired,  and  rushed  upon  them  with 
yells  of  defiance.  Captain  Lovewell  fell  at  the  first  fire.  His  company 
immediately  returned  the  fire,  killing  nine  of  the  enemy,  and  then  scattered, 
each  getting  behind  a  tree,  and  firing  as  he  got  a  good  chance.  Thus  the 
fight  was  continued,  with  fatal  eflFect  on  both  sides,  until  toward  night, 
when  several  of  the  Indians  had  succeeded  in  getting  near  the  pond,  and 
among  them  Paugus,  who  took  refuge  behind  a  tree  within  talking  distance 
of  John  Chamberlain,  who  knew  him  personally.  Their  guns  having  become 
too  foul  to.  fire,  the  two  agreed  to  go  down  to  the  pond  and  cleanse  them. 
Each,  with  an  eye  upon  his  antagonist,  endeavored  to  clean  and  load  his 
gun  in  the  quickest  time  possible,  and  then  take  the  life  of  the  other. 

o  Abiel  AstcB  belonged  in  that  part  of  Haverhill,  now  Salem,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  living  in  1790,  aged 
eighty. — Belknap. 

Zebediah  Austin  belonged  in  that  of  Haverhill,  now  Methuen,  He  married  Sarah  Gatterson,  AprU 
18,  1729. 

t  State  Archiyes. 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  263 

Their  movements  were  simultaneous,  until  they  drew  their  ramrods  to  send 
home  the  leaden  messengers  of  death.  In  his  exteme  excitement,  Paugus 
dropped  his  ramrod,  and  though  he  scarce  lost  a  second's  time  by  the  mishap, 
it  was  enough  for  his  opponent.  Just  as  Paugus  brought  his  gun  to  hia 
shoulder,  Chamberlain  fired,  and  the  noted  chief  fell  dead ! 

Soon  after  sunset,  the  firing  ceased.  About  midnight,  the  survivors  of 
Lovewell's  men  assembled,  and  found  only  twenty-three  of  their  brave 
companions  alive.  Of  these,  one  was  just  breathing  his  last;  two  more 
were  unable  to  travel ;  and  eleven  others  wounded.  The  latter  marched 
ofi"  the  ground  with  the  nine  who  were  not  much  wounded,  but  four  of 
them  soon  gave  out,  and  were  left  by  their  companions,  who  kept  on  to  the 
Fort.  On  reaching  the  latter,  they  found  it  entirely  deserted  !  It  after- 
ward appeared,  that  Hassel,  one  of  the  men,  had  fled  in  the  first  part  of  the 
fight,  and  given  such  an  exaggerated  account  of  the  afliiir,  that  the  occu- 
pants of  the  fort  immediately  abandoned  it,  and  retreated  toward  home. 
After  much  suff"ering,  the  survivors  of  the  bloody  fight  arrived  at  Dunstable 
on  the  eleventh  of  May. 

Soon  after  this  fight  the  Penobscot  Indians  expressed  a  desire  for  peace, 
and  a  treaty  was  executed  in  December,  1725,  and  confirmed  at  Falmouth 
the  next  July.  In  1727,  the  tribes  which  had  not  been  represented  in  this 
conference,  notified  the  government  of  their  desire  to  make  a  public  con- 
firmation of  the  peace,  which  was  subsequently  done  at  Falmouth,  in 
July,  1727. 

The  peace  which  succeeded  was  of  long  continuance,  and  though,  during 
the  subsequent  difficulties  with  the  French,  the  frontiers  were  often 
harrassed  by  the  Indians,  Haverhill  was  never  again  molested  by  them. 
The  settlement  of  a  line  of  towns  to  the  north,  at  last  completely  protected 
this  town,  after  having  been  a  frontier  town  for  more  than  three-fourths  of 
a  century.  During  that  period  more  than  sixty  of  its  inhabitants  were 
killed  by  the  Indians,  and  between  fifty  and  sixty  captured.  Some  of  the 
latter  were  never  heard  from  afterward,  though  most  of  them  were  ransomed, 
or  escaped,  and  returned  home. 

That  the  situation  of  this  town  during  these  troubles  was  by  no  means 
pleasant,  is  plainly  seen  in  the  fact  that  a  scouting  company  was  formed 
in  town  the  summer  following  Lovewell's  fight,  and  were  in  actual  service 
during  the  months  of  September  and  October.  The  immediate  cause  which 
led  to  the  organization  of  the  company,  we  find  given  in  a  letter  from 
Joshua  Bailey  and  Jonathan  Woodman,  of  this  town,  to  the  Governor, 
dated  August  30,  1725,  in  which  they  state  that  Indians  had  been  recently 
seen  '-lurking  in  the  woods,  guns  heard,  &c."     The  men  were  employed  as 


264  HISTORY    OF    nATERHILL. 

scouts,  or  "Centinels,"  and  a  line  of  them  were  kept  constantly  posted  on 
the  frontier  of  the  town,  to  give  the  alarm  in  case  of  the  appearance  of 
the  enemy.  ■' 

From  the  original  "  Muster  Eoll  of  Moses  Hazzen,  Ensign,"  we  copy 
the  names  of  those  under  his  command,  in  that  service,  from  September 
6th  to  October  27th,  1725  : — Moses  Hazzen,  Ensign;  Eobert  Ford,  Wm. 
Heath  Jun.,  Phineas  Foster,  John  Dow,  Timothy  Duston,  David  Emerson, 
Ebcnezer  Aycrs,  Samuel  Merril,  "William  Mitchel,  Centinds. 

With  the  following  incident,  illustrative  of  Indian  sagacity,  we  close 
this  part  of  the  early  history  of  the  town  :  f 

"  At  the  mouth  of  Baker's  Paver,  in  the  town  of  Plymouth,  X.  H.,  the 
Indians  had  a  settlement,  where  have  been  found  Indian  graves,  bones, 
gun-barrels,  stone  mortars,  pestles,  and  other  articles  in  use  among  them. 
In  this  place,  it  is  said  they  were  attacked  hy  Capt.  Baker,  (from  whom 
the  river  derived  its  name)  and  a  party  from  Haverhill,  Mass.,  who  defeated 
them,  killed  a  number,  and  destroyed  a  large  quantity  of  fur.  There  is  a 
story  respecting  an  expedition  of  Capt.  Baker,  which,  if  correct,  and  we 
see  no  reason  to  doubt  its  correctness,  shows  the  sagacity  of  Indians. — 
A  friendly  Indian  had  accompanied  Capt.  Baker  in  his  expedition,  and 
from  the  movement  of  the  savages  was  satisfied  that  they  had  sent  to 
Winnepisiogee  or  Pequawkett  ponds  for  aid.  He  assured  Capt.  B.  of  the 
fact,  and  told  him  what  they  did  must  be  done  immediately  ;  that  they  had 
better  make  their  escape  or  they  would  be  overpowered  by  numbers  and 
be  destroyed.  And  on  their  march  down  the  river  Pemigewasset,  he  urged 
them  not  to  stop,  telling  them  they  would  be  pursued.  But  when  they 
reached  the  brook  at  Salisbury  village,  the  men  were  so  fatigued  that  they 
said  they  must  stop  and  refresh  themselves.  The  Indian  told  them  to 
build  each  one  a  fire  and  cut  several  sticks  apiece  to  broil  their  meat  on, 
to  burn  the  end  of  each  as  though  thus  used,  and  stick  them  into  the 
ground,  and  then  proceed  as  soon  as  possible.  It  was  but  a  very  short 
time  after  they  had  set  out  before  the  Indians  came  to  the  place  where 
they  had  refreshed,  and  counting  the  fires  and  the  number  of  sticks,  said 
the  English  were  too  strong  for  them,  and  gave  up  the  pursuit." 

°  In  1723,  John  .Clement  asked  to  be  released  from  paying  the  rent  of  the  "Parsonage  farm"  the 
previous  year,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  driven  off  the  land  by  the  war. — Toivn  Records. 
t  We  copy  ft-om  the  Collections  of  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  Society— Vol.  l.j 


HISTOEY   OF   HAVEUniLI,.  265 


CHAPTER  XYII. 


1720  TO  1728. 


At  tlie  annual  meeting  of  tlie  town  for  1722,  it  was,  for  tlie  first  time, 
proposed  that  the  mending  of  the  highways  should  be  done  by  a  rate,  but 
the  proposition  was  promptly  negatived. 

This  year,  and  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  after,  persons  were  chosen 
to  see  that  the  "  fish  courses  "  were  kept  clear,  so  that  the  fish  might  not 
be  prevented  or  hindered  from  going  up  the  streams  in  their  appropriate 
season. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1723,  the  subject  of  cchools  again  came  up 
for  consideration,  and  three  new  school-houses  were  ordered  to  be  built — 
one  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  between  Daniel  Ela's  and  Widow  Mary 
Whittier's,  one  in  the  north-westerly  part,  near  the  house  of  Jonathan 
Duston,  and  the  other  in  the  westerly  part,  near  "William  Whitticker's. 
It  was  also  voted  to  hire  a  school-master,  "  to  move  for  the  town's  benefit 
to  the  several  parts  of  the  town."  Eichard  Hazzen  kept  school  "three 
quarters  "  this  year,  —  one  quarter  at  the  house  of  Widow  Mary  Whittier. 
He  was  paid  eleven  pounds  per  quarter. 

At  the  same  meeting,  the  following  petition  was  presented,  signed  by 
four  of  the  inhabitants"' :  —  "  Whereas  your  petitioners  having  their  habi- 
tations so  distant  from  the  meeting-house,  that,  at  any  time  being  belated, 
we  cannot  get  into  any  seat ;  but  are  obliged  to  sit  squeased  on  the  stairs 
where  we  cannot  hear  the  minister  and  so  get  little  good  by  his  preaching, 
though  we  endeavour  to  ever  so  much  ;  and  there  being  a  vacant  place  be- 
twixt the  front  pew  and  the  pew  on  the  side  gallery  over  the  head  of  the 
stairs,  we  humbly  request  lij^erty  to  erect  a  seat  over  the  same."  The 
petition  wa,s  granted. 

At  the  same  time  several  womenf  petitioned  for  liberty  "  to  erect  a  seat 
or  pew  over  the  head  of  the  stairs,  not  damnifying  the  stairway,"  which 
was  also  gi'anted. 

Abiall  Messer  was  granted  the  privilege  of  keeping  a  ferry  near  his 
house  for  five  years.  Messer,  we  believe,  lived  in  that  part  of  the  town 
now  Methuen. 

<'  James  Sanders,  Jr.,  John  Eatton,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  Jr.,  Joseph  Merrill. 

t  Sarah  Hazzen,  Hannah  Hazzen,  Hannah  Clement,  Buth  Clement,  Rachal  Sanders,  Abigail  Peaslee, 
Susanna  Peaslee. 

34 


2G6  HISTORY   OF   nATERHILL. 

In  the  fall  of  1723,  the  Selectmen  of  Haverhill,  and  the  Selectmen  of 
Kingston  met,  and  run  the  line  between  the  two  towns/--' 

The  first  mention  we  find  of  seines,  or  nets,  for  fishing  in  the  river,  is  in 
the  records  of  this  year  (1723)  when  Captain  Joshua  Bayley,  Ebenezcr 
Eastman,  and  others,  petitioned  for  liberty  to  fish  in  the  river  with  a  net 
"  from  Ebcnezer  Eatton's  down  to  Hardy's  landing."  The  petition  was 
refused. 

.  We  now  approach  one  of  the  most  critical  periods  in  the  history  of  our 
town ;  —  that  in  which  the  disputes  and  difficulties  between  the  "proprie- 
tors" or  "commoners,"  and  the  rest  of  the  land  holders  in  town  reached 
the  culmiuating  point.  "We  have  already  seen  that,  for  some  time,  there 
had  been  an  increasing  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  latter 
with  the  proceedings  of  the  former.  The  non-proprietors  had  seen  the 
common  and  undivided  lands  of  the  town  gradually  grooving  less  and  less 
under  the  frequent  grants  of  the  proprietors,  until  the  most  obtuse  could 
not  fail  to  see  that  ere  many  years  should  elapse,  none  of  them  would  be 
left,  as  such. 

The  largest,  and  most  valuable,  of  the  remaining  tracts  of  undivided  land 
was  the  portion  still  left  of  that  laid  out  in  1065  as  a  "cow  common. "| 
This  had  been  much  reduced  from  its  original  dimensions,  but  was  still  a 
large  and  valuable  tract  of  land.  The  proprietors  had  several  times  dis- 
cussed the  proposition  to  lay  it  out  into  lots,  and  dispose  of  them,  but  as 
yet  had  not  fully  decided  to  do  so. 

The  question  of  the  ownership  of  these  lands  was  yet,  in  the  minds 
of  many,  a  mooted  question,  and  the  dispute  in  relation  to  them  now  be- 
gan to  show  visible  signs  of  its  unhappy  tendency.  Five  meetings  were 
held  in  succession,  and  not  a  vote  was  passed.  The  marginal  refer- 
ence to  one  of  them  says,  that  it  was  "precious  time  spent  for  nought." 
The  two  parties  were  fast  approaching  open  hostility,  and  unless  some  com- 
promise could  be  made,  it  was  evident  that  the  results  must  inevitably  be 
disastrous  to  the  town.  Under  these  circumstances,  a  committee  was 
chosen  by  the  "  town  "  (September  2d,  1723,)  to  confer  with  the  common- 
ers, "  in  order  to  make  some  agreement  about  common  lands  in  Haverhill," 
and  the  meeting  adjourned  to  hear  the  report.  The  town  committee  asked 
for  "a  proposition,  in  order  to  make  peace." 

°  The  Charter  of  Kingston  was  granted  in  1094,  and  included  what  now  forms  the  towns  of  Kingston, 
East  Kingston,  Danville,  and  Sandown  .and  portions  of  Plaistow  and  Hampstcad. 

t  According  to  the  vote  of  March  7,  16G.5,  all  the  land  within  the  following  hounds  was  forever  to  be  a 
cow-common: — Within  the  bounds  of  Fishing  river;  and  from  thence  to  a  brook  that  goeth  to  tlie  hither 
north  meadow ;  and  from  thence  as  tlie  cart  path  goeth,  to  the  meadow  of  Bartholomew  Heath,  which  was 
formerly  George  Corliss's  meadow:  and  from  thence  to  the  East  meadow  river,  and  so  -within  the  bounds 
of  the  cast  meadow  river  do\yii  to  the  Great  river. 


HISTOKY   OF   HAVERHILL  267 

^'V^lell  the  adjourned  meeting  was  opened,  it  was  found  that  no  reply 
had  yet  been  received  from  the  commoners,  and  another  adjournment  was 
made.  At  the  next  meeting,  the  committee  reported  that  the  town's  propo- 
sition had  been  made  to  the  commoners,  at  one  of  their  meetings,  and  was 
"met  with  silence,  &  nothing  more."  This  silence  of  the  commoners  was 
not,  however,  to  be  attributed  to  their  sullenness  or  disinclination  to  ac- 
cept the  olive  branch  of  peace,  as  will  appear  plain  from  their  proceedings 
immediately  afterward. 

Early  in  December,  (December  5,  1723,)  several  of  the  proprietors 
petitioned  for  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  as  follows :  — 

"To  Jno  White  esqr:  proprietors  dark  greeting,  whereas  There  are 
severall  persons  in  ye  Town  of  Haverhill  of  long  &  ancient  standing  in  ye 
Town,  who  by  reason  yt  They  have  little  or  no  Eight  in  ye  Comon  lands 
either  by  Them  selves  or  claiming  under  Their  Ancestors  are  very  uneasy 
att  ye  division  &  disposall  of  said  lands  to  &  among  ye  proprietors  & 
reall  owners  of  itt.  Therefore  wee  ye  subscribers  proprietors  Taking  into 
Consideration  ye  damage  of  Contention,  &  yt  peace  may  be  made,  we  re- 
quest yt  There  may  bee  a  meeting  of  je  proprietors  to  bee  att  ye  meeting 
house  in  Haverhill  on  monday  ye  sixth  day  of  January  next  ensuing  att 
Ten  of  ye  clock  in  ye  forenoon  for  Reasons  following,  first  yt  if  ye  pro- 
prietors see  cause  They  chuse  a  Comitte  to  debate  ye  matter  wth  such  per- 
sons who  have  been  of  long  &  ancient  standing  in  ye  Town  Though  They 
have  little  or  noe  Plight  To  any  Comon  lands  either  by  Them  selves  or  An- 
cestors &  To  see  upon  what  Conditions  such  persons  will  be  satisfied  &  To 
make  report  to  ye  proprietors  soe  yt  They  may  Give  them  some  lands  if 
They  see  Cause. 

secondly  yt  They  chuse  a  Comitte  To  debate  wth  such  persons  who  lay 
claim  to  Eights  not  yett  allowed  To  see  what  will  satisfie  Them  &  make 
report  Thereof  to  ye  proprietors  yt  soe  They  may  act  upon  itt  if  They  see 
Cause." 

The  meeting  was  held  accordingly,  and  Deacon  James  Ayer,  Nathaniel 
Peasly,  and  Eichard  Hazzen,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  meet  the  non- 
proprietors  and  ascertain  what  would  satisfy  them. 

The  committee  met  the  latter  at  the  tavern  of  Cornet  James  Pecker,  on 
the  2Sth  of  January,  and  reported  to  the  proprietors,  on  the  5  th  of  Feb- 
ruary, the  following,  as  the  result  of  their  "  debate  "  :  — 

"Jno  Sanders  did  declare  &  say  yt  as  to  ye  comons  They  were  in  ye 
hands  of  ye  Law  &  yt  hee  was  easy  wth  ye  determination  of  ye  Law,  for 
if  ye  Town  lost,  his  Eight  with  ye  comons  would  bee  as  good  as  now. 


268  HISTORY    OF    IIAVERHILL. 

Joshua  Swan  would  not  bee  easy  iinless  They  would  grant  him  lo  acres 
between  Samll  Davis  &  Job  elements. 

mathew  Harriman  junr  declared  yt  hee  would  bee  uneasy  unless  all  ye 
fences  erected  on  ye  cow  comon  were  demolished  &  itt  lay  according  to  ye 
vole  of  ye  ancient  fathers  &  ye  proprietors  records  Burnt. 

AVilliam  Johnson  would  not  be  easy  unless  They  would  fling  up  ye  cow 
comon. 

All  those  above  accounted  are  unreasonable  in  Their  demands  &  soe 
(we)  acted  nothing  upon  it. 

All  ye  other  persons  under  written  To  ye  number  of  about  39  persons 
Though  They  had  uoe  materiall  objection  against  ye  division  of  ye  Comons 
yett  since  They  had  bore  charges  lost  friends  by  ye  Indians :  &c  did  desire 
some  particular  pieces  of  land  upon  ye  proprietors  grant  of  which  They 
would  bee  easy  &  for  ye  future  rest  contented  &  proceeded  To  request  as 
followeth  (viz) 

Jno  Stevens  sen:  &  Jun:  proposes  To  have  about  six  acres  neer  Aaron 
Stephens 

Isack  Bradly  Bradly  requests  six  acres  neer  hony  ball  mill 

Stephen  Dow  requests  five  acres  beyond  nicholas  whites 

Joseph  Guile  requests  about  Two  acres  by  his  house  part  is  allready 
fenced  in 

Haniel  &  Edward  Samll  &  Timothy  dark  requesls  six  acers  where  Their 
mother  lives 

James  Heath  about  Ten  acers  neer  Jno  Harrimans  Mill 

Josiah  Heath  Junr  four  acres  neer  moses  Stephens 

Samll  Smith  Ten  acres  neer  Jno  Harrimans  mill 

Eobert  ford  Requests  10  acres  where  There  is  Comon  neer  hogg  hill  mill 

Abraham  Bradly  about  six  acres  neer  yt  his  brother  Isack  requested 

Ens:  VVhitikcr  yt  whcras  he  hath  half  a  right  To  lay  out  in  ye  Cow 
Comon  They  would  lett  him  have  a  whole  Eight  &  hee  will  bee  easy 

nathll  nierrill:  Jun:  for  himsclfe  &  brethren  requests  Ten  acres  in  yt 
Comon  beyond  Henery  Sanders  house 

nathll  Johnson  requests  Eight  acres  next  his  own  land 

Tho  Eatton  requests  To  have  about  Ten  acres  on  west  meado  hill  Wil- 
liam Whittakcr  Junr  10  acres  on  ye  Right  hand  of  ye  way  yt  leads  To 
Honyball  mill  mill  joyning  to  ye  mill  pond 

Joseph  page  requests  about  Three  acres  where  hee  now  lives 

Benjamin  Standlee  requests  about  five  acres  of  yt  Comon  beyond  Hen- 
ery Sanders 


HISTORY    OF    nAYEEIIILL.  269 

peter  Green  senr:  (Sj  Junr:  Requests  yt  They  would  grant  Them  all  yt 
Comon  which  They  have  withinfenced  &  yt  att  ye  south  of  Their  land 
being  part  of  Their  Eight  allready  laid  out  &  yt  att  ye  East  End  of  Their 
land,  &  lay  out  Their  Comon  Eight  in  some  other  place,  They  having  a 
Convenient  Eoad  To  ye  Sour  meadow 

Andx'ew  mitchell:  senr  requests  about  six  acres  in  yt  Comon  beyond 
Henery  Sanders,  and  yt  stripp  of  Comon  betwixt  ye  highway  &  ye  farm 
called  Hainses  farm  &  a  small  peice  By  his  barn 

Jonathan  Eastman  requests  20  acres  in  providence  neck 
Samll  marble  senr:  Twenty  acres  in  providence  neck  north  of  ye  Copls 
pond  farm--' 

Stephen  Webster  Twenty  acres  north  of  Copls  pond  farm  as  wee  goe  to 
providence  neck 

Joseph  Whittier  proposes  about  Eight  acres  on  ye  north  of  The  way  y 
leads  from  nicolas  whites  To  Gorlys  meadow 

Abraham  page  requests  about  Eight  acres  next  to  yt  Whittier  requested 
John  Webster  &  nathan  webster  40  acres  To  both  in  providence  neck 
Deacon  mash  requests  about  Two  acres  being  a  small  strip  lying  be- 
twixt land  laid  out  To  him  in  ye  Cow  Comon  &  ye  way  yt  goes  to  Jeremy 
pages 

Aaron  Stephens  about  four  acres  Joyning  on  his  own  land 
Samll  Wortheu  three  acres  betwixt  Jno  Harrimans  mill  &  ye  wooden 
bridg 

Abiall  mercer  about  5  acers  neer  obadiahs  meadow 
Jno  Lad  a  small  peice  by  his  own  land  about  Two  acres 
Job  elements  about  Ten  acres  next  yt  william  whittier  requests  for 
Christopher  Bartlit  12  acres  next  to  yt  hee  bought  of  Guile  &  proposes 
To  have  his  Two  Comon  Eights  laid  out  adjoyning  To  This 

matthew  Harriman  senr  about  Eight  acres  beyond  nathll  Johnsons  land 
Jno  Heath  about  six  acres  below  wainwrights  mill  on  The  Easterly  side 
of  ye  Eiver 

Jno  Clement  six  acres  neer  hony  ball  mill." 
Upon  the  reading  of  the  report  of  the  committee,  the  proprietors 
"  Voted  yt  ye  several  parcells  of  land  petitioned  for  or  desired  by  ye 
severall  persons,  according  To  ye  return  of  ye  sd  committee  Bee  liereby 
granted  To  them  on  This  Condition  yt  They  rest  satisfied  &  Contented  wth 
ye  division  of  ye  Comon  land  according  to  ye  proprietors  order,  &  yt  for 
ye  future  They  appeare  In  all  Town  meetings,  unless  hindered  by  extra- 
ordinary Casualty  &  doe  oppose  By  voate,  &  argument,  all  such  persons  & 

»  The  Pond  here  referred  to,  was  probably  that  now  known  as  "Captain's  Pond,"  in  Salem,  N  .H. 


270  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

voatcs  as  any  way  disturbe  or  hinder  ye  proprietors  in  Their  peaceable  In- 
joyments  of  Their  lands  divided  or  undivided  &  yt  They  Indeavor  To 
hinder  any  farther  process  in  law  about  yc  same,  &  farther  peace  &  unitie 
againc  as  far  as  may  be,  &  yt  They  Assighn  Articklcs  agreeable  To  This 
voate  betwixt  Themselves  &  The  Comitte  which  shall  be  appointed  for  yc 
purpose,  before  ye  said  land  Bee  laid  out  To  them,  And  yt  ye  particular 
persons  To  whome  ye  land  is  granted  shall  pay  ye  Comitte  yt  have  been 
allready  Impowercd  about  having  ye  proposalls  of  sevcrall  persons 
for  laud  To  be  Given  them,  &  alsoc  what  farther  charge  ye  Comitte  may 
be  att  about  ye  same,  for  ye  laying  of  itt  out  &  for  recording  yc  same. 
This  was  voated  &  granted  By  a  full  voate." 

A  committee  was  then  chosen  to  draw  tip  the  proposed  articles,  and,  on 
the  persons  alluded  to  signing  them,  the  committee  were  to  lay  them  out 
the  laud  requested. 

This  liberal  concession  on  the  part  of  the  proprietors  did  not,  however, 
secure  a  complete  settlement  of  the  difi&culty,  though  it  would  seem,  from 
the  silence  of  the  records  of  the  following  year,  that  it  had  done  so.  But 
no  sooner  did  the  proprietors  fully  decide  to  lay  out  the  cow-common  into 
lots  and  appoint  commissioners  to  lay  out  highways  through  it,  than  the 
opposition  broke  out  afresh.  In  the  warrant  for  the  annual  meeting  for 
1725,  (March  2d)  we  find  the  following,  which  plainly  shows  the  deep- 
seated  hostility  to  the  claims  of  the  proprietors :  — 

"  2  And  to  see  whether  ye  Town  Avill  chuse  a  Comitee  to  Draw  Money 
out  of  ye  Town  Treasury  to  seport  one  or  more  of  ye  Comoners  to  take  a 
method  in  law  to  recover  their  Eights  from  ye  Incroachments  of  ye  Com- 
oners, That  it  may  yet  ly  in  Comon  as  by  ye  Cow  Comon  grant  made  in 
March  1G64-5." 

"  3.  And  to  Chuse  a  Comittce  to  prefer  a  petition  to  ye  General  Assem- 
bly to  acquaint  yt  Honorably  House  with  ye  Irregular  method  of  our 
Comoners  in  their  last  actions  abought  ye  Cow  Comon,  and  to  see  what  ye 
towue  may  think  proper  onyt  acount  &  to  doe  it  on  ye  Towns  cost." 

The  two  parties  were  now  in  open  hostility,  and  on  the  day  of  the  above 
meeting,  finding  themselves  in  a  minority,  the  "commoners"  withdrew 
and  organized  a  separate  meeting,  and  chose  a  separate  set  of  town  officers. 
Captain  Joshua  Bayley  was  moderator  of  the  non-commoners  ;  and  Captain 
John  White  of  the  commoners.  The  former  body  chose  Ensign  Thomas 
"Whittier,  John  Sanders,  and  Anthony  Colby,  a  committee  under  the  second 
article  of  the  warrant ;  and  made  the  same  persons,  with  the  selectmen,-' 
a  committee  under  the  third  article. 

*  CapUin  Joshua  Bajlcy,  James  Sanders,  and  Christopher  Bartlctt. 


HISTORY   01   HATERHILI..  271 

The  next  meeting  of  the  non-commoners  was  held  April  8th,  the  war- 
rant for  which  is  signed  by  Benjamin  Stevens,  "one  of  his  majestic^ 
justices  of  ye  county  of  Essex,"  in  answer  to  a  petition  to  him  "  signed 
by  more  than  fifty  hands." 

The  business  to  be  done,  was,  "  To  see  whether  the  Town  will  Impower 
ye  Select  men  of  Haverhill,  or  chuse  a  Comittee  to  prosecut  on  ye  towns 
Cost  to  final  Issue  any  of  ye  faction  that  are  Indevoring  to  disturb  &  Dis- 
quiet ye  Town  Clark  in  his  peacable  Improvement  of  ye  town  Books." 
"  "  '■'■'  =•'  "  and  to  prosecut  any  person  yt  by  Color  of  their  Election 
in  yt  meeting  where  Capt  White  pretended  to  be  moderator  yt  shall  pre- 
sume to  act  as  such  officer." 

Upon  the  first  article  of  the  warrant,  Captain  Joshua  Bayley,  James 
Sanders,  Thomas  Haines,  Daniel  Bodwell,  and  Christopher  Bartlett,  were 
chosen  a  Committee  to  prosecute  "  any  of  yt  faction,"  &c. 

It  was  then  declared,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  that  the  officers  chosen  at 
the  previous  meeting,  and  who  were  called  by  name,  should  be  supported 
through  any  difficulty  that  might  arise  in  executing  their  respective  duties ; 
that  "  ye  small  party  where  Capt  White  pretended  to  be  a  moderator  on 
March  2,  1724-5,  was  not  according  to  the  town's  will,  nor  according  to 
ye  consent  &  former  practice  of  our  Town;"  that  "the  Town  doe  Declare 
against  Mr  Eichard  Hazzen  Jr  his  being  town  Clerk ;"  and  that  the  select- 
men should  prosecute  to  final  issue  any  person  or  persons  that  by  color  of 
his  Election  in  the  meeting  aforesaid,"  should  presume  to  act  as  such 
officer.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  for  two  weeks,  at  which  time  "  some 
discourse  passed,"  but  no  vote  was  taken.  They  met  twice  afterward,  but 
adjourned  on  both  occasions  without  doing  any  business; — the  last  meeting 
being  held  June  21st,  and  after  the  following  warrant  had  been  issued.* 

The  non-proprietors  having  appealed  to  the  General  Court,  that  body 
passed  the  following  resolve,  oi*  order,  June  4,  1725  :  — 

"  Whereas  at  the  anniversary  of  the  town-meeting  in  the  town  of  Hav- 
erhill, in  March  last,  there  happened  to  be  two  contendiug  parties  who 
assembled  at  the  meeting-house,  and  did  there  and  then  choose  two  sets  of 
town-officers,  whereby  great  difficulties  arose  in  the  said  town,  and  consid- 
erable expense  occasioned  in  the  law ;  and  it  is  feared  that  no  good  gov- 
ernment can  be  supported  unless  some  speedy  care  be  taken  to  prevent 
these  disorders.  For  preventing  whereof,  and  to  put  an  end  to  said  strife, 
it  is  ordered  by  this  General  Court,  that  Joshua  Swan  and  Nathaniel  ■ 
Peasley,  Constables  for  the  town  in  1724,  be,  and  are  hereby  required  to 

o  We  do  not  learn  thiit  the  commoners  held  any  meetings  during  this  time,  and  presume  that  they 
did  not. 


272  HISTORY    OF    nATERinLL. 

warn  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  to  assemble  at  the  meeting- 
house in  Haverhill,  on  the  ninth  of  June,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  then 
and  there  to  choose  all  the  town-officers  which  the  law  requires  to  be 
chosen  in  the  month  of  March  annually ;  and  that  Eichard  Kent,  Esq." 
be  desired  to  be  present  at  the  said  meeting ;  and  he  is  empowered  to  mod- 
erate the  affairs,  and  no  other  person  be  allowed  to  vote  but  such  as  are 
lawfully  qualified  ;  and  that  the  proceedings  of  both  parties  at  the  afore- 
said meeting  of  March  2d  arq  declared  null  and  void,  and  the  charge  to 
be  borne  as  this  Court  shall  order." 

A  meeting  was  accordingly  held  on  the  ninth  of  June,  and  Eichard  Kent, 
Esq.,  presided.  The  opening  of  the  meeting  was  folloAved  by  some  discus- 
sion concerning  the  town's  affairs,  but  no  vote  was  taken.  The  meeting  was 
adjourned  till  the  afternoon,  when  the  Moderator  ordered  the  votes  to  be 
brought  in  for  a  town  Clerk.  But  few,  however,  were  cast,  and  no  Clerk 
was  declared  to  be  chosen,  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  by  the  Moderator 
to  the  23d  of  June. 

The  attention  of  the  General  Court  being  again  called  to  the  matter,  that 
body,  (June  15,  1725,) 

"  Resolved,  That  Whereas  by  special  order  of  this  Court,  the  town  of 
Haverhill  was  assembled  on  the  9th  inst.  for  the  choice  of  town  officers, 
and  no  other  than  a  Town  Clerk  was  then  chosen,  although  he  was  not 
declared  by  the  moderator,  &  said  meeting  having  been  adjourned  notwith- 
standing the  other  town  officers  were  to  be  chosen  the  same  day : 

"Resolved,  That  John  Eaton  be  and  is  hereby  declared  Town  Clerk  for 
Haverhill,  according  to  the  choice  made  the  ninth  of  June,  as  aforesaid, 
and  that  the  freeholders  (&c)  assemble  at  the  meeting  house  in  Haverhill 
June  23,  according  to  the  adjournment,  and  that  they  then  and  there 
choose  all  other  town  officers,  and  that  Eichard  Kent  Esqr,  hereby  declared 
moderator  of  the  meeting,  be  directed  to  administer  the  oath  by  law  ap- 
pointed to  John  Eaten  and  the  other  officers  to  be  chosen,  any  law  usage  or 
custom  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding." 

This  prompt  and  energetic  action  of  the  Legislature,  supported,  as  it 
must  have  been,  by  the  sober  second  thought  of  the  contending  parties,  had 
the  desired  effect.  The  town  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  completed 
the  election  of  their  officers. 

From  this  time  forward,  we  find  in  the  records  no  allusions  whatever  to 
these  contentions.  The  meetings  of  the  "  Town,"  and  those  of  the  "  Pro- 
prietors of  the  common  and  undivided  lands  in  the  Town,"  were  held 
separately,  and  the  records  kept  in  separate  books.     The  officers  were  also 

o  Of  Newbury. 


HISTORY   OF    HAYERniLL.  273 

cliosen  separately,  thougli  the  same  persons  not  unfrequently  held  office  in 
both  organizations  at  one  and  the  same  time.  The  proprietors  continued 
to  hold  their  meetings ;  to  give,  sell,  and  exchange  the  undivided  lands ;  for 
nearly  forty  years  afterward,  —  giving  and  selling  to,  and  exchanging 
with,  "commoners"  and  "non-commoners,"  —  hut  we  find  no  hint  in 
either  record  or  paper,  of  either  jjarty,  as  to  the  further  settlement  of 
the  difficulty  between  them.  The  most  reasonable  solution  we  can  give 
of  the  problem  is  this  ; — that  the  right  of  the  proprietors  to  the  lands 
claimed  by  them  was  too  manifest,  and  too  well  supported  by  reason  and 
authority,  to  aiford  any  inducements  to  the  non-proprietors  to  continue  the 
contest. 

Thus  was  brought  to  a  close  the  long,  and  at  times,  bitter  contention, 
about  the  common  and  undivided  lands  in  the  town.  The  right  of  the 
"proprietors"  was  fully  acknowledged,  and  though,  after  portions  of 
the  town  had  been  set  off  to  other  towns,  and  particularly  after  the  line 
between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  was  run,  the  right  of  the  pro- 
prietors to  continue  to  dispose  of  such  lauds  in  those  portions  of  the 
original  township  was  questioned,  yet  in  all  cases  where  the  matter  came 
before  the  courts,  (and  they  were  not  a  few)  the  claim  of  the  proprietors 
was  fully  sustained.  And  we  find  that,  as  late  as  1745  to  1750,  such 
lands  were  frequently  petitioned  for,  by  residents  in  the  several  towns, 
and  were  disposed  of  by  the  "  Haverhill  Proprietors." 

In  the  spring  of  1724,  Stephen  Barker,  and  others,  of  the  western  part 
of  the  town,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  new  town,  to  be  formed 
by  setting  off  that  portion  of  Haverhill  above  Hawke's  Meadow  Brook. 
Captain  John  White  was  appointed  Agent  of  this  town  to  oppose  the  petition. 

In  November  of  the  following  year,  the  inhabitants  of  that  section 
petitioned  the  town  for  a  school  in  their  neighborhood,  —  which  was  grant- 
ed.'-' They  were  also  "  allowed  ten  pounds  to  pay  a  minister  to  preach  there," 
if  they  got  one  that  year.  These  grants  did  not,  however,  induce  them  to 
consent  to  remain  as  a  part  of  Haverhill,  and  shortly  after  (December  8, 
1725)  the  General  Court  gave  them  an  act  of  incorporation,  under  the  name 
of  Methuen.f 

'>  A  Mr.  Heath  was  the  Schoolmaster. 

t  The  first  church  in  Mcthucn  was  formed  October  29, 1729,  and  Rev.  Christopher  Sargeant  was  ordained 
as  its  pastor,  November  5,  the  same  year.  The  next  January,  the  society  petitioned  the  "  proprietors  of 
the  common  and  undivided  lands  in  Haverhill,  and  that  part  of  Methuen  formerly  contained  within  ye 
ancient  bounds  of  Haverh'll,"  for  a  parcel  of  land  for  a  parsonage.  The  proprietors  not  only  gave  them 
the  land,  but  also  donated  a  piece  to  their  minister. 

In  May,  1737,  the  inhabitants  of  the  "  second  parish  in  Mcthucn,  being  about  to  build  a  meeting  house," 
also  petitioned  the  proprietors  of  Haverhill  for  land.  The  proprietors  voted  to  gi\e  them  fifty  acres,  and 
also  voted  fifty  acres  to  their  "first  ordained  minister."    These  lands  were  all  in  Methuen. 

35 


274 


HISTORY    OP    nAVERIIILL. 


In  June.  1725,  Benjamin  Stevens  and  others,  petitioned  the  General 
Court  for  a  township  of  land  at  "  Pcnnycook,"  (now  Concord,  N.  H.,) 
Avhich  was  granted  them,  and  on  the  2d  of  February,  172G,  a  Committee  of 
the  General  Court  met  at  the  tavern  of  Ebenezer  Eastman  (one  of  the 
petitioners)  in  Haverhill,  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  settlers.  After  much 
careful  inquiry  and  examination,  the  requisite  number — one  hundred — 
wore  admitted.     Among  them  were  thirty-six  Haverhill  men.-' 


"Obadiah  Ayer, 
"Samuel  Ayer, 
'-John  Ayer, 
"Capt  Joshua  Bailey, 
Nathaniel  Clement, 
Benjamin  Carleton, 
Nehemiah  Carleton, 
Christopher  Carleton, 
Edward  Clark, 
Ephraim  Davis, 
'■•'Josepli  Davis, 
"Samuel  Davis, 


Stephen  Emerson, 
Nehemiah  Heath, 
"Moses  Hazzen, 
"Eichard  Hazzen,  Jr., 
Timothy  Johnson, 
John  Merrill, 
Nathaniel  Page, 
Thomas  Page, 
Joseph  Page, 
"Natlianiel  Peaslee, 
"Eobert  Peaslee, 
John  Pecker, 
James  Pecker, 


Jeremiah  Pecker, 
John  Sanders, 
John  Sanders,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Sanders, 
"Nathaniel  Sanders, 
Nicolas  AVhite, 
AYilliam  White, 
John  White, 
AVilliam  Whittier, 
Jacob  Shute, 

Total,  thirty-six. 


Capt  Ebenezer  Eastman, 

Ohadlah  Ayer,  (born  May  9,  1G89)  was  the  son  of  Samuel,  (who  was 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  attack  on  Haverhill,  August  29,  1708)  and 
a  descendant  of  John  Ayer.  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Haverhill. 
Obadiah  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  (1710)  ;  studied  for  the  min- 
istry ;  a  man  of  talents  and  influence,  but  subject  occasionally  to  aberra- 
tions of  mind,  at  which  times  he  is  said  to  have  had  lodgings  in  Boston 
provided  for  him  by  his  particular  friend,  John  Hancock.  "We  do  not 
learn  that  he  ever  married.  He  kept  the  Grammar  School  in  Haverhill 
six  months  of  the  year  he  was  graduated,  (for  which  he  received  fifteen 
pounds,)  and  also  the  next  year,  and  probably  for  several  years  after,  as 
we  find  his  name  mentioned  again  in  1713.  It  does  not  appear  that  he 
finally  settled  in  Concord. 

John  Ayer  (born  April  7,  1705,)  was  a  brother  of  Obadiah.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Johnson,  of  Haverhill.  Their  children,  born  in  Haverhill, 
were  —  Abigail,  who  died  unmarried;  Timothy,  who  married  Elizabeth 
AVhite,  and  lived  in  Bradford,  Vermont ;  and  John,  who  lived  iu  Bradford, 
Mass.,  John  was  doubtless  at  Concord  in  the  earliest  period  of  its  settle- 
ment, but  did  not  finally  settle  there. 


o  Those  designated  by  a  *>  were  proprietors,  but  did  not  ietlU  .it  Concord. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  275 

Samuel  Ayer,  son  of  James,  (a  brother  of  Obadiah  and  John)  was  born 
and  lived  in  Haverhill.  He  married  Ann  Hazzen.  Their  children,  (all 
born  in  Haverhill)  were  —  Mary,  born  December  23,  1738,  married  Sam- 
uel Morrison,  of  Sanbornton,  N.  H.  ;  Anna,  born  September  22,  1740, 
married  Deacon  John  Kimball  of  Concord  ;  Samuel,  born  November  29, 
1742,  married  Sarah  Chase,  of  Haverhill ;  Elizabeth  (1)  and  Elizabeth  (2) 
died  young;  Elizabeth  (3)  born  June  22,  17-1:8,  married  Jacob  Ela,  of 
Haverhill ;  Hannah,  born  August  25,  1751,  married  John  Bradley,  of  Con- 
cord ;  Euth,  born  December  4,  1753,  married  Dr.  Peter  <jreen,  of  Concord  ;  y 
Lydia,  born  December,  1755,  died  young;  Eichard,  born  May  12,  1757, 
married  Susanna  Sargeant ;  James,  born  January  1,  17G1,  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Dr.  James  Brickett,  of  Haverhill. 

(Eichard,  son  of  Samuel,  appears  to  have  been  the  first  permanent  set- 
tler of  the  name  in  Concord.  He  married  Susanna  Sargeant,  of  Methuen, 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  all  born  in  Concord.) 

Captain  Joshua  Bailey,  born  October  30, 1685,  was  probably  a  descend- 
ant of  John  Bailey,  —  who  settled  in  Newbury,  1650, •' — and  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  principal  men  of  Haverhill.  He  was  moderator, 
and  one  of  the  selectmen,  from  172-i,  to  1734,  and  subsequently  modera- 
tor for  several  years.  He  was  probably  a  physician,  as  we  find  a  "  Dr. 
Bayley  "  mentioned  in  1718  ;  and  again  in  1722,  "  Dr.  Bailey  "  went  to 
Boston  for  soldiers.  He  married  Elizabeth  Johnson,  about  1715.  Chil- 
dren,—  Ann,  born  March  6,  1715-16,  died  May  26,  1716;  Mary,  born 
June  13,  1717,  died  November  18,  1718;  Sarah,  born  February  22, 
1718-19;  Elizabeth,  born  November  8,  1721,  died  May  5,  1736  ;  Mary, 
born  February  23,  1723,  died  May  11,  1736  ;  Anna,  born  March  4,  1725, 
died  January,  1750;  Abigail,  born  January  10,  1729-30. 

"Joshua  Bayley  the  husband  d  Feb  7,  1752.  Elizabeth  Bayley  the 
wife  d  Oct  21,  1773." 

Nathaniel  Clement  (son  of  John,  and  Elizabeth  Ayres)  was  born  in 
Haverhill,  June,  1689.  He  married  Sarah  Merrill,  about  1714.  Chil- 
dren, —  Abiah,  born  May  27,  1715  ;  Elizabeth,  born  March  6,  1716-17  ; 
Nathaniel,  born  October  16,  1719 ;  Sarah,  born  March  2,  1721  ;  Jeremiah, 
born  June  15,  1724;  Samuel,  born  April  8,  1726;  David,  born  Ma}'  23, 
1728  ;  John,  born  July  1,  1730  ;  David,  born  November  8,  1734.  Sarah, 
the  wife,  died  July  10,  1748. 

Edxoard  Clark,  born  March  29,  1694,  was  a  son  of  Hanniel,  and  mar- 
ried Sarah  Stevens  about  1715.     They  had  seven  children. 

Of  Benjamin,  Nehemiah,  and  Christopher  Carleton,  we  find  no  record. 

o  See  Coffin,  p.  294. 


276  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

.  Ephraim  Davis,  born  March  20,  1G97,  was  a  son  of  Epliraim,  and  a 
descendant  of  Thomas,  of  Marlborough,  England.  There  is  no  record  of  the 
family  of  Ephraim ;  but  he  had  three  sons,  Samuel,  Benjamin,  and  Eobert, 
and  two  daughters  whose  names  are  believed  to  have  been  Deborah  and 
Judith.  Samuel  and  Benjamin  were  soldiers  in  the  French  war.  One  of 
them  Avas  drowned,  and  the  other  died  soon  after  his  return.  The  elder 
daughter  married  Colonel  Moses  Baker,  of  Campton,  X.  H.,  and  the 
younger  a  Mr.  Mon-ison,  who  lived  at  or  near  Sanbornton  Bridge,  N.  H. 

Joseph,  and  Samuel  Davis,  were  probably  brothers,  and  sons  of  Samuel, 
of  Haverhill.     They  did  not  settle  at  Concord. 

Captain  Ebenezcr  Eastman,  of  whom  we  have  already  given  an  account, 
was  a  son  of  Phillip,  and  gi'andson  of  Eoger,  who  settled  in  Salisbury,  1640. 
(We  think  Bouton,  who  doubtless  followed  Mirick,  is  mistaken  in  giving 
the  date  of  Eastman's  birth  as  1G89.  Our  town  records  say  1681 ;  and  as 
he  had  a  sister  (Abigail)  born  May  28,  1.689,  we  incline  to  the  opinion 
that  Ebenezer  was  not  bom  in  that  year.)  Six  of  his  sons  also  settled  in 
Concord.  His  children  were — Ebenezer,  born  September  5,  1711 ;  Phillip, 
born  November  13,  1713,  married  Abiah  Bradley;  Joseph,  born  June  10, 
1715,  married  Abigail  Mellen ;  Nathaniel,  bom  March  16, 1717 ;  Jeremiah, 
bom  August  25,  1719,  married  Dorothy  Carter  ;  Obadiah,  born  December 
11,  1721;  Euth,  bora  January  17,  1729,  married  Dr.  Ezra  Carter,  (2d), 
married  Fowler  of  Boscowen,  N,  H. ;  Moses,  bom  February  28,  1732^ 
married  Elizabeth  Kimball. 

Stephen  Emerson,  son  of  Stephen  and  Elizabeth  (Duston)  was  born  in 
Haverhill  February  23,  1700-1. 

Nehemiah  Heath,  born  May  11,  1680,  was  a  son  of  John  Heath  of 
Haverhill. 

Moses,  and  Richard  Hazzen,  Jr.,  were  sons  of  Lieutenant  Eichard,  of 
Haverhill.  They  did  not  settle  in  Concord.  Eichard,  Ji*.,  married  Sarah 
Clement  of  this  town,  October  22,  1719,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children. 

Timothy  Johnson,  was  probably  from  Haverhill,  and  a  son  of  John 
Johnson  and  Elizabeth  Maverick  •  (though  Farmer  reckons  him  as  from 
Andover,  and  son  of  Timothy  of  that  town).  He  was  born  June  31,  1672, 
and  was  the  last  of  the  seven  children  of  his  mother.  His  father  married 
for  a  second  wife  widow  Sarah  Gills,  1674,  who  died  July  1676,  (a  few 
days  after  giving  birth  to  Mary  and  Eebecca,  twins)  ;  and  third,  widow 
Katharine  Mavericke,  1680,  by  whom  he  had  John  ^laverick,  died  1689. 

John  Merrill,  (Deacon)  was  from  the  AVest  Parish,  and  a  descendant  of 
Nathaniel.  He  married  Lydia  Haynes.  His  children  (the  three  oldest 
born    in   Haverhill)    were — -Moses,   married   Dorcas   Abbot,    settled   in 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILI,.  277 

Pembroke ;  Thomas,  married  Ptelbe  Abbot,  settled  in  Conway,  married  (2d,) 
■widow  Johnson,  married  (3d,)  widow  Ambrose,  married  (4th,)  widow 
Cummings  ;  John,  married  Rebecca  Abbot,  settled  in  Pembroke,  in  conti- 
nental service  1776;  Hannah,  died  young;  Jonathan,  born  February  10, 
1733,  married  Mary  Farnum,  settled  in  Hill;  Hannah,  born  February  10, 
1735,  married  R.  Eastman,  married  (2d,)  I.  Odell  Conway;  Nathaniel, 
born  November  4,  1738,  married  Ann  Walker,  settled  in  Brownfield,  Me. ; 
Sarah,  born  April  24, 1741,  married  Daniel  Chandler;  Ann,  born  December 
20,  1743,  married  Benjamin  Farnum  of  Concord,  N.  H. ;  Abigail,  born 
December  9,  1746,  married  Tappan  Evans  of  AVarren,  N.  H. ;  Lydia, 
married  Amos  Foster  of  Pembroke,  N.  H. 

Nathaniel  Page,  born  February  15,  1700-1,  was  a  son  of  John,  Jr.,  and 
grand-son  of  Cornelius,  the  father  of  Thomas  and  Joseph. 

Tliomas  and  Joseph  Page,  were  sons  of  Cornelius,  of  Haverhill.  Thomas 
was  born  February  24,  1693-4;  and  Joseph,  September  12,  1689. 

Nathaniel  and  Robert  Peaslee,  were  sons  of  Joseph,  son  of  Joseph,  of 
Haverhill.  They  did  not  settle  in  Concord.  Nathaniel  was  born  June 
25,  1682,  and  was,  for  many  years,  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town. 
He  was  Eepresentative  in  1737,  39  to  42,  1746  to  49,  and  1752,  53.  In 
1739,  he  was  one  of  the  committee  of  the  General  Court  on  the  boundary 
line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire.  For  many  years,  he 
served  the  town  as  moderator,  and  as  one  of  the  selectmen.  Robert  was 
born  February  3d,  1677. 

Johji  and  James  PecTcer,  were  sons  of  James  and  Ann  (Davis).  John 
was  born  December  15,  1687 ;  and  James,  November  15,  1684.  Of  Jere- 
miah, we  can  find  no  record. 

John  Sa)iders,  horn  June  6,  1672,  was  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Page). 
He  died  September  8,  1737.  John,  Jr.,  born  August  25,  1696,  was  a  son 
of  the  above.  He  married  Lydia  Duston,  and  had  fourteen  children, 
seven  of  whom  died  young. 

Jonathan  ganders,  born  February  23,  1711-12,  was  a  son  of  Avery  and 
Abigail  (Green)  Senders. 

Nathaniel  Sanders,  son  of  James  and  Hannah  (Tewksbury) ,  married 
1st,  Mary  Bixby,  2d,  Anna  Kelley,  by  each  of  whom  he  had  one  child. 

Nicholas,  John,  and  William  White,  were  brothers,  and  sons  of  John, 
and  Lydia  (Gilman)'.  Nicholas  was  born  December  4,  1698,  married 
Hannah  Ayer,  of  Haverhill,  1722,  and  died  in  1782.  They  had  five 
children.  William  was  born  January  18,  1693-4,  and  died  in  1733. 
John  was  born  September  8,  1707,  and  died  May  10,  1745. 


278  HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL. 

William  Whittier,  son  of  John,  and  Mary  (Hoit),  was  bom  October 
28,  1688,  and  married  Kachell  Mitchell.     They  had  three  children. 

Jacob  Shute  was  the  son  of  a  French  Protestant,  or  Huguenot,  who  fled 
from  Paris,  on  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  and  took  refuge  in 
Ireland.  Jacob,  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  disliking  the  trade  to 
which  he  was  apprenticed,  ran  away,  in  company  with  one  Dawen,  and  took 
secret  passage  in  the  hold  of  a  ship  for  this  country.  They  remained  con- 
cealed until  driven  out  by  hunger.  On  arriving  at  Newburyport,  and 
having  nothing  to  pay  their  passage,  they  were  sold  —  (their  service)  — 
for  a  time,  to  pay  it.  They  were  both  bought  by  Captain  Ebenezer 
Eastman,  of  Haverhill,  and  served  him  till  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Shute 
settled  at  Penacook.  He  married  Sarah  George,  of  Haverhill,  and  had  a 
daughter,  Sarah,  born  here,  and  John  and  Elizabeth,  born  at  Penacook. 
His  wife  died  January,  1745.  He  married  a  second  wife,  (a  widow  Evans) 
by  whom  he  had  two  daughters,  both  of  whom  died  young.  Mr.  Shute 
died  February  16,  1794,  aged  ninety-four. 

The  first  party  of  the  proprietors  of  the  new  township,  left  Haverhill 
early  in  the  morning  of  May  12th,  and  arrived  at  Penacook  about  five, 
P.  M.,  May  13th,  and  the  next  day  commenced  the  survey  of  the  town- 
ship. The  following  September,  a  committee  of  the  settlers  was  chosen 
"to  go  out  and  clear  a  sufficient  cart  way  to  Penny  Cook,  the  nighest  and 
best  way  they  can  from  Haverhill."  According  to  tradition,  Ebenezer 
Eastmaurs  team  —  six  yoke  of  oxen,  with  a  cart  —  was  the  first  that 
crossed  the  wilderness  from  Haverhill  to  Penacook.  It  was  driven 
by  Jacob  Shute,  who,  in  order  to  get  safely  down  Sugar  Ball  bank,'  felled 
a  pine  tree  and  chained  it,  top  foremost,  to  his  cart  to  stay  the  motion  of 
it  down  the  precipice. 

Samuel  Ayer  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  person  who  ploughed 
land  at  Penacook.  The  first  family  that  settled  in  the  plantation,  was 
that  of  Ebenezer  Eastman.  The  mill-crank  for  the  first  grist-mill  was  car- 
ried upon  a  horse  from  this  town.'-' 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  day  of  the  annual  March  meeting  this  year, 
(1726) — but  after  the  latter  had  closed  —  Captain  Joshua  Baylcy  was 
chosen  a  committee  in  behalf  of  the  town,  to  join  with  any  persons  chosen 
by  neighboring  towns,  "to  use  all  proper  means  to  get  the  County  of 
Essex  divided."     The  reason  given  for  this  action,  was," —  that  the  shire 

o  For  mnjiy  of  the  above  facts  rclntins  to  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Concord,  we  are  indebted  to  the  excel- 
lent History  of  Concord,  N,  11.,  hy  Eev.  Mr.  Bouton. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  279 

town  was  so  far  distant.  "We  do  not  learn  that  anything  further  was  done 
at  this  time  in  regard  to  the  division,  cither  by  this  or  the  neighboring 
towns.  ^'^ 

One  of  those  small  matters  frequently  met  with  in  the  records,  and 
which  throw  a  gleam  of  light  upon  the  manners  and  customs  of  "  Auld 
Lang  Syne,"  is  found  in  the  entry  that  one  Mary  Pearsons  was  warned 
out  of  town  by  the  constable,  upon  the  order  of  the  selectmen,  •'  she  hav- 
ing nothing  to  live  upon."  In  those  days,  towns  were  very  careful  that 
no  persons  obtained  a  settlement  among  them  who  would  ever  be  likely  to 
become  a  public  charge,  and  all  such  persons  were  promptly  notified  by 
the  authorities  that  the  town  did  not  consent  to  their  remaining  in  it. 
From  172-i  to  1770,  thirty  persons  were  thus  ordered  out  of  town.  In 
later  years,  it  became  customary  to  serve  such  a  notice  upon  nearly  every 
person  who  came  into  the  town  to  reside,  and  such  a  practice  prevailed 
within  the  memory  of  many  persons  still  living. 

At  the  March  meeting  for  1726,  ten  persons  living  in  the  east  part  of 
the  town  petitioned  for  permission  to  assemble  for  worship  at  the  Amesbury 
meeting  house,  f  The  request  was  granted.  Four  years  later,  twelve 
persons^  in  that  vicinity  petitioned  the  town  to  allow  them  to  pay  their 
"minister's  rate"  in  Amesbury,  instead  of  Haverhill, — which  was  also 
agreed  to. 

The  steady  increase  in  the  population  of  the  town,  brought  with  it  a 
proportionate  increase  in  the  labors  and  cares  of  the  minister,  and  also  in 
his  expenses ;  and  this  year  Eev.  Mr.  Brown  applied  to  the  town  for  an 
addition  to  his  salary.  In  full  confidence  in  each  others  liberality  and 
sense  of  justice,  they  voted  him  four  contributions  a  year  in  addition  to  his 
present  pay  !  As  often  happens  to  others,  as  well  as  ministers,  no  sooner 
is  one  desire  satisfied  than  another  takes  it  place,  and  we  need  not  there- 
fore be  surprised  that  this  liberal  increase  of  salary  should  suggest  to  Eev. 
Mr.  Brown  the  propriety  of  having  his  house  improved  in  a  corresponding 
ratio.  Accordingly  we  find  him  asking  the  town  to  "  double  floor"  one  of 
the  rooms,  as  it  was  "  very  cold  in  the  winter,"  and  to  "  ceil  overhead" 
another,  and,  with  many  expressions  of  confidence  and  esteem,  he  leaves 

'''  In  1G93,  several  towns  in  Essex  County  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  division  of  the  County. 
The  House  passed  an  Act  for  that  purpose,  but  it  failed  to  meet  the  approval  of  the  Governor  and  Council. 
■  In  1730  a  similar  proposition  was  again  made,  hut  without  success ;  and  several  times  since  then  the  subject 
has  been  agitated  in  the  Merrimack  towns. 

t  Aimer  Chase,  Samuel  Sargent,  John  Sanders,  Jr.,  John  Snow,  John  Sanders,  James  Sanders,  Robert 
Hunkins,  William  Davis,  John  Lovell,  Green  Whittier.. 

X  John  Sanders,  James  Sanders,  Robert  Hunkins,  John  Sanders,  Jr.,  Ahner  Chase,  Green  Whittier, 
James  Bradbury,  John  Sweet,  Joseph  Kelley,  Anthony  Colby,  William  Bley,  Robert  Hastings. 


280  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

entirely  to  them  the  consideration  of  such  other  improvements  as  might 
seem  to  them  necessary.  That  his  confidence  was  not  misplaced,  is  shown 
in  the  fact  that  the  town  not  only  fixed  the  two  rooms  requested,  but 
"  re-pay ered  the  Great  Koom ! " 

At  a  meeting  held  in  May  (1726)  the  town  voted  to  raise  one-fifth  of 
their  "  Bank  Money"  and  pay  it  into  the  Province  treasury  immediately.*' 

The  year  1827  occupies  a  somewhat  prominent  place  in  the  history  of 
this  town  and  vicinity,  on  account  of  "  a  mighty  tempest  of  wind  and  rain, " 
and  "  a  most  terrible,  sudden,  and  amazing  earthquake"  which  occurred  in 
the  fall  of  that  year. 

The  first  occurred  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  September  16  and  17,  and 
destroyed  a  large  amount  of  property.  As  a  specimen  of  the  damage  done, 
may  be  cited  the  fact  that  "  near  two  hundred  load  of  hay"  was  swept 
away  from  the  marshes  of  Newbury.f 

The  earthquake,  or  rather  earthquakes,  commenced  on  Sunday  evening, 
the  29th  of  October.     Eev.  Mr.  Plant,  of  Xewburyport,  thus  describes  it : 

•'  October  29th  1727.  Being  the  Lord's  day  at  forty  minutes  past  ten 
the  same  evening,  there  was  a  most  terrible,  sudden  and  amazing  earth- 
quake, which  did  damage  to  the  greatest  part  of  the  neighborhood,  shook 
and  threw  down  tops  of  chimneys  and  in  many  places  the  earth  opened  a 
foot  or  more.  It  continued  very  terrible  by  frequently  bursting  and 
shocking  our  houses  and  lasted  all  that  week  (the  first  being  the  loudest 
shock,  and  eight  more  that  immediately  followed,  louder  than  the  rest  that 
followed)  sometimes  breaking  with  six  times  or  oftener  in  a  day  and  as 
often  in  the  night  until  Thursday  in  the  said  week  and  then  somewhat 
abated.  Upon  Friday  in  the  evening  and  about  night,  and  about  break  of 
day  and  on  Saturday  there  were  three  very  loud  claps.  AVe  also  had  it  on 
Saturday,  the  Sabbath,  and  on  Monday  morning  about  ten,  tho'  much 
abated  in  the  noise  and  terror.  Upon  the  Tuesday  following,  November 
seventh,  about  eleven  o'clock  a  very  loud  clap  upon  ever}-  day  or  night  more 

°  In  1690,  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  issued  bills  of  credit,  which  were  the  first  "  paper  money" 
made  in  tho  country.  A  similar  emission  was  made  in  1702.  In  1721  it  issued  £50,000,  which  was  divided 
among  the  several  towns  according  to  population,  Ac,  and  was  to  be  returned  whenever  the  General  Court 
ehoulJ  so  oi'Jer.  The  proportion  received  by  this  town,  was  loaned  to  various  private  individuals,  they 
giving  their  notes  for  the  same,  and  paying  five  par  cent,  annual  interest  for  the  use  of  it.  It  was  this 
"Bank  money"  that  was  thus  voted  to  be  called  in  and  paid  back  to  the  Province  Treasury. 

In  1728,  another  emission  of  £.50,000  was  made ;  and  a  similar  issue  has  been  ordered  several  times 
since.  The  object  of  these  issues,  or  "loans,"  was  to  extricate  the  Province  from  debt,  by  creating  a 
temporary  substitute  for  hard  money,  and  thus  .allow  it  time  to  recover  from  its  pecuniary  embarrassment. 

Paper  money  was  first  made  by  Massachusetts  in  IGOO;  by  Connecticut,  1709;  Pennsylvania,  1723; 
Maryland,  1740;  l!hode  Island,  1744;  and  in  17J9  almost  every  province  issued  paper  currency.  It  was 
first  issued  by  Congress  in  177u. 

t  Coffin. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  281 

01*  less  tliree,  four,  sis  times  each  day  or  night  and  upon  the  twelfth  being 
the  Lord's  day  twice  from  betwixt  three  to  half  past  four,  in  all  which 
space  of  time  some  claps  were  loud,  others  seemingly  at  a  distance  and 
much  abated.  Upon  Monday  two  hours  before  day  a  loud  burst  and  at  half 
past  two  in  the  afternoon  another  burst  was  heard  somewhat  'loud.  On  the 
nineteenth  about  ten  at  night  a  very  loud  shock  and  another  about  break 
of  day,  somewhat  here  abated,  but  at  Haverhill  a  very  loud  burst,  making 
their  houses  rock,  as  that  over  night  did  with  us.  It  was  the  Lord's  day  in 
the  evening.  It  hath  been  heard  twice  since  much  abated.  The  very  first 
shock  opened  a  new  spring  by  my  father  Samuel  Bartlet's  house  in  the 
meadow  and  threw  up  in  the  lower  grounds  in  Newbury  several  loads  of 
white  sand.  After  that  some  loud  claps,  shocking  our  houses.  On 
December  seventeenth,  about  half  an  hour  after  ten  being  Lord's  day  at 
evening  a  very  loud  burst,  shocking  our  houses.  Another  about  four  the 
next  morning  abated." 

Stephen  Jaques,  of  Newbury,  thus  describes  its  effects  in  his  vicinity : — 

"  On  the  twenty  ninth  day  of  October  between  ten  and  eleven  it  being 
sabath  day  night  there  was  a  terabel  earthquake.  The  like  was  never 
known  in  this  land.  It  came  with  a  dreadful  roreing,  as  if  it  was  thun- 
der, and  then  a  pounce  like  grate  guns  two  or  three  times  close  one  after 
another.  It  lasted  about  two  minits.  It  shook  down  bricks  from  ye  tops 
of  abundance  of  chimnies,  some  allmost  all  the  heads.  All  that  was  about 
ye  houses  trembled,  beds  shook,  some  cellar  walls  fell  partly  down.  Stone 
wals  fell  in  a  hundred  plasis.  =■'  The  first  night  it  broke 

out  in  more  than  ten  places  in  ye  town  in  ye  clay  low  land,  blowing  up  ye 
sand,  sura  more,  sum  less.     In  one  place  near  Spring  island  it  blew  out 
as  it  was  judged  twenty  loads,  and  when  it  was  cast  on  coals  in  ye  night, 
it  burnt  like  brimstone." 

Henry  Sewall,  of  Newbuiy,  in  a  letter  to  Judge  Sewall,  of  Boston, 
says :  — 

"  We  were  sitting  by  the  fire  and  about  half  after  ten  at  nightf  our 
house  shook  and  trembled  as  if  it  would  fall  to  peaces.  Being  affrighted 
we  ran  out  of  doors,  when  we  found  the  ground  did  tremble  and  we  were 
in  great  fear  of  being,  swallowed  up  alive,  but  God  preserved  us  and  did 
not  suffer  it  to  break  out,  till  it  got  forty  or  fifty  rods  from  the  house, 
where  it  broke  the  ground  in  the  common  near  a  place  called  Spring 

"  We  copy  these  interesting  accounts  from  Coflin's  History  of  Newbury. 

t  We  must  not  infer  from  this  that  a  majority  of  the  people  were  sitting  by  the  fire  at  that  hour  of 
Sunday  night.  Indee<i,  Stephen  Jaques  declares  that  "most  people  gat  up  in  a  moment."  This  seems 
conclusive. 

86 


282  HISTORY   OF   nAVERHILL. 

island,  and  there  is  from  sixteen  to  twenty  loads  of  fine  sand  thrown  out 
where  the  ground  broke,  and  several  days  after  the  water  hoiled  out  like 
a  spring,  but  is  now  dry  and  the  ground  closed  up  again.""' 

Similar  shocks,  though  less  severe,  were  frequently  felt  during  the 
gi'catcr  part  of  the  following  year.  Between  January  1st  and  May  22d, 
(1728)  over  thirty  arc  recorded.  On  the  latter  date,  the  church  in  this 
town  observed  the  day  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving,  "  for  the  great  mercies 
of  the  winter  past  under  the  Earthquakes." 

As  we  may  readily  suppose,  the  distance  at  which  many  families  lived 
from  the  central  meeting-house,  joined  with  the  primitive  roughness  of 
the  roads,  and  the  meagre  facilities  for  riding  to  church,  made  it  well  nigh 
impossible  for  many  to  attend,  especially  in  the  winter ;  and,  in  the  fall 
of  1727,  the  inhabitants  of  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  the  town, 
at  their  request,  received  permission  to  hold  meetings  at  each  of  those 
places  during  the  following  winter.  The  inhabitants  of  the  north  part  of 
the  town  had,  a  few  months  previously,  petitioned  the  town  to  build  a 
meeting-house  in  that  part  of  the  town,  but  without  success.  Their  next 
move  was  for  permission  to  have  meetings,  as  above  mentioned,  and  from 
their  petition  to  the  town,  the  following  spring,  for  money  to  pay  their 
minister,  we  learn  that  such  meetings  were  held. 

At  the  same  time,  twenty-four  persons  again  petitioned  the  town  to 
build  a  meeting-house  in  that  part  of  the  town.  Both  of  these  requests 
were  refused.  But  the  inhabitants  of  that  section  were  now  fully  deter- 
mined that  their  requests  should  no  longer  be  so  lightly  treated,  and  at  a 
meeting  held  in  June  of  the  same  year,  (June  18,  1728,)  they  succeeded 
in  securing  a  vote  that  the  northerly  part  of  the  town  should  be  set  off 
into  a  distinct  precinct,  or  parish.  The  conditions  annexed,  were,  that 
the  inhabitants  should  determine  within  one  month  where  their  meeting- 
house should  be  erected,  and  settle  an  oi'thodox  minister  as  soon  as  possible. 

°  In  a  conversation  with  Professor  Agassiz  we  remarked,  "  If  earthquakes  and  sn'otcrranean  fires  have 
elevated  and  depressed  portions  of  this  continent,  why  may  they  not  again."  He  replied,  "They  may; 
probably  they  will." 

Mr.  Coffin  in  his  valuable  History  of  Newbury,  between  1727  and  1770,  has  recorded  nearly  two  hundred 
earthquake  shocks  on  the  Merrimac  river !  That  disturbed  region  has  long  been  quiet,  and  probably  will 
remain  so ;  but  who  may  know  what  ch.inges  the  past  centuries  have  experienced ! 

All  the  great  rivers  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States  have  a  southerly  or  south-easterly  direc. 
tion.  The  Merrimac  has  such  a  direction  for  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  and  is  the  only  one  which  turns 
in  its  course  and  runs  north-east,  and  part  of  the  way  north-west.  If  the  history  of  the  buried  ages  could 
be  restored,  it  might  be  found  that  this  river  once  discharged  itself  into  Lynu  harbor.  From  the  Merrimac 
at  Lowell  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Saugus  is  only  sixteen  miles;  while  after  its  turning  it  finds  its  de- 
vious way  more  than  forty  miles  to  the  sea  at  Newburyport !  Probably  no  portion  of  our  land  has  under- 
gone greater  changes  than  the  seacoast  of  Essex  county,  and  none  presents  a  more  interesting  licld  of 
research.  If  we  suppose  one  part  to  have  been  elevated,  or  another  depressed,  the  peculiarity  of  this 
river  may  be  accounted  for.     The  subject  is  worthy  the  attention  of  geologists.  —  Lewis. 


HISTOKY   OF   HAVERHILL.  283 

It  was  formally  erected  into  a  Parish  by  the  General  Court,  in  the  fol- 
lowing August.     The  following  were  the  bounds :  — 

"Beginning  at  the  "Westerly  end  of  Brandy  Brow,  on  Almshury  line, 
from  thence  to  the  Northei-ly  end  of  the  hither  North  Meadow  as  it  is 
commonly  called,  thence  to  the  fishing  river  and  so  down  the  fishing  River 
till  it  comes  to  the  Bridge  by  Matthew  Harriman's,  then  running  Westerly 
to  the  bridge  over  the  brook  by  Nathl  Marble's,  and  then  a  straight  line 
Northwest  one  quarter  of  a  point  North,  to  the  bounds  of  Haverhill,  tak- 
ing all  the  land  within  the  town  of  Haverhill  north  of  said  line." 

Their  meeting-house  was  partly  finished  this  year.  The  parish  then 
included  a  part  of  Hampstead,  Plaistow,  and  Atkinson. 

Complaint  being  made  that  there  were  "too  many  taverns"  in  town  it 
was  decided  (June  18,  1728,)  that  two  taverns  were  "  sufficient  for  the 
town's  benefit ;  and  Lieutenant  Ebenezer  Eastman  and  John  Swett  were 
appointed  to  keep  them.  Eastman  kept  in  the  village,  and  Swett  at 
Holt's  Eocks. 

That  this  was  not  the  first  time  that  good  citizens  thought  and  said 
there  were  too  many  taverns  in  town,  may  be  seen  from  the  following  let- 
ter, which  well  deserves  a  place  in  a  history  of  the  town.  It  is  copied 
from  the  Court  Files  for  1696  :  — 

"  Haverhill,  December  26,  1696. 
Much  Hond.  Gentlemen: 

I  allways  thought  it  great  prudence  and  Christianity  in  our  foi-mer 
leaders  and  rulers,  by  their  laws  to  state  the  numbers  for  publique  houses 
in  towns,  and  for  regulation  of  such  houses,  as  were  of  necessity,  thereby 
to  prevent  all  sorts,  almost,  of  wickedness,  which  daily  grow  in  upon  us 
like  a  flood.  But  alas,  I  see  not  but  that  now,  the  care  is  over,  and  such 
(as  to  some  places  I  may  term  them,)  pest  houses  and  places  of  enticement, 
(tho  not  so  intended  by  the  justices)  to  sin  are  multiplied.  It  is  multiplied 
Joo  openly,  that  the  cause  of  it  may  be,  the  price  of  retailers  fees  &c.  I 
pray  what  need  of  six  retailers  in  Salisbury,  and  of  more  than  one  in 
■  Haverhill,  and  some  other  towns,  where  the  people  when  taxes  and  rates 
for  the  country  and  ministers  are  collecting,  with  open  mouth  complain  of 
povertie  and  being  hardly  dealt  with,  and  yet  I  am  fully  informed,  can 
spend  much  time,  and  spend  their  estate  at  such  blind  holes,  as  are  clan- 
destinely and  unjustly  petitioned  for,  and  more  threaten  to  get  licences, 
chiefly  by  repairing  to  a  remote  court,  where  they  are  not  known  or 
suspected,  but  pass  for  current,  and  thereby  the  towns  are  abused,  and  the 
youth  get  evil  habits,  and  men  sent  out  on  country  service,  at  such  places 


284  HISTOKY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

waste  much  of  their  time,  yet  expect  pay  for  it,  in  most  pernicious  loytering 
and  what,  and  sometimes  by  foolish  if  not  pot-valliant  firing  and  shooting 
oflF  guns,  not  for  the  destruction  of  enemies,  but  to  the  wonderful  distur- 
bance and  affrightment  of  the  inhabitants,  which  is  not  the  service  a  scout 
is  allowed  and  maintained  for.  Please  to  see,  if  possible,  what  good  is  done 
by  giving  license  to  Robert  Hastings  in  such  a  by-place,  about  three  miles 
from  the  publique  house  in  town.  The  man  himself  I  am  sure  has  no 
cause,  nor  do  I  believe  the  town  or  travellers  if  they  are  sober  men,  will 
ever  give  the  court  thanks  for  the  first  grant  to  him,  or  the  farther  renewal 
thereof.  But  now  the  brovado  is  made,  what  is  done  is  not  enough,  we 
must  have  a  third  tippling  house  at  Peter  Patey's  about  mid-way  between 
the  other  two,  which  they  boast  as  cocksure  of,  and  have  it  is  thought  laid 
in,  for  this  very  end,  an  unaccountable  store  of  cyder,  rum,  molasses  and 
what  not.  It  is  well  if  this  stock  be  not  now  spent  on,  in  procure  subscrip- 
tions for  to  obtain  the  villian's  licence,  which  I  fear  knowing  the  man,  we 
may  be  bold  to  say,  wickedness  will  be  practised  and  without  control,  and 
we  must  be  quiet,  or  hated  because  of  licences  for  something  which  they 
will  enlarge  to  any  and  everything  which  is  not,  &c.      "     ■■■'     '-=     '■■'  '•■' 

It  would  be  good,  if  the  law  or  rule  of  court  made,  were  duly  practised 
as  to  granting  and  renewing  of  licences,  that  none  be  meddled  with  but  at 
the  court  to  which  the  grand  jurors  do  repair,  belonging  to  the  town  where 
the  man  lives  who  petitions  for  license,  so  that  the  court  may  see  what 
comi:)laints  are  entered  by  bill,  or  better  inquiries  may  be  made.  But  now 
many  that  would  speak  if  "they  had  knowledge  of  the  motion  before  the 
grant  was  made,  cannot.  1  have  done  my  part  in  court,  as  to  what  I  heaxd 
of,  to  prevent  such  confiding  licences  to  persons  unknown.  We  need  but 
one  place  to  be  granted  for  strangers,  or  else  it  were  more  than  enough. 
As  for  tte  two  last  mentioned,  none  that  knew  the  men  or  the  places,  or 
the  business,  of  necessity  there  let  be  done,  can  judge  them  to  conduce  to 
good  or  accommodation  of  civilized  men.      "     ^'     ^     "^^     ^^     ^'  ^-^     " 

I  am  now  God's  prisoner,  and  can't  come  abroad.  I  have  waited  long 
to  speak  of  those  and  other  but  as  yet  can't  meet  with  an  opportunity. 
You  have  nothing  here  of  personal  animosity  of  mine  against  any  man,  but 
zeal  and  faithfulness  to  my  country  and  town,  and  to  the  young  and  rising 
generation  that  they  be  not  too  much  at  libertie  to  live  and  do  as  they  list. 
I  pray  accept  of  the  good  intentions  of,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

N.  Saltonstall. 
To  the  Justices  in  Quarter  Session,  sitting  at  Salem,  December,  1696." 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  285 

About  this  time,  commenced  the  disputes  and  difficulties  between  the 
inhabitants  of  Haverhill,  and  those  of  Londonderry,  and  other  places,  in 
regard  to  the  rightful  ownership  of  certain  lands  lying  between  them. 
This  "  Border  "War"  extended  over  a  period  of  almost  forty  years;  and, 
as  a  connected  history  of  its  rise  and  progress  has  never  yet  been  pub- 
lished, it  seems  proper  that  we  should  devote  a  chapter  to  its  special 
consideration,  —  which  we  now  propose  to  do. 


286  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


THE   BOUNDARY   DIFFICULTIES   OF    1720    TO    1759. 


The  first  cliartcr  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  granted  all  "that  part  of 
new  England  lying  between  three  miles  to  the  north  of  the  Men-imack 
and  three  miles  to  the  south  of  the  Charles  Paver,  and  of  every  part  there- 
of, in  the  Massachusetts  Bay ;  and  in  length  between  the  described  breadth, 
from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  South  Sea." 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  land  embraced  in  this  patent  had  been 
previously  granted  by  the  same  Council  to  Captain  John  Mason,  and 
others ;  and  the  gi'ounds  upon  which  it  was  now  re-sold  do  not  appear. 
But,  whatever  may  have  been  the  reasons,  the  interference  of  the  jjatent 
with  those  of  a  previous  date,  gave  rise  to  perplexing  embarrassments  and 
long  controversies. =■' 

Under  this  charter,  the  Massachusetts  colonists  claimed  that  their  north- 
ern boundary  was  three  miles  to  the  north  of  the  northcrmost  part  of  the 
Merrimack,  and,  from  that  point  to  extend  east  and  west  from  the  Atlan- 
tic to  the  South  Sea.  In  order  to  ascertain  this  northermost  point,  a 
commission  was  appointed  in  1639  to  explore  the  river,  which  resulted  in 
fixing  upon  a  rock  near  the  outlet  of  Winnipisiogee  Lake,f  as  the  most 
northern  part  of  the  river,  and  a  certain  tree  three  miles  to  the  northward 
of  the  rock,  as  the  point  from  which  their  line  was  to  run  due  east  and 
west.  This  construction,  as  may  readily  be  seen  by  reference  to  a  map  of 
New  England,  would  give  to  Massachusetts  the  larger  part  of  what  is 
now  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont,  and  a  large  slice  of  Maine. 

Among  the  miscellaneous  papers  in  the  State  Archives,  is  an  old  map, 
or  plan,  without  date,  but  evidently  drawn  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
this  claim  of  Massachusetts.     The  following  is  an  engraving  of  this  plan, 


*  As  late  as  17.50,  (almost  twenty  years  after  the  line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  had 
heen  settled)  the  Haverhill  Proprietors  chose  a  committee  "to  join  with  New  Salem  Committee  to  settle 
the  title  of  that  township  with  ye  proprietors  of  John  Tufton  Mason's  Right,  &  to  go  to  Portsmouth  and 
settle  yc  nllalr." 

t  Which  they  marked,  and  which  has  ever  since  been  known,  as  EndicoU's  Sock. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL 


287 


upon  a  reduced  scale.  The  portion  of  land  marked  "  Country  Land,"  in- 
cludes all  that  part  of  the  present  town  of  Methuen,  which  was  not 
originally  a  part  of  Haverhill. 


P  E  N  YilOCCi; 


With  this  impression  as  to  their  colonial  bounds,  Massachusetts  granted 
.  the  townships  along  the  northern  border  of  the  Merrimac,  and  among  the 
rest,  Haverhill. 

But  the  Xew  Hampshire  grantees  placed  a  different  construction  upon 
the  language  of  the  charter,  and  claimed  that  the  northern  line  could  not 
in  any  place  extend  more  than  three  miles  to  the  north  of  the  middle  of  the 
channel  of  the  river.  The  territory,  therefore,  lying  between  these 
extremes,  became  "  disputed  territory."  Subsequently,  (1677)  at  a  hear- 
ing before  the  King  and  Council,  the  agents  for  Massachusetts,  by  advice, 
so  far  modified  their  claim  as  to  disclaim  all  right  of  jurisdiction  beyond 


288  HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL. 

the  three  miles  north  of  the  river  according  to  its  course  f'  and  it  was 
determined  that  they  had  a  right  as  far  as  the  river  extended.  Massa- 
chusetts, however,  continued  to  i-etain  jurisdiction  over  those  i)arts  of  those 
towns  already  granted,  which  were  more  than  three  miles  north  of  the 
Merrimac, — of  which  New  Hampshire  continued  to  complain. 

If  the  first  charter  of  Massachusetts  had  continued,  it  is  not  probable 
that  any  different  construction  would  ever  have  been  started,  and  the 
dispute  between  the  two  colonies  would  have  remained  confined  to  the 
towns  referred  to.  But  the  new  charter  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony, 
(1G92,)  defined  the  northern  bound  as  "  extending  from  the  great  river 
commonly  called  Monomack  alias  Merrimack  on  the  north  part  and  from 
three  miles  northward  of  the  said  river  to  the  atlantic  or  western  sea,"  &c. 
About  the  year  1720,  New  Hampshire  began  to  claim  that  the  line  should 
commence  at  the  point  three  miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimac,  and 
from  thence  run  due  west  to  the  south  sea.  "With  the  setting  up  of  this 
new  claim  commenced  a  series  of  disputes, '  contentions,  and  suits,  that 
lasted  for  nearly  a  third  of  a  century,  and  at  times  nearly  involved  the 
inhabitants  of  the  disputed  territory  in  civil  war. 

The  theatre  of  the  most  violent  and  determined  contests  during  these 
troubles,  was  that  part  of  Haverhill  (as  originally  laid  out)  known  as  the 
"  Poke,"  or  "  corner,"  or  "  northerly  angle  "  of  the  town. 

As  early  as  1722,  we  find  the  inhabitants  of  Londonderry  making 
application  to  New  Hampshire  for  more  room,  and  they  seem  to  have  had 
a  special  desire  for  land  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "  Peke  of  Haverhill. "f 
The  same  year,  a  committee  chosen  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts to  look  after  encroachments  upon  the  lands  to  the  north  of  Merrimack 
Eiver,  belonging  to  the  towns  of  Salisbury,  Almsbury,  and  Haverhill,  re- 
ported that  "some  Irish  People"  claimed  the  land  "home  to  Merrimack 
Eiver  from  Amoskeag  falls,"  &c.J 

In  November,  1726,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court  from 
Orlando  Bayley,  Jacob  Eowell,  and  seventy  others  of  Haverhill  and  Ames- 
bury,  in  which  they  affirm  that  they  have  been  prosecuted  at  law  for  land 
they  had  held  for  sixty  years,  on  pretence  that  it  was  in  the  town  of 
Kingston  and  Province  of  New  Hampshire.     Writs  for  trespass  had  been 


0  That  19,  their  line  should  ran  parallel  with  the  river  from  its  mouth  to  the  "crotch"  (Endicott's 
Rock)  and  thence  due  north  three  miles,  (to  Endicott's  Tree)  and  thence  due  west  to  the  "South  Sea." 

t  N.  II.  State  Archives. 

1  As  early  as  Deccmher,  1720,  the  Commoners  of  navtrhill  received  information  that  "  the  Irish  were 
settling  on  some  of  the  fonrth  division  lots."—  Vide  Prop.  £ec. 


HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL.  289 

served  on  these  petitioners,  on  the  ground  that  their  land  was  "  more  than 
three  miles  from  Merrimack  Eiver,"  and  they  were  tried  in  jN^ew  Hamp- 
shire. 

The  General  Court  took  measures  to  inform  their  agent  at  London  in 
regard  to  the  complaint,  and  voted  that  the  Governoi*  should  remonstrate 
to  the  General  Court  of  Xew  Hampshire  against  such  proceedings,  and 
solicit  that  all  such  might  he  stayed  until-  the  (question  of  boundary  was 
fully  settled. 

That  this  did  not  have  the  desired  effect,  is  fully  shown  from  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  the  Council  Eecords  of  Massachusetts,  for  February, 
1728:  — 

"  A  petition  of  Eichard  Hazen  Junior,  James  Pecker,  Ebenr  Eastman, 
&  Nathl  Peasleay,  all  of  Haverhill,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  in  behalf  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Town,  setting  forth  that  notwithstanding  the 
Ancient  Grant  of  the  sd  Town  the  many  confirmasions  and  settlements  of 
their  Bounds  by  the  Government,  divers  of  the  Inhabitants  of  London 
Derry  within  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  have  encroached  upon  the 
Petitioners  Lands  mowed  their  meadows,  cut  down  and  destroyed  their 
Timber,  and  erected  several  Houses  on  their  Lands  and  have  prosecuted  the 
Inhabitants  of  Haverhill  in  the  said  Province  of  Xew  Hampshire  for  im- 
proving their  own  lands,  and  therefore  Praying  relief  from  this  Board ; 
Eead,  and 

Whereas  it  appears  to  this  Board  that  the  contentions  between  the  Inhab- 
itants of  this  Province  and  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  bordering  on 
the  dividing  Line,  are  arisen  to  that  height  that  there  is  great  danger  that 
in  their  encroachments  they  will  use  violence  on  each  other  unless  they  are 
speedily  discountenanced  by  the  respective  Governments:  for  preventing 
whereof 

"  Voted,  that  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  bordering  on  the  dividing 
Line  and  claiming  Lands  there  be  directed  not  to  make  any  new  Settlement 
on  the  said  Lands  or  any  improvements  whatsoever  thereon  and  to  desist 
from  all  prosecutions  in  the  liaw  till  th^  further  order  of  this  Government 
or  the  settlement  of  the  said  Line,  Provided  the  Government  of  New 
Hampshire  do  give  the  like  or  some  other  effectual  directions  to  the  Inhab- 
itants of  that  Province  for  the  end  aforesaid ;  And  that  His  Excellency  be 
desired  to  write  to  the  Lieut  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire 
on  this  affair."  ' 

°  From  the  same  records,  of  the  same  year,  we  learn  that  Nathaniel  Peasley  was  twice  allowed  money 
from  the  Province  Treasury  to  defend  himself  against  suits  in  New  Hampshire,  (ten  pounds  and  thirty 
pounds) ;  and  that  John  Wainwri<,'ht  and  Eichard  Saltonstall  were  also  granted  twenty  pounds  to  pro- 
secute trespassers  on  Province  Lands  in  Methuen. 

37 


290 


HISTORY    OF   IIATERHILTj. 


Accompanying  Hazzcn's  petition  was  a  plan,  showing  the  portion  of 
Haverhill  claimed  by  Londonderry,  The  following  is  a  reduced  copy  of 
the  plan :  '^ 


From  this  plan,  it  will  he  seen,  that  the  land  in  dispute  between  the 
people  of  Haverhill  and  Londonderry,  was  principally  confined  to  that  part 
of  Haverhill  known  as  the  "  fifth  division "  land.  The  southern  part  of 
it,  however,  included  a  part  of  the  "fourth  division"  land.  The  fifth 
division  lots  were  laid  out  by  the  Haverhill  Proprietors  in  January,  1721, 
and  it  was  the  entrance  of  the  grantees  upon,  and  their  improvement  of 
these  lands,  that  led  to  the  commencement  of  active  contentions  at  this 
particular  period. 

The  bounds  of  Londonderry,  as  given  in  Wheelwright's  deed,  of  1719, 
was  as  follows : — Down  the  Merrimack  until  it  meets  the  line  of  Dunstable ; 
thence  eastward  on  Dunstable  line,  until  it  meets  the  line  of  Dracut; 
thence  eastward  on  the  line  of  Dracut  "  until  it  meets  the  line  of  Haverhil ; 
and  extending  northward  upon  Haverhill  line  until  it  meet  with  the  line  of 
Cheshire."  From  this  we  see,  that,  according  to  their  own  deed,  the 
claim  of  Londonderry  was  unwarrantable.  The  town  of  Haverhill  had  been 
laid  out  fifty-two  years,  when  the  deed  of  Londonderry  was  given,  and  by 
til  at  deed  they  were  bounded  vpon  Haverhill  line. 


History  of  hatekuill.  291 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Haverhill  proprietors,  held  in  January,  1729,  a 
Committee  was  chosen  to  prosecute,  "  to  final  issue,"  all  trespassers  on  the 
CTommon  lands ;  and  another  to  perambulate  the  west  line  of  the  town." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors,  held  April  7,  1729,  "  Wm  Mudgete  did 
remonstrate  to  the  proprietors  that  he  has  lately  been  at  great  Cost  & 
Charges  in  defending  his  Title  to  certain  Lands  in  the  fifth  division  which 
were  &  still  are  Claimed  by  the  Irish  &  that  the  Matter  is  now  in  the  Law 
undecided."  He  therefore  prayed  that  the  proprietors  would  "reimburse 
him  what  he  has  expended  in  Eemoving  the  said  Irish  out  of  his  house." 
In  answer  to  his  petition,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  examine  his  accounts, 
and  report.  A.t  a  subsequent  m.eeting,  ]Mudgett  was  allowed  forty-four 
pounds  seventeen  shillings  and  a  sixpence,  from  the  treasury  of  the 
proprietors. 

On  the  other  side,  we  find,  under  date  of  August  27th  of  the  same  year, 
a  petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  Londonderry,  to  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  New  Hampshire,  in  which  they  say  that  "  Inasmuch  as  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Towne  of  Haverhill  do  often  disturb  sundry  of  your  petitioners  in 
their  quiet  possession  of  their  lands  granted  to  them  by  their  charter,  under 
their  pretentions  of  a  title  thereto,"  they  pray  for  assistance,  on  account  of 
the  "  Law  suits  which  are  daily  multiplied  by  them." 

From  the  Eecords  of  the  G-eneral  Court  of  Massachusetts,  for  1731,  we 
learn  that,  June  29,  the  House  received 

"  A  Petition  of  Xathau  Webster  and  Pdchard  Hazzen  Junr,  Agents  for 
the  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill,  Setting  forth  their  Ancient  & 
Legal  right  to  the  Lands  they  possess  in  said  Town,  as  also  the  late  En- 
croachments, of  the  Irish  people  settled  in  the  Province  of  Xew  Hampshire, 
who  have  Cutt  down  and  Carried  away  great  Quantities  of  their  Hay  and 
Timber,  &  other  ways  disturbed  them  in  the  improvements  of  their  Lands, 
Praying  Eelief  from  this  Court." 

Paul  Dudley,  from  the  committee  chosen  to  look  into  the  matter,  re- 
ported that,  inasmuch  as  there  was  a  hopeful  prospect  of  a  speedy  settlement 
of  the  Line,  the  Covernor  should  be  directed  to  issue  a  Proclamation, 
directing  the  inhabitants  of  both  provinces  to  forbear  molesting  each  other 
for  the  present  year. 

In  this  recommendation  the  House  concurred,  but  the  Council  refused 
to  do  so,  and 

"  Voted,  that  inasmuch  as  there  are  Courts  of  Justice  established  by 
Law  before  whom  affairs  of  that  nature  are  properly  cognizable,  the  Peti- 
tion be  dismissed." 

*  The  fifth  division  lota  were  all  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  west  line  of  the  toT\'n. 


X 


J92 


HISTORY   OP   nAVEKHILL 


Shortly  after,  commissioners  of  the  two  provinces  met  at  Newbury,  and 
attempted  to  settle  the  troublesome  dispute,  but  without  success.  Upon 
this,  the  New  Hampshire  commissioners  appointed  John  Eindge,  a  mer- 
chant of  Portsmouth,  as  agent,  to  present  a  petition  to  the  KingJ-  They 
determined  to  treat  no  more  with  Massachusetts. 

The  following  plan,  or  map,  is  a  reduced  copy  of  the  one  accompanying 
the  petition  of  Eindge  to  the  King  and  Council. 


After-raany  delays,  a  royal  order  was  issued,  referring  the  matter  to  a 
board  of  commissioners.  These  commissioners  "  were  all  such  as  the  New 
Hampshire  agent  proposed,  five  councellors  from  each  of  the  governments 
of  New  York,  Ehode-Island,  &  Nova  Scotia.  "With  the  two  former  gov- 
ernments, Massachusetts  was  then  in  c6ntroversy  about  lines.  The  latter, 
it  was  said,  was  disaffected  to  charter  governments.  Connecticut,  proposed 
by  Massachusetts,  was  rejected  because  of  a  bias  from  their  trade,  religion, 
&c.,  which  New  Hampshire  was  afraid  of."f 

The  time  and  place  for  the  meeting  of  the  commission,  was  August 
10th,  at  Hampton.|     The  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire  met  on  the  4th  of 

°  October  31,  1731,  the  House  of  Representatives  of  New  Hampshire  confirmed  the  appointment  of 
Rindjje. 

t  Hutchinson. 

J  At  a  meeting  held  May  17,  this  town  chose  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Colonel  Richard  Saltonstall, 
Mr.  Richard  llazzen,  and  Deacon  James  Ayer,  "  to  wait  upon  the  Commissioners,  and  represent  the  affairs 
and  houndaries  of  the  town  to  them,  provided  the  proprietors  of  the  undivided  lands  pay  the  expenses  of 
the  said  Committee." 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERniLL.  293 

August,  and  tlie  Secretary,  by  tlie  Governor's  order,  prorogued  it  to  the 
10th,  then  to  meet  at  Hampton  Falls.  The  Assembly  of  Massachusetts 
met  at  Boston,  on  the  same  day,  and  also  adjourned  to  the  10th,  then  to 
meet  at  Salisbury  ;  —  thus  the  two  Assemblies  met  within  five  miles  of 
each  other.  On  the  10th,  a  large  cavalcade  was  formed  at  Boston,  and  the 
Governor  rode  in  state,  escorted  by  a  troop  of  horse.  He  was  met  at  Kew- 
bury  Ferry  by  another  troop,  and  at  the  supposed  divisional  line  by  three 
more,  who  conducted  him  in  all  the  pomp  of  power  to  the  George  tavern, 
at  Hampton  Falls,  where  he  held  a  council,  and  made  a  speech  to  the 
Assembly  of  New  Hampshire." 

After  several  weeks  of  angry  discussion,  the  boundary  of  the  eastern 
line  of  New  Hampshire  (which  had  also  been  in  dispute)  was  agreed  upon, 
but  the  southern  was  not,  and  by  agreement  was  submitted  to  the  King. 

The  main  point  on  which  this  controversy  turned,  was  entirely  evaded 
by  the  commissioners.  That  point  was  "  whether  the  charter  of  William 
and  Mary  granted  to  Massachusetts  all  the  lands  which  were  granted  by 
Charles  the  First?  "  If  this  question  was  decided  in  the  affirmative,  then 
the  claim  of  Massachusetts  must  be  granted ;  if  not,  then  it  must  fall. 
Making,  therefore,  an  evasive  decision,  the  commission  left  the  parties  to 
pursue  their  contentions  as  best  they  could,  by  means  of  Agents,  before 
His  Majesty's  Council  in  England.  The  New  Hampshire  interest  was 
represented  by  John  Tomlinson,  who  employed  a  Mr.  Parris  as  solicitor  — 
a  man  of  great  shrewdness,  penetration,  and  artful  address.  Massachu- 
setts employed,  as  her  agent,  Mr.  Edmund  Quincy,  who  died  in  1738,  and 
afterward  the  affair  was  in  the  hands  of  Wilts  and  Partridge  —  neither  of 
whom  understood,  a  tithe  so  much  of  the  controversy  as  Tomlinson,  nor 
had  the  address  of  Parris.  The  latter  drew  up  "  a  petition  of  appeal  "  to 
the  King,  in  which  all  the  circumstances  attending  the  transaction  from  the 
beginning  were  recited  and  colored  in  such  a  manner  as  to  asperse  the  gov- 
ernor and  assembly  of  the  "  vast,  opulent,  overgrown  province  of  Massa- 
chusetts;" while  "the  poor,   little,  loyal,  distressed  province  of    New 

*  The  following  "pasquinade  "  having  heen  adopted  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  these  proceedings  by  so 
many  of  our  predecessors,  we  dare  not  risk  omitting  it  in  this  place : — 
Dear  paddy,  you  never  did  behold  such  a  sight, 
As  yesterday  morning  was  seen  before  night. 
You  in  all  your  born  days  saw,  nor  I  did'nt  neither. 
So  many  fine  horses  and  nicu  ride  together. 
At  the  head,  the  lower  house  trotted  two  in  a  row. 
Then  all  the  higher  house  pranced  after  the  low. 
Then  the  Governor's  coach  galloped  on  like  the  wind, 
And  the  last  that  came  foremost  were  troopers  behind  ; 
Bnt  I  fear  it  means  no  good  to  your  neck,  nor  mine, 
For  they  say  'tis  to  lii  a  right  place  for  the  line. 


294:  HISTORY   OF   HAVERniLL. 

Hampshire"  was  represented  as  ready  to  be  devoured,  and  the  King's  own 
property  and  possessions  swallowed  up  by  the  boundless  rapacity  of  the 
charter  government. 

The  following  letter,  from  Eichard  Hazzen  of  this  town,  to  Mr.  Gushing, 
—  written  a  few  months  after  the  matter  had  been  thus  referred  to  the 
King,  —  throws  considerable  additional  light  upon  this  controversy :  — 

"  Sr. 
Inclosed  are  the  Plans  of  Haverhill  &,  Methuen  with  the  Severall 
Claims  of  Kingston  Chester  &  Londonderry'"'  upon  them  which  you  will  I 
believe  Easily  find  Out  by  the  Delineations,  as  also  the  first  plan  that  ever 
was  taken  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill  as  I  Can  find  which  I  thought  might 
be  of  service  for  its  Antiquity. f  You  will  see  by  the  Southerly  Course  of 
Londonderry  what  parts  of  Dracutt  &  Dunstable  they  Claim  but  for  want 
of  more  knowledge  in  the  Courses  of  them  Two  Towns  I  forbore  to  take  a  plan 
thinking  it  more  proper  for  Mr  Justice  Blanchard,  and  as  to  Almsbury  I 
am  acquainted  that  Kingston  Claims  near  one  third  part,  but  without 
measuring  I  could  not  take  an  Exact  plan  so  desisted  hoping  what  is  done 
may  Suffice  for  the  present.  I  have  also  enclosed  the  copy  of  a  petition 
which  was  sent  in  Haverhill's  behalf  by  the  late  Honrble  Colo  Quincy 
which  if  you  j^lcasc  to  peruse  you  will  find  it  agi'ees  with  said  Plan  I  have 
drawn  &  I  hope  will  serve  Haverhill. 

After  you  have  read  it  I  desire  you  would  Send  it  me  by  the  bearer, 
again.  If  my  business  would  have  allowed  of  it  I  should  have  taken  a  plan 
of  Kingston,  by  which  you  would  have  perceived  that  they  have  no  Eight 
by  Grant  to  any  part  of  Haverhill.  Their  Grant  beginning  at  a  Stake 
seven  miles  v/est  from  Hampton  meeting  house  thence  running  west  &  by 
north  Ten  miles  into  ye  Country  &  then  beginning  where  they  first  began 
&  Eun  North  four  miles  &  South  within  three  Miles  of  Merrimack  &  then 
from  the  Extreme  points  Last  mentioned  to  ye  End  of  ye  Tenmile  so  that 
it  Lyes  in  the  same  form  of  Haverhill. 

I  should  earnestly  request  that  endeavours  might  be  used  that  a  Line 
from  Endicott's  Tree  to  three  miles  Xorth  of  Merrimack  Eiver  at  ye  mouth 
might  be  the  dividing  Line  of  the  Provinces  which  Ave  take  to  be  the  true 
intent  of  the  Charter,  but  the  Province  having  put  in  a  different  Claim  we 

o  In  July,  1737,  one  Robert  Auchmaty  petitioned  the  Proprietors  of  Ilaverhill  that  "whereas  a  house 
lot  had  been  laid  out  to  him  in  Londonderry  which  is  supposed  to  be  within  ye  ancient  town  of  Uaver- 
hill,"  to  prevent  any  future  trouble  in  rejftu'd  to  it,  he  requested  the  Proprietors  to  make  over  to  him  in 
writing  all  their  right  and  title  to  the  same.  The  request  was  not  granted  —  perhaps  because  the  peti- 
tioner asked  the  release  as  a  ffi/t. 

t  See  au  engraving  of  the  last  plan  here  referred  to,  on  page  104. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  295 

forbear  to  mention  it.     however  that  you  will  use  your  utmost  Endeavour 
that  Haverhill's  property  may  he  Secured  we  Earnestly  Eequest.     If  any 
thing  further  may  be  done  to  Serve  the  Province  I  shall  readily  lend  a  hand. 
In  Haste  I  am  Sr 

Your  Most  Humble  Servt 

Eichd  Hazzen 

Haverhill  May  9th  1737."- 

The  decision  of  the  King  in  Council  was  not  made  until  August  5,  1740, 
and  the  line  was  not  actually  run  until  the  following  year ;  and  during  all 
this  time,-  the  inhabitants  of  the  disputed  territory  suffered  the  most  serious 
inconveniences  and  annoyances.  It  would  be  both  unjust,  and  ungenerous, 
did  we  deny  that  private  rights  were  invaded,  property  destroyed  or 
damaged,  law  suits  needlessly  multiplied,  and  other  wrongs  committed,  by 
persons,  and  j)arties,  on  each  of  the  contending  sides.  Passions  were 
inflamed,  cupidity  and  a  love  for  contention  excited,  and,  as  always  has 
been,  (and,  from  the  nature  of  man,  under  similar  circumstances  always 
must  be  expected.)  every  available  means,  short  of  actual  resort  to  physical 
force,  was  adopted  to  harrass  and  drive  off  the  settlers  on  the  disputed  lands. 
Parties  from  this  town  repeatedly  attempted  (and  often  with  success)  to 
drive  off  the  Londondeny  and  other  settlers  upon  these  lands,|  and  visa 
versa. 

In  the  hope  of  putting  a  more  speedy  stop  to  these  serious  difficulties, 
the  town,  September  29,  1740,  chose  a  committee  to  petition  *'  his  majesty  " 
directly,  about  their  town  boundary. 

Finally,  (August  5,  1740,)  a  decree  of  the  King  in  Council  passed  the 
seals,  by  which  it  was  "  adjudged,  ordered  and  decreed,  that  the  Northern 
boundary  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  is  and  be  a  similar  curve 
line,  pursuing  the  course  of  Merrimac  river,  at  three  miles  distance  on  the 
north  side  thereof,  beginning  at  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  ending  at  a  point 
due  north  of  a  place  in  the  plan  returned  by  the  Commissioners,"  (to  whom 
the  subject  had  been  previously  referred,)  "called  Patucket  falls  and  a 
straight  line  drawn  from  thence  due  West  across  said  river  till  it  meets 
with  his  Majesty's  other  Governments."  This  decree  was  forwarded  to 
Mr.  Belcher,  then  governor  of  both  Provinces,  with  instructions  to  apply 
to  the  respective  Assembles  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  to 
unite  in  marking  the  necessary  provisions  for  running  and  marking  the  line 

*  State  Archives  32,  472. 

t  In  April,  1735,  John  Carlton,  and  his  brother  George,  (sons  of  Thomas,  of  Bradford)  petitioned  to  the 
proprietors  of  Haverhill  to  make  thom  some  consideration  for  the  services  of  themselves  and  teams  "when 
ConstaUe  pecker  went  to  fetch  oft'  those  that  were  Tresspcssers  on  that  part  of  Haverhill  Common  beyond 
the  Island  Pond,"  as  they  liad  done  to  others  that  went  at  the  same  t;me. 


296  HISTORY   OP   nAVEKHILt. 

conformable  to  said  decree,  and  that  if  the  Assembly  of  either  Province 
refused,  the  Assembly  of  the  other  might  proceed  ex  parte.  The  Assembly 
of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  declined  complying  -with  this  requisition. 
The  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire  made  the  necessary  appropriation  for 
running  and  marking  the  line :  and  George  Mitchel  and  Eichard  Hazen 
were  appointed  by  Gov.  Belcher,  on  behalf  of  New  Hampshire,  to  survey 
and  mark  the  boundary  line  conformably  to  said  decree.  Pursuant  to  this 
authority,  in  the  month  of  February,  A.  D.  1741,  Mitchel  run  and  marked 
a  line  from  the  seacoast  above  three  miles  north  of  the  mouth-  of  the 
Merrimack  Paver,  to  a  point  about  three  miles  north  of  Patucket  falls,  as 
and  for  the  line  directed  to  be  run  by  said  decree,  and  said  Hazen,  in  the 
month  of  March  following,  run  and  marked  a  line  from  the  said  point  about 
three  miles  north  of  Patucket  falls,  across  the  Connecticut  Eiver  to  the 
supposed  boundary  line  of  New  York,  on  what  he  then  supposed,  was  a  due 
West  line  from  the  place  of  beginning. 

This  line  gave  to  Nciu  Hampshii-e  a  territory  of  about  fifty  miles  by 
fourteen  more  than  sue  had  ever  asked  for  ! 

Massachusetts,  as  may  readily  be  supposed,  did  not  soon  forget  her 
unjust  treatment  in  the  matter,  and  it  was  not  until  1826,  that  she  took 
part  in  a  rc-survcy,  or  retracing  of  the  line.'- 

But  the  decree  of  the  King  did  not  put  a  stop  to  the  disputes  between 
the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  and  those  of  Londonderry.  It  was  made  a 
condition  of  the  submission  to  the  decision  of  the  King,  that  private  pro- 
perty should  not  be  affected,  and  this  condition  was  incorporated  into  his 
decree ;  but  it  did  not  settle  the  question  of  private  ownership. 

At  their  meeting  in  September,  1741,  the  Haverhill  proprietors  chose  a 
committee  to  prosecute  all  trespassers  on  their  common  and  undivided  lands, 
whether  they  were  on  the  north  or  south  of  the  New  Hampshire  line,  or 
in  that  part  of  Methuen  formerly  Haverhill ;  and  they  continued  to  sell 
and  grant  lands  on  tlie  north  side  of  the  new  line. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  inhabitants  of  Londonderry  petitioned  their  Gen- 
eral Court  to  newly  run  the  lines  of  their  town,  as  "your  petitioners  for 
several  years  past  has  been  very  greatly  disturbed  and  troubled  and  in- 
croached  upon  in  their  Possessions  and  in  defence  of  the  same  has  expended 
from  time  to  time  in  the  Law  near  two  thousand  Pounds  against  the  In- 
habitants of  Massachusetts  Bay."  Among  other  causes  of  complaint 
against  the  latter,  the  petitioners  say  that  "  they  carry  off  the  small  part 
of  timber  that  is  yet  growing  there." 

"  From  1741,  to  1826,  no  survey  of  the  line  was  made  by  public  authority. 


HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL.  297 

That  we  may  not  he  charged  with  suppressing  testimony  upon  the  Lon- 
donderry side,  we  copy,  in  extenso,  the  Kev.  Mr.  Parker's  version  of  the 
matter,  as  given  in  his  History  of  that  town  ■■= :  — 

"  It  appears  that  certain  persons  in  Haverhill,  and  its  vicinity,  laid 
claim  to  these  lands,  by  virtue  of  a  deed  of  but  about  twenty  years  date, 
from  an  Indian  sagamore  named  John,f  whereas  the  Indian  title  which  the 
proprietors  of  Londonderry  claimed,  was  obtained  more  than  sixty  years 
before,  and  signed  by  all  the  principal  chiefs  who  had  any  right  whatever 
to  the  territory  in  question. J  Weak  and  unjust  as  was  the  claim  of  these 
individuals,  they  endeavoured  to  press  it,  hoping  that,  as  these  settlers 
were  foreigners,  if  they  could  not  by  persuasion,  they  would  by  menaces,  be 
induced  to  abandon  their  settlement.  Hence  they  came  from  time  to  time 
in  armed  bodies,  threatening  violence  if  the  settlers  upon  these  lands  did 
not  remove.  But  they  knew  not  the  men  whom  they  thus  assailed,  were 
men  of  tried  courage  and  noble  daring.  Satisfied  of  the  justness  of  their 
title,  and  determined  to  maintain  it  at  the  peril  of  life,  if  called  to  the 
encounter,  the  inhabitants  of  Londonderry  went  forward  with  their  settle- 
ment, without  heeding  the  menaces  they  received.  It  is  related,  that  on  one 
occasion  a  large  party  from  Haverhill,  led  by  a  man  named  Herriman,  came 
fully  armed  for  an  encounter,  unless  these  settlers  would  yield  to  their 
demands,  either  paying  them  for  the  township  or  at  once  quitting  it.§ 

' '  It  was  on  Friday,  and  the  men  with  their  families  were  assembling  under 
a  spreading  oak,  their  house  of  worship  not  being  as  3'^et  erected,  to  observe, 
according  to  the  good  old  Presbyterian  custom,  the  service  preparatory  to 
communion,  which  was  to  be  administered  on  the  following  Sabbath.  The 
assailants,  on  making  known  their  purpose,  were  requested  to  desist  from 
all  acts  of  violence,  until  their  religious  services  were  over,  which  they 
consented  to  do.  Having  listened  attentively  to  the  discourse  addressed  to 
his  flock  by  the  venerated  pastor,  and  struck  with  the  firm  and  undaunted 

«-■  Parker's  History  of  Londonderry,  page  58. 

t  With  this  deed,  and  the  claim  under  it,  this  toivn  had  nothing  whatever  to  do,  and  but  very  few  of 
its  inhabitants.  When  we  first  began  to  "read  up"  upon  tliis  subject,  we  somewhere  met  with,  and  made 
notes  of,  a  history  of  this  deed,  and  the  attempts  made  to  establish  claims  under  it ;  but  they  have  been 
either  li>st  or  misplaced;  and  we  can  now  only  affirm  that  the  claim  was  owned  by  parties  outside  of 
Haverhill,  (we  helieve  in  Ipswich,  or  Salem)  and  that  when  they  passed  through  this  town,  on  their  way  to 
this  disputed  territory, — which  was,  as  they  claimed,  covered  by  their  deed, — to  compel  the  settlers  there 
to  either  purchase  of  them,  or  move  oif  the  lands,  a  number  of  Haverhill  men  joined  the  party. — Q.  W.  C. 

X  We  believe  it  is  even  yet  doubtful  whether  the  deed  here  referred  to  is  a  genuine  deed,  or  a  false  one. 
But  even  admitting  it  to  have  been  a  genuine  and  valid  deed,  the  bounds  of  Londonderry  under  it,  was 
distinctly  stated  to  be  to,  and  upon,  Haverhill  the  Line. 

§  This  must  have  been  the  party  who  claimed  under  the  Indian  deed,  already  referred  to.  They 
claimed  the  whole  township.  Haverhill  never  claimed  anything  more  than  to  its  west  line,  as  laid  out 
in  1667.    The  latter  claim,  therefore,  covered  but  a  small  portion  of  the  township  of  Londonderry. 

38 


298  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

appearance  of  the  men,  and  with  the  spirit  and  solemnity  of  their  devotions, 
Herriman  said  to  his  followers :  '  Let  us  return,  it  is  in  vain  to  attempt  to 
disturb  this  people,  for  surely  the  Lord  is  with  them.' 

"  lu  connection  with  these  more  formal  assaults,  they  were  frequently  har- 
rassed  by  intruders  who  attempted  to  mow  their  meadows,  on  which 
they  mainly  depended  for  the  support  of  their  cattle  during  the  earlier 
years  of  the  settlement.  ' 

"  Such  intruders  were  not  unfrequently  taken  by  them,  and  detained  as 
prisoners,  until  satisfaction  was  rendered  by  them,  or  their  friends.  "VVe 
find  in^  the  town  accounts  during  these  years,  frequent  charges  by  in- 
dividuals '  for  guarding  prisoners.'  Sometimes  an  inhabitant  of  the  town, 
when  employed  in  these  meadows,  would  be  seized  and  carried  away  by 
individuals  from  abroad,  who  laid  in  wait  for  the  purpose.  Thus  a  Mr. 
Christie,  while  mowing  in  a  meadow,  was  seized  and  carried  to  Haverhill, 
without  being  allowed  to  apprize  his  family  of  his  situation.  The  next 
day  some  of  his  apparel  was  found  in  the  meadow  where  he  had  been  at 
work,  and  he  was  at  length  discovered  and  rescued. 

"  It  also  appears  that  civil  processes  were  commenced  and  carried  on 
before  the  courts  in  Massachusetts,  as  they  held  their  sessions,  at  New- 
buryport  and  Ipswich,  and  that  certain  individuals  were  actually  com- 
mitted to  prison  under  the  arrests  which  were  made-  by  the  claimants  in 
that  province.  We  find  frequent  charges  made  for  attendance  at  court  at 
Ipswich,  also  a  vote  of  the  town  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  individuals 
imprisoned,  and  to  perform  for  them  the  necessary  work  required  on  their 
farms  during  their  imprisonment." 

As  a  partial  ofi'set  to  the  above,  we  give  the  following  outline  of  one  of 
the  numerous  cases  where  actions  were  brought  against  those  Haverhill 
settlers  who  fell  to  the  north  of  the  line  ;  and  which  will  show  the  ground 
upon  which  such  actions  were  brought,  and  the  proceedings  thereon.  We 
condense  it  from  a  petition  of  Eichard  Hazzen  to  the  General  Court,  dated 
November  22,  1749  :  — 

In  IZi-i,  Robert  Boyes,  of  Londonden-y,  brought  an  action  of  Eject- 
ment against  Jonathan  Colburn,  of  Haverhill,  to  recover  possession  of  a 
certain  piece  of  land  formerly  within  the  jurisdiction  of  ]\Iassachusetts, 
but,  by  the  running  of  the  line,  falling  within  New  Hampshire.     Colburn 

o  The  render  will  betir  in  mind  that  these  disturbances  only  occurred  on,  and  related  to,  those  lands 
which  formed  a  part  of  the  "  northwesterly  angle  of  Haverhill,"  but  were  claimed  by  Londonderry  as  a 
part  of  their  township.  Even  after  the  line  was  run  in  1741,  and  when  all  the  land  to  the  north  of  it  was 
claimed  by  Kew  Hampshire,  we  find  that  most,  if  not  all,  the  suits  commenced  against  the  settlers  on  the 
north  side,  were  brought  against  those  of  "Haverhill  Peke,"  or,  as  it  was  also  then  called,  "Haverhill 
Pistrict." 


HISTORY   OV    HAVERHILL.  299 

held  the  land  by  virtue  of  a  grant  from  the  proprietors  of  the  town  of 
Haverhill  to  his  predecessors,  before  the  town  of  Londonderry  was  granted. 
Boyes  claimed  the  land  under  the  grant  of  Governor  Shute  for  the  town 
of  Londonderry.  At  the  Inferior  Court,  judgment  was  given  for  the  de- 
fendant. The  plaintiff  appealed,  and  the  Superior  Court  reversed  the 
judgment.  Subsequently,  Colburn  brought  a  "Writ  of  Eeview  and  recov- 
ered, with  costs.  Boj'^es  then  appealed  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of 
New  Hampshire,  "  called  the  Court  of  Appeals,"  but  after  nearly  two 
years  delay,  the  title  was  confirmed  to  Colburn. 

As  an  additional  offset  to  the  troubles,  expenses,  and  embarrassments  of 
the  Londonderry  settlers,  as  thus  feelingly  set  forth  by  their  historian,  we 
insert  a  second  petition  from  Mr.  Hazzen  to  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts :  — 

*•  To  the  Honrble  Spencer  Phips  Esq  Lieut.  Governor  and  Commander  in 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesties  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New 
England,  The  Honrble  his  Majesties  Council  and  House  of  Piepresentatives 
in  General  Court  Assembled  at  Boston  May  31  Anno  Domini  1753. 

The  petition  of  Eichard  Hazzen  humbly  Sheweth  That  upon  the  Late 
running  of  the  Divisionall  Line  between  the  Provinces,  about  one  third 
part  of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Ancient  Town  of  Haverhill,  fell  to  the 
Northward  of  the  said  Line  and  within  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire. 

That  being  the  Case  the  Government  of  New  Hampshire  claimed,  not 
only  the  Jurisdiction  of  these  lands  to  the  North  side  of  the  Line  but  also 
the  property  (contrary  to  order  of  the  Crown)  and  endeavoured  to  Ouste  all 
the  inhabitants,  which  were  then  more  than  One  hundred  families 
Setled  by  Haverhill  to  the  Northward  of  it  and  take  away  their  property 
by  force  of  arms,  the  people  of  Kingston  and  Londonderry  oftentimes 
coming  in  Clans  to  the  Number  of  forty  or  fifty  at  a  time,  and  One  One 
hundred  or  more,  to  fence  in  our  Lands  build  on  them  &c 

That  your  petitioner  seeing  the  Great  distress  the  poor  people  liveing  on 
the  North  side  of  the  line  were  in  on  the  Accompt  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Claim  and  having  some  Lands  there  of  his  own,  moved  into  that  Govern- 
ment in  order  to  Aid  and  assist  the  Haverhill  people  against  them  that  came 
to  drive  them  off  by  force,  and  did  repell  them  in  the  same  manner  and  by 
his  application  made  to  Governour  Wentworth  a  stop  was  at  Length  put  to 
such  illegal  proceedings. 

That  Kingston  and  Londonderry  people  then  directly  brought  many  law- 
suites,  against  the  Inhabitants  of  Haverhill  which  your  petitioner  defended 
to  ye  Utmost  of  his  power.'"' 

o  In  the  Proprietors'  Records,  we  find  many  instances  where  they  voted  money  to  assist  such  persons  to 
carry  on  their  suits,  or  to  reimburse  them  for  expenses  already  incurred.    As  specimens,  we  give  the 


300  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL 

That  in  the  Course  of  those  tryalls  which  have  now  lasted  almost  Ten 
Years,  Your  petitioner  has  been  one  hundred  and  thirty  Journeys  to  Ports- 
mouth oftentimes  in  Eain  &  Snow  heat  &  Cold,  to  Attend  the  Courts  or 
prepare  for  ye  Tryalls  &  has  oftentimes  been  detained  there  three  weeks 
at  a  time  on  Expence,  whereby  he  has  sunk  at  least  one  thousand  pounds 
of  his  Estate,  when  at  the  same  time  if  he  would  have  turn'd  traytor  to 
this  Government  he  might  have  gotten  large  Sums  without  any  trouble 

That  your  petitioner  has  met  with  so  much  difficulty  in  these  affairs 
that  rather  than  endure  so  much  again  he  would  give  up  all  his  Estate  & 
sit  down  in  the  most  remote  parts  of  the  Earth  notwithstanding  he  has 
had  such  success  that  no  one  Haverhill  man  has  lost  his  Estate  nor  are 
any  new  Settlement  made  upon  us,  no  new  suites  Commenct.  and  but  Two 
depending,  &  them  before  the  Governour  &  Councill. 

But  so  it  is  may  it  please  your  Honour  &  this  Honourable  Court,  that 
your  petitioner  by  reason  of  his  Great  Expence  has  involved  his  Estate  to 
the  value  of  Seven  or  Eight  thousand  pounds  to  Capt.  Edward  Tyng  for 
no  more  then  Thirty  four  or  five  hundred  pounds  money  old  Tenor,  the 
Eedemption  of  which  is  now  Expired,  And  your  petitioner  must  Infallibly 
Loose  four  or  five  thousand  pounds  unless  releived  by  this  Honoured 
Court 

Y'our  petitioner  therefore  Earnestly,  requests  this  Great  and  Honourable 
Court  to  Compassionate  his  distressed  Circumstances  &  inasmuch  as  he 
has  endeavoured  at  all  times  with  his  power  and  Estate  to  defend  the 
Title  of  this  Government  against  Xew  Hampshire,  You  will  be  pleased  to 
Grant  him  so  much  money  as  will  clear  that  mortgage,  or  Lend  it  the  peti- 
tioner who  will  make  sale  of  his  Land  as  soon  as  possible  &  will  pay  the 
money  in  Again  &  the  Overpluss  he  will  devote  to  the  Service  of  this  Gov- 
ernment «&  will  use  all  his  power  and  abilities  to  defend  the  Title  of  the 
Massachusetts  as  Long  as  he  is  able  to  get  to  Portsmouth 

And  your  petitioner  as  in  Duty  bound 
shall  ever  pray 

Eichard  Hazzen. 

following : — January  15,  1748-9.  One  hundred  pounds  was  voted  "  towards  defraying  ye  action  before  ye 
King  and  Council  wherein  Nathaniel  French  (Kingston)  is  appellant,  against  Thomas  FoUonsbee  and 
others  (Haverhill)  appellees." 

December  10,  1751,  Henry  Sanders  was  voted  twenty  pounds  "to  carry  on  his  case  against  Wheclrighfc 
at  Portsmouth."  (This  was  a  suit  under  the  famous  "  Wheelwright  claim.")  June  29,  1752,  Edward 
Flint  was  voted  thirty  pounds  "to  carry  on  his  case  against  Londonderry  at  Portsmouth."  In  November, 
1753,  he  was  voted  forty  pounds  more  "to  continue  his  cise."  January  1,  1753,  fifty  pounds  was  voted 
to  prosecute  trespassers  on  the  land  previously  granted  "  the  first  minister  of  Timberlanc,  now  called 
Hampstead."  November  20,  1758,  four  hundred  and  seventy  eight  pounds  twelve  shillings.  New  Hamp- 
shire, old  Tenor,  was  voted  Nathaniel  P.  Sargeant,  Esq.,  "  for  his  services  in  David  Heath's  and  other 
cases." 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  301 

"In  the  House  of  Eepves  June  8.  1853  Eead  and  Ordered  that  the. 
Prayer  of  the  Petr  be  so  far  granted  as  that  the  Petr  recieve  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  the  sum  of  four  hundred  Sixty  Eight  pounds  upon  Loan 
free  of  Interest  for  the  term  of  five  years.  He  first  giving  Bond  with 
sufiicient  sureties  for  the  payment  of  said  sum  at  the  expiration  of  the  time 
abovementioned  " 

T.  Hubbard  Spkr 
In  Council  June  12,  1753 

Eead  &  non  Concur'd 

Thos.  Clarke  Dpty  Secry 

In  the  House  of  Eepves  June  13.  1753.  The  House  entered  again  into 
the  consideration  of  the  vote  passed  upon  this  Petn  the  8th  Currt  at  the 
desire  of  the  Honble  Board  and  after  Debate  and  Mature  Consideration 

Voted,  that  the  House  adhere  to  their  vote  as  then  sent  up  to  the  Honl 
Board 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 


T.  Hubbard  Spkr 
J  Willard  Secry 


In  Council,  June  13,  1753  ;  Eead  &  Concur'd 

Consented  to 

S.  Phips 
As  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  petition,  the  long  continued  and  vex- 
atious border  troubles  were  at  last  drawing  to  a  close.  The  last  notice  we 
find  of  them  in  our  records  is  that  where,  in  1759,  the  Proprietors  chose 
a  committee ••■^  to  settle  with  the  proprietors  of  the  "  Mason  claim"  to  the 
township  of  Salem.  This  brought  up  the  rear  of  the  long  and  motley 
procession  of  troubles,  vexations,  and  suits,  that  had  for  more  than  a  third 
of  a  century  been  fastened  upon  our  town,  and  we  feel  a  decided  relief  in 
thus  closing  our  history  of  this,  by  no  means  insignificant,  "  Border  War." 

•>  Joseph  Badger,  Jr. 


302  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


1729  TO  1741. 


At  the  annual  town  meeting  for  1729,  a  proposition  was  made  to  raise 
one  hundred  pounds  for  '*  school  money,"  and  though  it  was  voted  down, 
yet  the  proposal  is  significant  of  an  increasing  interest  in  the  cause  of 
popular  education.  At  this  time,  in  addition  to  the  "  Grammar"  School, 
(which  was  kept  in  constant  operation,  although  moved  quarterly  from 
place  to  place  about  town,)  there  were  other  schools,  termed  "Common" 
schools,  kept  a  few  weeks  each,  annually,  in  various  parts  of  the  town. 
School  houses  were  not  yet  erected  in  all  the  places  where  schools  were 
wanted,  and  it  was  therefore  quite  common  to  keep  them  in  private  houses. 
Thus  we  find  that  in  1725  a  school  was  kept  "  one  quarter"  in  the  house 
of  Samuel  Ayer;  in  1727,  one  quarter  each  in  the  houses  of  ""Widow 
Currier,"  and  William  Johnson;  in  1730  one  quarter  at  John  Clements; 
and  in  1732,  three  quarters  at  the  house  of  Eeuhen  Currier. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  we  alluded  to  the  employment,  by  Massachu- 
setts and  New  Hampshire,  of  agents  in  England,  to  manage  their  affairs 
before  the  King  and  Council.  The  cost  of  supporting  such  agents  had  now 
become  so  great  that  the  General  Court  called  upon  the  towns  to  assist 
in  defraying  the  expenses.  At  a  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  this  town 
voted  to  raise  fifty  pounds,  to  be  delivered  to  Colonel  Eichard  Saltonstall, 
the  representative,  and  by  him  to  the  Committee  of  the  General  Court. 
This  not  only  shows  the  interest  of  the  town  in  the  great  question  then 
beginning  to  excite  so  much  attention,  but  also  the  readiness  of  its  inhabi- 
tants to  bear  their  full  proportion  of  the  public  burden.  That  this  large 
contribution  was  not  an  isolated  case,  is  abundantly  shown  by  the  records 
of  a  subsequent  period. 

On  the  26th  of  October  of  this  year,  twenty-nine  members  of  the  first 
church,  residents  in  that  part  of  Methuen,  now  Salem,  N.  H.,  had  permis- 
sion granted  to  embody  themselves  into  a  church  in  that  place.  They  had 
already  built  themselves  a  new  meeting  house. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1730,  the  proposition  to  raise  one  hundred 
pounds  for  schools  was  again  brought  forward.  This  time  it  was  coupled 
with  the  condition  that  one-half  of  the  sum  should  be  appropriated  for  the 
support  of  "the  Grammar  School  near  the  meeting  house;"  —  but 
the  plan  again  failed. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  303 

The  inhabitants  of  the  "  North  Precinct "  were  this  year  allowed  ten 
pounds  from  the  Town  treasury  toward  the  support  of  a  minister,  and 
almost  immediately  they  gave  a  Mr.  Haynes  an  invitation  to  settle,  but  he 
declined.  Soon  after,  they  extended  an  invitation  to  Eev.  James  Gushing, 
a  son  of  Eev.  Caleb  Cushing  of  Salisbury,  who  accepted,  and  was  ordained 
in  December.  On  the  1st  of  November,  forty-six  members  of  the  first 
church,  requested  and  obtained  a  dismission,  "  for  the  purpose  of  uniting 
in  a  church  state  in  the  North  Precinct."  The  church  was  organized 
November-4,  1730. 

This  year,  (1730,)  in  addition  to  the  regular  board  of  five  Selectmen, 
three  persons, — Nathan  Webster,  Sergeant  Joseph  Emerson,  and  Deacon 
Daniel  Little — where  chosen  "  Overseers  of  the  Poor."  This  was  the  first 
time  such  of&cers  were  chosen  by  the  town.  They  were  regularly  chosen 
annually  from  this  time  until  1735,  when  they  were  discontinued,  and  their 
duties  again  assigned  to  the  board  of  Selectmen.  The  office  was  not  again 
revived  until  1801. 

The  North  Precinct,  having  settled  a  minister  among  them,  made  appli- 
cation the  next  spring  to  the  Pi'oprietors  for  a  grant  of  land  for  him.  They 
promptly  gave  him  a  piece  containing  about  twenty-nine  acres. 

Prom  the  Proprietors  Eecords  for  1731,  we  learn  that  Joseph  Whittier 
and  Moses  Hazzen  petitioned  them  for  permission  to  build  a  wharf  on  the 
Merrimack,  near  "  Mill  Brook;  which  was  granted,  on  condition  that  they 
kept  the  two  bridges  near  them  in  repair  "  forever,"  j)aid  fifty  pounds,  and 
built  a  good  wharf,  at  least  one  hundred  feet  wide,  and  from  the  highway 
to  low  water  mark !  We  think  these  terms  were  stringent  enough  to  satisfy 
the  sharpest  of  the  sharp  bargain  makers  among  them. 

Under  this  date,  Mirick,  in  his  history  of  the  town,  has  the  following : — 

"  About  this  time  an  affair  happened  which  was  rather  derogatory  to  the 
characters  of  those  concerned.  The  Commoners  had  fenced  a  certain  part 
of  the  ox-common  with  split  rails.  This  was  very  much  disliked  by  the 
non-commoners  living  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  they  determined 
ta  be  revenged.  They  soon  concerted  a  plot,  and  a  ^mall  party  assembled 
near  flaggy  meadow,  on  the  night  appointed  to  execute  it,  carried  the  rails 
into  large  piles,  and  set  them  on  fire.  The  loss  of  the  rails  was  but  trifling 
when  compared  with  the  other  damage  done  by  the  fire.  The  earth  was 
dry,  and  it  run  through  the  woods,  and  continued  to  burn  for  many  days." 

From  the  fact  that  for  several  years  preceding,  and  even  after  the  above 
date,  these  parties  were  at  peace  with  each  other,  having  settled  all  their 
disputes,  we  think  the  above  described  incident  must  have  taken  place 
about  1724,  or  1725,  at  which  time  these  common  disputes  were  at  their 
height. 


304  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1732,  the  "profit  of  the  Parsonage  farm" 
(that  is,  the  money  received  for  the  annual  rent  of  it)  was  voted  to  be  given 
to  the  North  Parish  until  there  should  be  another  Parish  in  town. 

At  the  same  time  it  was  decided  to  "  take  an  exact  list  of  the  Poles  and 
Estates"  in  town,  and  for  that  purpose  a  committee  was  chosen.  We 
think  the  committee  must  have  made  a  short  job  of  it,  as  the  only  future 
record  we  find  relating  to  it,  is  a  "  bill  paid  Christopher  Bartiett  one  day 
valuation  Estates,'  six  shillings." 

The  earliest  notice  we  find  of  shipbuilding  in  town,  is  the  following,  in 
the  proprietors  records,  under  date  of  June  18,  1733  : — 

"  Henry  Springer  petitioning  as  followeth  viz  That  he  is  willing  & 
desirous  to  settle  in  the  Town  and  Carry  on  the  Trade  of  a  Ship  carpenter 
if  he  might  have  suitable  encouragement.  P>ut  having  no  place  of  his  own 
to  build  on  prays  the  grant  of  so  much  Land  betwixt  the  highway  by  the 
burrying  place,  and  the  Ptiver  or  where  the  vessell  now  stands  on  the  Stocks 
as  would  accommodate  him  for  a  building  Yard."  "  Upon  which  petition 
after  mature  consideration  it  was  voted  that  he  should  have  so  much, 
provided  that  he  settled  in  the  town  of  Haverhill  &  Carried  on  the  Trade 
of  a  Ship  Carpenter,  or  that  some  other  person  built  in  the  same  place  in 
his  room,  and  no  Longer." 

AVe  are  not  to  suppose  from  the  above,  that  Springer  was  the  first  ship- 
builder in  town,  or  that  he  was  the  only  one  who  could  build,  or  had  built, 
ships  here ;  because,  as  we  have  already  noticed,  wharves  had  been  built, 
and  vessels  employed,  for  many  years  previous.  And  from  the  fact  that 
the  size  and  finish  of  the  "  vessels  "  of  that  day  required  far  less  skill  and 
capital  in  their  construction,  than  do  those  of  our  own  time,  we  may  safely 
presume  that  they  had  not  only  been  for  some  time  previously  employed  in 
the  commerce  of  the  town,  but  were  also  built  here.  Indeed,  the  fact  that 
Springer  in  his  petition  refers  to  a  vessel  then  on  the  stocks,  is,  we  think, 
sufficient  to  establish  our  point.  But  that  Springer  was  the  first  person 
who  carried  on  shipbuilding  as  a  regular  business  in  the  town,  we  are 
inclined  to  believe,  from  the  fact  that  his  name  is  the  first  that  appears  in 
that  connection  in  either  of  the  Records,  which  are  so  minute  in  all  such 
matters,  that  if  it  had  been  otherwise,  we  should  without  doubt  have 
found  the  name  of  his  predecessors. 

In  March  of  the  following  year,  the  large  island  in  Island  Pond  was 
disposed  of  by  the  proprietors  of  Haverhill,  to  Pdchaid  Saltonstall.  It  was 
estimated  to  contain  two  hundred  acres,  one-half  of  which  was  given  him 
in  consideration  of  valuable  services  rendered  the  proprietors,  and  the 
remaining  half  sold  to  him  for  thirty  shillings  per  acre. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  305 

Early  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year  (1734)  the  appearance  of  a  few- 
very  large  and  uncommon  "  catterpiller  "  was  noticed  in  the  woods  of  the 
town.  These  rapidly  increased  until  the  trees  were  nearly  covered, 
and  a  vast  amount  of  damage  was  done  by  them.  The  following  inter- 
esting account  of  them,  we  copy  from  a  memoranda  left  by  Dr.  Joshua 
Bailey  of  this  town : — 

"  In  the  year  1734  there  was  as  soon  as  the  leaves  began  to  appear  on 
the  Oak  trees,  a  catterpiller  in  spots  in  our  woods  in  Haverhill  the  red  & 
black  oaks  chiefly  &  in  the  year  1735  there  was  100  for  one  of  what 
appeared  last  year  &  in  1786  the  number  was  astonishing  for  they  covered 
almost  the  whole  of  the  woods  in  Haverhill  &  Bradford  &  part  of  Methuen 
Chester  &  Andover  and  in  many  other  places  near  Haverhill  many  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  thick  woodland  the  leaves  and  tender  twings  of  the  last 
years  growth  were  wholly  eaten  up  to  the  wholly  killing  of  many  of  the 
trees  &  others  had  most  of  the  limbs  killed  &  if  providence  had  continued 
them  to  a  4th  year  we  should  not  have  a  tree  left  in  most  of  the  places  they 
seemed  to  like  the  red  &  black  oak  but  when  they  had  destroyed  the  leaves 
of  the  oak  they  cleared  all  before  them  and  you  might  travel  miles  in  some 
places  and  see  no  green  leaves  on  any  but  a  few  trees  that  were  standing 
single  and  in  midsummer  the  wood  was  as  naked  as  midwinter  they  were 
larger  than  our  common  catterpiller  and  made  no  nests  the  trees  in  some 
places  completely  covered  with  them  and  they  would  travel  from  tree  to 
tree  no  river  or  pond  stopped  them  for  they  would  swim  like  dogs  and 
travelled  in  great  armies  and  I  have  seen  Houses  so  covered  with  them 
that  you  could  see  little  or  no  part  of  the  building  on  every  leaf  of  a  tree 
you  might  see  more  or  less  of  them." 

Richard  Kelley,  of  Amesbury,  in  his  diary,  described  them  as  "  larger 
than  the 'orchard  caterpillr,  but  smooth  on  the  back  with  a  black  streak 
with  white  spots."  And  he  adds,  —  "  they  are  thought  by  many  to  be  the 
palmer  worm." 

In  1734,  the  inhabitants  of  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  petitioned  to  be 
.  set  off  into  a  separate  Parish  by  themselves,  which  was  agreed  to  by  the 
town,  and  the  dividing  line  run.  But  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
proposed  ncAV  parish,  being  opposed  to  a  separation,  made  such  vigorous 
efforts  against  it,  that  when  application  was  made  to  the  General  Court  to 
perfect  the  work,  it  not  only  refused  to  do  so,  but  ordered  the  petitioners 
back  to  the  old  Parish."-' 

Immediately  after,  the  people  of  the  westerly  part  of  the  town,  (between 
whom  and  those  of  the  easterly  part  there  appears  to  have  been  an  "  under- 

®  The  petition  was  signed  by  Nathaniel  Feaslee,  "for  himself  nnd  others." 

39 


306  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

standing"  in  this  matter)  made  a  similar  application,  wLicli  was  granted, 
and  the  west  part  of  the  town  set  off  into  a  distinct  Parish,  called  the  Wesl- 
Parish.  The  inhabitants  of  the  new  Parish  immediately  commenced  th« 
building  of  a  meeting  house,  which  was  completed  the  same  fall.  It  stood 
one  mile  east  of  the  present  brick  meeting  house  in  the  above  Parish,  on 
the  south  west  corner  of  the  cross  road,  and  where  Timothy  J.  Goodrich  now 
lives.  Soon  after,  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev.  Samuel  Bachellor,  who  ac- 
cepted, and  was  ordained  in  the  following  July.  Seventy-seven  members  of 
the  first  church  requested  and  received  a  dismission,  for  the  purposes 
of  forming  the  new  church. 

In  1734,  also,  the  North  Parish  "burying  ground"  was  laid  out,  the 
land  being  given  for  that  purpose  by  the  Haverhill  Proprietors.  It  was  the 
same  ground  which  is  still  occupied  for  the  same  purpose, — a  short  distance 
above  the  house  of  Jesse  Clement,  Esq. 

In  March,  1735,  the  town,  for  the  first  time,  voted  "  to  mend  and  repair 
the  highways  by  a  rate."  The  prices  fixed  upon  for  labor,  were,  four 
shillings  per  day  for  a  man,  and  two  shillings  for  a  yoke  of  oxen.  The 
surveyors  were  to  be  the  judges  of  a  day's  work.  Though  the  town  voted 
as  above,  we  do  not  find  that  a  separate  sum  was  voted  to  be  raised  as  a 
highway  rate,  or  tax,  until  1754  —  twenty  years  after. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1736,  the  town  voted  to  divide  the  income 
from  all  the  parsonage  land  west  of  the  Sawmill  Eiver  (Little  Kiver)  equally 
between  the  North  and  West  Parish.  The  same  year,  the  Proprietors  gave 
the  AVest  Parish  forty  acres  of  land,  and  also  gave  their  minister,  the  Eer. 
Mr.  Bachellor,  seventy  acres  for  his  own  use. 

In  October  of  the  above  year,  the  Proprietors  voted  to  survey  all  the 
meadows  lying  in  common  in  the  town,  and  divide  them  among  themselves. 
The  proportion  each  should  receive  was  to  be  governed  by  the  original 
grants  of  "accommodation"  land. 

In  May,  1735,  a  Mr.  Clough,  of  Kingston,  N.  H.,  having  examined  the 
throat  of  a  hog  which  died  of  a  throat  disease,  was  himself  suddenly  at- 
tacked with  a  swelling  of  the  throat,  and  lived  but  a  few  days.  Three 
weeks  after,  three  children  in  his  neighborhood  were  attacked  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  died  in  thirty-six  hours.  From  this,  the  disease  spread 
rapidly,  and  proved  fearfully  fatal,  particularly  to  children.  It  extended 
itself  in  all  directions,  passing  through  the  British  Colonics  on  the  cast, 
and  into  New  York  on  the  west.  It  was  two  years  in  reaching  the  Hud- 
son. Between  June,  1735,  and  July,  1736,  nine  hundred  and  eighty-four 
died  in  fourteen  towns  of  New  Hampshire.  It  appeared  in  this  town  in 
October,  1736,  and  swept  off  more  than  one-half  of  all  the  children  under 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  307 

fifteen  years  of  age.  Almost  every  liouse  was  turned  into  a  habitation  of 
mourning,  and  scarce  a  day  passed  that  was  not  a  witness  of  the  funeral 
procession.  Many  a  hopeful  son,  or  lovely  daughter,  arose  in  the  morning 
with  apparent  perfect  health  ;  but,  ere  the  sun  went  down,  they  were  cold 
and  silent  in  the  winding-sheet  of  the  dead.  In  many  families,  not  a  child 
was  left  to  cheer  the  hearts  of  the  stricken  parents.  Fifty-eight  families 
lost  one  each  ;  thirty-four  lost  two  each  ;  eleven  lost  three  each  ;  five  lost 
four  each  ;  and  four  lost  five  each.  One  hundred  and  ninety-nine  fell 
victims  to  the  terrible  distemper,  in  this  town !  Only  one  of  these  was 
over  forty  years  of  age. 

The  disease  was  attended  with  a  sore  throat,  white  or  ash-colored  spots, 
an  efilorescence  on  the  skin,  great  general  debility,  and  a  strong  tendency 
to  putridity.  Eev.  John  Brown,  minister  of  the  First  Parish,  published  a 
particular  account  of  this  distemper,  in  a  large  pamphlet.  Three  of  his 
own  children  were  numbered  among  the  victims. 

Shortly  afterward,  a  pamphlet  of  seventeen  pages  of  rhyme,  concerning 
the  ravages  of  this  distemper,  was  published  in  Boston.  We  cannot  resist 
the  temptation  to  copy  a  couple  of  specimen  verses :  — 

«*  To  Newbunj  O  go  and  see 

To  Hampton  and  Kingston 
To  York  likewise  and  Kittery 

Behold  what  God  hath  done. 
The  bow  of  God  is  bent  abroad 

Its  arrows  swiftly  fly 
Young  men  and  maids  and  sucking  babes 

Are  smitten  down  thereby." 

The  same  disease  appeared  again  in  1763,  but  in  a  much  milder  form. 

In  1737,  the  town  voted  to  build  an  almshouse,  so  as  to  support  their 
poor  under  one  roof,  instead  of  hiring  them  kept  in  private  families.  For 
some  reason  not  given,  it  was  not,  however,  commenced  this  year,  but  at 
the  nejit  annual  meeting,  it  was  again  voted  to  build  such  an  house,  and 
it  was  done  the  same  year.  It  stood  just  below  Mill  Brook,  on  the  river 
side.'-'  The  new  system  did  not  work  as  well  as  was  expected,  and  a  few 
years  after,  (1746)  the  town  voted  to  sell  the  almshouse,  and  return  to  the 
good  old  plan  of  their  fathers  before  them. 


o  In  174:7,  Nathanid  Pcaslee  petitioned  the  Troprietors  for  a  piece  of  land  "where  the  almshouse  now 
stands,  beginning  bj'  ye  Mill  Brook  about  a  rod  below  the  Bridge,  thence  south  to  Jlerrimack  Kivcr,"  &.C. 
This  was  after  the  town  had  voted  to  sell  the  Almshouse. 


308  HISTORY   OF   HAVERniLL. 

Though  the  town  of  Methuen  was  set  off  in  1725,  it  docs  not  appeaif 
that  the  line  between  the  two  towns  was  actually  settled  until  the  year 
1737,  when  we  find  that  Lieutenant  Kichard  Kimball,  of  Bradford,  was 
chosen  to  *'  settle  the  line  between  Haverhill  and  Methuen."  This  did 
not,  however,  "  settle"  the  matter,  as  we  find  that  the  next  year  the  town 
ordered  the  selectmen  to  join  with  the  selectmen  of  Methuen  and  run  the 
line,  —  which  they  did.  The  line  thus  agreed  upon  has  continued  to 
the  present  time  as  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  towns. 

Among  the  things  which  call  for  mention,  in  our  history  for  1738,  is  the 
petition  of  Hannah  Bradley,  of  this  town,  to  the  General  Court,  asking 
for  a  grant  of  land,  in  consideration  of  her  former  suflPerings  among  the 
Indians,  and  "present  low  circumstances."  In  answer  to  her  petition, 
that  honorable  body  granted  her  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land, 
which  was  laid  out  May  29,  1739,  by  Richard  Hazzen,  Surveyor.  It  was 
located  in  Methuen,  in  two  lots,  —  the  first,  containing  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  bordering  on  the  west  line  of  Haverhill ;  the  other,  containing 
ninety  acres,  bordering  on  the  east  line  of  Dracut. 

Mrs.  Bradley's  good  success  in  appealing  to  the  generosity  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  seems  to  have  stimulated  Joseph  Neff,  a  son  of  Mary  NeflF,  to 
make  a  similar  request.  He  shortly  after  petitioned  that  body  for  a  grant 
of  land,  in  consideration  of  his  mother's  services  in  assisting  Hannah 
Duston  in  killing  "  divers  Indians."  Neff  declares  in  his  petition,  that 
his  mother  was  "  kept  a  prisoner  for  a  considerable  time,"  and  "  in  their 
return  home  past  thro  the  utmost  hazard  of  their  lives  and  Suffered 
distressing  want  being  almost  Starved  before  they  Could  Eeturn  to  their 
dwellings." 

Accompanying  Neff 's  petition,  was  the  following  deposition  of  Hannah 
Bradley,  which  well  deserves  a  place  in  our  pages,  for  its  historical  interest 
The  document  proves  that  Mrs.  Bradley  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  same 
time  with  Mrs.  Duston,  and  travelled  with  her  as  far  as  Pennacook : — 

"  The  deposition  of  the  Widow  Hannah  Bradly  of  Haverhill  of  full  age 
who  testifieth  &  saith  that  about  forty  years  past  the  said  Hannah  together 
with  the  widow  Mary  Neff  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Indians  &  carried 
together  into  captivity,  &  above  penny  cook  the  Deponent  was  by  the 
Indians  forced  to  travel  farther  than  the  rest  of  the  Captives,  and  the  next 
night  but  one  there  came  to  us  one  Squaw  who  said  that  Hannah  Dustan 
and  the  aforesaid  Mary  Neff  assisted  in  killing  the  Indians  of  her  wigwam 
except  herself  and  a  boy,  herself  escaping  very  narrowly,  shewing  to  myself 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  309 

&  others  seven  wounds  as  she  said  with  a  Hatched  on  her  head  which 
wounds  were  given  her  when  the  rest  were  killed,  and  further  saith  not. 

her 

Hannah  X  Bradly." 

mark 

The  above  deposition  was  sworn  to  before  Joshua  Bayley,  of  Haverhill, 
June  28tb,  1739-. 

The  General  Court  granted  Neff  two  hundred  acres  of  land. 

About  this  time  (1738)  a  ferry  was  established  on  the  Merrimack,  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  below  the  present  chain  ferry,  and  near  where  Follansbee 
Noyes  now  lives.  It  was  soon  after  removed  a  mile  up  river,  near  the 
present  house  of  David  Nichols. 

The  first  rum  distillery  in  town,  was  built  about  this  time,  as  we  find, 
under  date  of  November  6,  1738,  a  petition  from  James  McHard,  to  the 
Proprietors,  in  which  he  says :  —  "  there  is  a  small  vacancy  of  land  betwixt 
the  parsonage  Land  and  Merrimack  river  by  Mr.  Pecker's  which  I  am 
informed  belongs  to  the  proprietors  of  Haverhill  and  I  being  about  to  build 
a  Still  House  for  the  good  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill  and  without  any  regard 
to  my  Own  Interest,  as  I  generally  do,"  &c.,  and  he  therefore  requests  that 
they  will  give  him  liberty  to  erect  his  distillery  on  that  lot.  This  they 
agreed  to  do,  provided  he  built  within  three  years.  It  stood  on  the  stream 
•(Mill  Brook)  near  what  is  now  the  upper  mill. 

About  this  time,  the  long  row  of  sycamore-trees  that,  for  a  century 
afterward,  added  so  much  to  the  natural  beauty  of  the  "  Saltonstall  Seat," 
(now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Duncan)  were  set  out."  The  work 
was  done  by  one  Hugh  Talent,  an  "exile  of  Erin,"  and  a  famous  fiddler 
withal.  Tradition  says  that  the  village  swains  and  lasses  did  not  allow 
the  cat-gut  and  rosin  of  this  musical  Talent  to  rust  for  want  of  use.  He 
lived  with  Colonel  Saltonstall,  in  the  capacity  of  a  servant.  Poor  Hugh  ! 
For  nearly  three  generations  after  he  had  "  hung  up  his  fiddle  and  his 
bow,"  the  beautiful  trees  he  planted,  were  the  pride  of  our  village,  and  the 
admiration  of  all  who  beheld  them.  Many  an  one,  whose  head  is  sprinkled 
o'er  with  the  frosts  of  many  winters,  as  he  reads  these  lines,  will  call  to 
mind  the  days  and  scenes  of  the  time  when  the  "  Old  Buttenwoods"  were 
flourishing  in  all  their  glory,  and  will  embalm  their  memory  with  a  sigh  — 
perhaps  with  a  tear  ! 

The  summer  of  1740  was  as  remarkable  for  the  vast  amount  of  rain 
which  fell,  and  flooded  the  country,  as  the  subsecjuent  winter  was  for  the 

o  May  23,  1748,  "R  Saltonstall"  petitioned  the  Proprietors  for  about  one-fourth  acre  of  land  south  of 
his  homestead,  "  where  he  had  lately  planted  some  Button  Trees."    The  petition  was  granted. 


310  HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL. 

severity  of  its  cold.  It  was  probably  tbe  most  severe  winter  that  bad 
been  known  since  the  settlement  of  the  country.  After  a  very  wet  sum- 
mer and  fall,  November  4th  it  set  in  very  cold.  On  the  loth,  a  foot  of 
snow  fell,  but  on  the  22nd  it  began  to  rain,  "  and  it  rained  three  weeks 
together."  This  produced  a  freshet  in  the  Merrimack,  the  like  of  which 
"  was  not  known  by  no  man  for  seventy  years."-"  The  water  rose  fifteen 
feet  in  this  town,  and  floated  off  many  houses.  On  the  12th  of  December, 
the  river  was  closed  by  the  severity  of  the  weather,  and  before  the  1  st  of 
January,  loaded  teams,  with  four,  six,  and  eight  oxen,  passed  from  Haver- 
hill and  the  towns  below,  to  the  upper  long  wharf  at  Newburyport.  The 
ice  in  Plumb  Island  River  did  not  break  up  until  the  30th  of  March, 
1741.     There  were  twenty-seven  snow  storms  during  the  winter.f 

By  the  running  of  the  new  line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1741,  nearly  one-third  of  the  population,  territory,  and  property 
of  the  town  of  Haverhill,  fell  to  the  north  of  the  line.  "\Vhen  to  this  is 
added  the  large  portion  set  off  for  Methuen,  in  1725,  we  find  that  more  than 
one-half  of  its  stock  of  all  those  elements  which  combine  to  make  a  first 
class  New  England  town,  had  been  taken  from  Haverhill  within  the  short 
period  of  fifteen  years.  It  was,  indeed,  a  great  change  in  its  condition, 
and  prospects,  and  must  have  been  felt  most  seriously. 

Soon  after  the  State  line  was  run,  the  town  instructed  its  selectmen  to 
take  an  exact  list  of  the  polls  and  estates  on  the  north  side  of  the  line, 
which  was  done. J  The  list  is  entitled  "A  List  of  Polls  and  Rateable 
Estate  Real  &  Personal,  for  the  Town  of  Haverhill  in  the  County  of  Essex, 
Taken  in  the  year  1741.  This  list  contains  only  those  living  in  that  part 
of  the  town  that  falls  into  N  HampshireProvince  according  to  Mr  Mitch- 
els  Line."§  This  document,  which  is  still  among  the  town's  papers, 
contains  the  following  names :  — 

Abraham  Annis,  Edward  Carlton,  Jr,  Obadiah  Perry, 

John  Currier,  Timothy  Johnson,  Seth  Patce, 

John  Currier,  Jur,  "William  Johnson,  Benjamin  Smith, 

Richard  Carlton,  Peter  Patee,  Thomas  Smith, 

*  Stephen  Jaqucs.  t  Rev.  Mr.  Plant. 

t  The  immediate  cause  which  prompted  this  action,  was  the  ftxct  that  those  on  the  north  side  of  the  lino 
refused  to  pay  taxes  any  longer  to  Haverhill, — or  even  those  of  the  current  year. 

§  Anions  the  papers  in  the  State  Archives,  is  a  petition  of  Nathaniel  Rolfo,  and  John  Russell,  Jr.,  to 
the  Gener.~.l  Court,  in  1753,  setting  forth  that  when  the  State  line  was  rnn  in  1741,  the  meeting  house  in 
the  North  Parish,  with  two-thirds  of  the  inhabitants,  fell  on  the  New  H.ampshire  side,  while  the  minister's 
house,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  land,  fell  on  the  Massachusetts  side ;  that  some  living  on  the  latter  side 
refused  to  pay  their  minister's  rate,  being  in  doubt  about  the  power  to  raise  money  for  such  purposes;  and 
therefore  the  petitioners  asked  that  such  power  might  be  given  them  —  if  they  did  not  then  have  it.  Tho 
Court  thereupon,  April  7,  1753,  resolved  the  portion  south  of  the  line  into  a  separate  and  distinet  Parish, 
with  all  the  powers,  &c.,  of  a  Parish. 


HISTOHY   OP   HATEHHILL. 


311 


John  Smitli, 
Eichard  Patee, 
Jonathan  Wheler, 
John  Watts, 
John  Webster, 
William  Webster, 
Daniel  Whitiker, 
Benjamin  Wheler, 
Stephen  Wheler, 
David  Copp, 
Moses  Copp, 
Thomas  Crawfford, 
Jonathan  Coborn, 
John  Dow,  Jul", 
Stephen  Emerson,  Jur, 
Peter  Easmau, 
William  Easman, 
Eoberd  Emerson,  Jur, 
Benjamin  Emerson, 
Jonathn  Emery, 
Humphry  Emery, 
Eichard  Flood, 
Eoberd  Ford, 
Joseph  Gill, 
Moses  Gill, 
Ebenr  Gill, 
John  Heath, 
James  Heath, 
David  Heath, 
James  Heath,  Jur, 
Eichard  Heath, 
Jonathan  Hutchens, 
Thomas  hall, 
Benjamin  heath, 
Zacariah  Johnson, 
Micael  Johnson, 
Stephen  Johnson, 
Stephen  Johnson,  Jur, 
John  Kent, 
Jonathn  Kimball, 
Nathaniel  Knight, 
John  Kezar, 
Jonathan  Merrill, 
Nathaniel  MeiTill, 
James  Mills, 
Joseph  Page, 
Jonathan  Page, 
Caleb  Page, 


Timothy  Page, 
Benjamin  Eichards, 

Samuel  Stevens, 
John  Stevens, 
Nehemiah  Stevens, 
Samuel  Stevens,  Jur, 
William  Stevens, 
Jonathan  Stevens,  Jur, 
Joseph  Stevens,  Jur, 
Samuel  Worthen,  Jur, 
Jonathn  Whitiker, 
James  White, 
Israel  Webster, 
Thomas  Pope, 
Edmand  Page, 
Timothy  Noyse, 
George  Little, 
Daniel  Little, 
George  Little,  Jur, 
Samuel  Little, 
Joseph  Little, 
Caleb  Heath, 
Joshua  Page, 
John  Hogg, 
William  Mackmaster, 
W^illiam  Mackmaster,  Jr 
Arter  Boyd, 
Askebell  Kinnicum, 
Askebell  Forsh, 
Thomas  Davison, 
Holbert  mon'ison, 
William  Hogg, 
Walter  Mackfortin, 
John  Stinson, 
Thomas  Horner, 
Alexander  Kelcy, 
Micael  Gorden, 
Eoberd  Mackcurdy, 
Peter  Christy, 
William  Callis, 
John  Miller, 
Eobert  Eeddel, 
Thom  Christy, 
William  Gilmore, 
Paul  Mackfarten, 
James  Macfarten, 
James  Adums, 
James  Adums,  Jur, 


Daniel  Mactcafee,, 
Heugh  Mackcafee, 
John  Mackcafee, 
James  Gilmore, 
Samuel  Patterson, 
William  Chambers, 
Samuel  Graves, 
James  Graves, 
Moses  Tucker, 
William  Hancock, 
Nathll  Heath, 
Lemuel  Tucker, 
John  Hunkins, 
John  Atwood, 
Othro  Stevens, 
Eliphelet  Page, 
John  Muzzee, 
Wait  Stevens, 
Samuel  Anderson, 
Nathll  Wackfarlee, 
John  Mackcaster, 
Eoberd  Gilmore, 
Jonathan  Coborn,  Jur, 
Daniel  Poor, 
Jonathan  Dusten,  Jur, 
Moses  Trussel, 
Capt  Nicolas  White, 
Francis  Smiley, 
John  Smiley, 
Heugh  Smiley, 
Capt  Christopher  Bartlet, 
Nathaniel  Bartlet, 
Jonathan  Bradlee, 
John  Bradlee, 
Joseph  Beartoe, 
Obadiah  Clements, 
Abraham  Chase, 
Thomas  Cheney, 
Josiah  Copp, 
Timothy  Dow, 
John  Dow, 
Peter  Dow, 
John  Dusten, 
David  Emerson, 
Ephraim  Emerson, 
Timothy  Emerson, 
Heugh  Pike. 
Joseph  Earwine, 


312 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


Samuel  Eaton, 
Thomas  Follcnsby, 
Danuel  Gile, 
Josepli^Hcath, 
Nchemiah  Heath, 
John  Heath,  Jur, 
Samuel  Heath, 
Joseph  Heath,  Jur, 
AVilliam  heath, 
Josiah  heath, 
Bartholomew  heath, 
John  Herriman, 
Leonard  Harriman, 


Leonard  Harriman,  Jur, 
Mathew  Harriman, 
Abner  Herriman, 
Joseph  Herriman, 
Henry  Haseltine, 
Edman  Hale, 
Jonathan  Johnson, 
Wid  mary  Kimball, 
Samuel  Kimball, 
Jonathan  Koberds, 
Jonathan  Stevens, 
Moses  Stevens, 
Samuel  Smith, 


Nathaniel  Smith, 
Thomas  AVorthin, 
Samuel  AVorthin, 
John  Pollord, 
Nathll  Tucker, 
Samuel  Brown, 
Benjamin  Stone, 
Nathaniel  Johnson,  Jur, 
moses  Jackman, 
Benjamin  Pettingall, 
John  French,  i 

Nathll  Gatchell.   v 


Following  the  list,  is  a  certificate,  signed  by  Joshua  Bayley,  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  setting  forth  that  the  selectmen  were  duly  sworn  to  perform  the 
duty  assigned  them,  on  the  9th  of  December,  1741. 

The  relative  extent  and  value  of  the  portion  which  fell  to  New  Hamp- 
shire on  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  line,  may  be  seen  from  the 
following,  which  we  copy  from  the  last  page  of  the  above  document :  — 


Without  New  Hampshire  Line,. 
Within  the  Line 


1 

S 

B 
O 

.5 
1 

■a 
O 

S 
o 

g 

■A 

o 

i 

1 

346 

214 

7 

1126 

7-.  I 

723 

125* 

10 

266 

540 

184 

2lo 

158 

9 

4.58 

308 

152 

.^9 

2 

239 

346  135| 

128 
20 


The  following  list  of  names,  includes  all  in  that  part  of  the  town  south 
of  the  new  State  line,  and  east  of  the  West  Parish  line ;  or,  in  other  words, 
all  those  in  what  is  now  the  First,  the  North,  and  the  East  Parishes. 
They  are  copied  from  a  document,  entitled 

"  The  Town  Rate  for  the  East  Part  of  Haver  hill  a  List  of  That  Part  of 
the  Tax  made  By  the  Assessors  of  Haverhill  on  December  ye  10  1741  for 
Benjamin  G-ale  Constable  and  Collector  of  said  Part  of  the  town  to  Collect 
and  pay  into  The  Town  Treasury" 


James  Ayer, 
John  Ayer, 
David  Ayer, 
Timothy  Ayer, 
Samuel  Ayer, 
Samuel  Apleton, 
"William  Otterson, 
John  Ayer,  Jur, 
AVilliam  Ayer, 


Joseph  Badger, 
Coll  Joshua  Baj'ley, 
Isaac  Bradley,  Jur, 
Daniel  Bradley, 
William  Bradley, 
Joseph  Bond, 
Ebenczer  Belknap, 
James  Bradbery, 
Moses  Belknap, 


James  Black, 
John  Boynton, 
Obadiah  Belknap, 
Andrew  Bryant, 
Ebenezer  Buck, 
Jonathan  Buck, 
Joseph  Badger,  Jur, 
Barnabas  Bradbery, 
Samuel  Clements, 


HISTORY   OF  HATERHIIL. 


313 


Moses  Clements, 
Euben  Currier, 
Caleb  Currier, 
Jacob  Chase, 
Abncr  Chase, 
Eichard  Colbey, 
Isaac  Colbey, 
Ezra  Chase, 
John  Cogswell, 
Nathaniel  Cogswell, 
John  Clement,  Jur, 
Elexander  Camball, 
Ebenezer  Colbey, 
John  Bradbery, 
Samuel  Dow, 
Josiah  Chandler, 
Isaac  Daiton, 
AYilliam  Davis, 
Daniel  Davis, 
John  Diivis,  Jun, 
Moses  Davis, 
Ephraim  Davis, 
Eobert  Davis, 
Samuel  Davis,  Jur, 
Thomas  Duston, 
John  Duston, 
David  Dodg, 
Thomas  Diamond, 
John  Edwards, 
Timothy  Eaton, 
John  Eaton, 
Moses  Eaton, 
Israel  Ela, 
John  Ela, 
Samuel  Ela, 
Jacob  Ela, 
Nathaniel  Edwards, 
Eichard  Emerson, 
Daniel  Ela, 
Abiel  Foster, 
Edward  Flynt, 
"William  Follensby, 
John  George, 
James  Gile, 
Samuel  Gile, 
Joseph  Grelee,  Jur, 
•:  Peter  Green, 
Benjamin  Grelee, 
40 


John  Gage, 
"William  George, 
Benjamin  Gale, 
John  Green, 
Gideon  George, 
Eobert  Hunkins,  Jur, 
David  Hutchens, 
Eobert  Hastins, 
Eobert  Hastins,  Jun, 
Eichard  Hazzen, 
Moses  Hazzen, 
Jonathan  Haseltine, 
Eobert  Hunkins, 
James  Holgate, 
AYilliam  Handcock 
Zachariah  Hanniford, 
George  Hastins, 
Jonathan  Haseltine  Jur, 
Timothy  Haseltine, 
Benjamin  Haseltine, 
John  Haseltine, 
Daniel  Herrick, 
Stephen  Huse, 
Samuel  Hunt, 
Thomas  Hunkins, 
John  Heuston, 
Thomas  Johnson, 
Daniel  Johnson, 
Marverick  Johnson, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Nathaniel  Knolton, 
Joseph  Kelley, 
Joseph  Kelley  Jur, 
Abner  Kimball, 
Abraham  Kimball, 
Ebenezer  Kezer, 
John  Kezer,  Jur, 
John  Howard, 
Jonathan  Lufkin, 
Thomas  Ijittle, 
James  Mehard, 
David  Marsh, 
John  Morrowson 
Nathan  Merrill, 
William  Morse, 
Bradbery  Morrowson, 
Jonathan  Marsh, 
Capt  John  Pecker, 


Nathaniel  Page, 
Abraham  Page 
James  Pearson, 
James  Pearson  Jur, 
Eobert  Peaslee, 
Amos  Peaslee, 
Cornelius  Page,    ■ — 
Nathaniel  Peaslee, 
Lewes  Page, 
Abraham  Page  Jur, 
Jeremiah  Page, 
Joshua  Page, 
Eobert  Toney, 
Ezekiel  Page, 
Joseph  Palmer, 
Philip  Eowel, 
Eowland  Eideout, 
"Wid  Hannah  Eoberds, 
Col  Eichard  Saltonstall, 
James  Sanders, 
Samuel  Smith  Jur, 
Nathaniel  Sanders, 
John  Sanders, 
Jacob  Sanders, 
John  Sweat, 
Henry  Springer, 
Jonathan  Springer, 
John  Sawyer, 
Samuel  Shepard, 
Jonathan  Shepard, 
Jonathan  Simons, 
Nathan  Simons, 
John  Simons, 
Nathan  Simons  Jur, 
George  Sanclar, 
Philip  Stanwood, 
Samuel  Simons, 
Edward  Thompson, 
Jonathan  Tyler, 
Joseph  Tyler, 
Samuel  AVhite, 
John  White, 
Samuel  White  Jur, 
John  White  Jur, 
Joseph  Whittier, 
Ebenezer  Whittier, 
David  Whiting, 
John  Whiting, 


314 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL, 


Joseph  "VYillson, 
Ezckiel  Willsou, 
AVilliam  M'illsoD, 
John  Willson, 
Grant  "Webster, 
Benjamin  AVooster, 
John  Wells, 
Jacob  "Woodward, 
Nathaniel  Woodman, 
Nathaniel  Walker, 


Thomas  Cheney, 
Josiah  Copp, 
Benjamin  Clements, 
Timothy  Dow, 
John  Dow, 
Peter  Dow, 
John  Davis, 
Joseph  Emerson, 
David  Emerson, 
Ephraim  Emerson, 


"Wid  Elizabeth  Whittier  Robert  Emerson, 


Thomas  Whittier, 
John  Willson  Jur, 
Israel  Young, 
William  Townsend, 
James  Bly, 
Stephen  Dow, 
Samuel  Duston, 


Timothy  Emerson, 
Hcugh  Pike, 
Joseph  Earwine, 
Jabesh  Emerson, 
Samuel  Eaton, 
Thomas  Eollensby, 
Daniel  Gile, 


w^idw  Mchitcbal  EmersonJoseph  Heath, 
Nchemiah  Emerson,         Nehcmiah  Heath, 


Thomas  Mingo, 
Benjamin  Moody, 
Capt  Nicolas  White, 
Joseph  Mulikin, 
Timothy  Hardy, 
Erancis  Smiley, 
John  Smiley, 
Hcugh  Smiley, 


John  Heath  Jur, 
Samuel  Heath, 
Joseph  Heath  Jur, 
William  Heath  Jur, 
Josiah  Heath, 
Bartholomew  Heath, 
John  Herriman, 
Leonard  Harriman, 


Capt  Cliiistcpher  BartletLeonard  Harriman  Jr 


Nathaniel  Bartlet, 
Jonathan  Bartlet, 
John  Bradlee, 
Joseph  Beartoe, 
John  Clements, 
Obadiah  Clements 
Abraham  Chase, 


Matthew  Harriman 
Richard  Harriman, 
Abncr  Harriman, 
Joseph  Harriman, 
Stephen  Harriman, 
Joshua  Harriman, 
Henry  Haseltine, 


Edmand  Hale, 
William  Johnson, 
Thon.as  Johnson, 
Nathaniel  Johnson, 
John  Johnson, 
Cornelius  Johnson, 
Jonathan  Johnson, 
Daniel  Johnson  Jur, 
Wid  Mary  Kimball, 
Samuel  Kimball, 
Jonathan  Roberts, 
Jonathan  Stevens, 
Moses  Stevens, 
Samuel  Smith, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 
Thomas  Worthen, 
Samuel  Worthen, 
William  Whitiker, 
David  Whitiker, 
John  Pollord, 
Nathaniel  Tucker, 
.  Samuel  Brown, 
John  Steward, 
Benjamin  Stone, 
Nathaniel  Johnson  Jur, 
John  Chase, 
Humphrey  Chase, 
Moses  ]\Iorgin, 
Joseph  Johnson, 
Moses  Jackman, 
Benjamin  Pettingall, 
John  French, 
Nathall  Gatchell, 
Nathan  Haseltine, 
Nathaniel  Green,  "^^ 
Nathaniel  phersen. 


AVe  have  not  been  able  to  find  a  list  of  the  Polls  in  the  West  Parish,  in 
1741.  The  nearest  we  can  get,  is  1745.  But  as,  in  all  probability,  very  few 
changes  were  made  in  that  part  of  the  town  in  the  interim,  and  as  we  are 
desirous  to  complete,  as  near  as  may  be,  a  list  of  all  the  Polls  in  the  town 
at  this  period  of  its  history,  we  give  below  the  names  in  that  parish  for 
1745.     They  are  as  follows :  — 

Decon  Peter  Aycr,  JiUt  Thomas  Bayley, 

Doct  William  Ayer,  Dec  Joseph  Bradley, 

Simon  Ayer,  Amos  Bayley, 

Jacob  Ayer,  Ebenezar  Brown, 


Ncamiah  Bradley, 
William  Bayley, 
Ebcnezcr  Bayley, 
John  Buck, 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 


315 


Jeremiah  Bayley, 
Humphrey  Bayley, 
William  13orman, 
Cor  Edward  Carleton, 
Peter  Carlton, 
Nathaniel  Clement, 
John  Corliss, 
Thomas  Corliss, 
John  Corliss  Jr, 
Samuel  Currier, 
Nathaniel  Clement  Jr, 
Nathaniel  Chase, 
Samuel  Clement, 
James  Cook, 
Joseph  Corliss, 
Nathaniel  Duston, 
Jonathan  Duston, 
Nathaniel  Duston  Jr, 
Thomas  Eatton, 
James  Eatton,    -^ 
Joshua  Emery, 
Timothy  Emerson, 
Samuel  Emerson, 
Joseph  Emerson  jr, 
John  Emerson, 
Mical  Emerson, 
Joseph  Emerson  tr, 
Jonathan  Emerson, 
Stephen  Emerson, 
Jonathan  Eatton,    ^ 
Jonathan  Emerson  Jr, 
Obadiah  Emerson, 
Peter  Emejson, 


Joseph  Emerson  4th, 
Ithamor  Emerson, 
Samuel  Gage, 
Stephen  Gage, 
Capt  Philip  Hasltinc, 
Dec  Samuel  Hasltinc, 
Thomas  Haines, 
Joseph  Haines, 
Samuel  Hutchings, 
Joseph  Hutchings, 
Nathan  Hutchings, 
Joseph  HCseltinc, 
Samuel  Hutchings  Jr, 
Jeremiah  Heseltine, 
Jonathan  Haines, 
James  Haseltine, 
Nathaniel  Haseltine, 
John  Haseltine, 
Eldad  Ingalls, 
John  Kezzer 
Ens  Daniel  Ladd, 
Ens  John  Ladd, 
Daniel  Ladd  Jr, 
Timothy  Ladd, 
Nathaniel  Marble, 
Epheram  Marsh, 
Samuel  Marble, 
Jonathan  Marble, 
John  Marble, 
Joseph  Merrile, 
Wido  Euth  Merriel, 
Andrew  Mitehel, 


Phillip  Mitehel, 

William  Mitehel, 
John  Mitehel, 
Nathaniel  Merriel, 
Timothy  Messer, 
Benjamin  Hilton, 
James  Nimock, 
Edward  Ordiway, 
Thomas  Page, 
Thomas  Page  Jr, 
Beniamian  Patee, 
Samuel  Standley, 
Mathew  Standle3^ 
John  Silver, 
John  Silver  Jr, 
Samuel  Silver, 
John  Smith, 
John  Stward, 
Nathan  Webster, 
Thomas  Webster, 
Jonathan  Webster, 
Stephen  Webster,  tr 
Samuel  Webster, 
Nathaniel  Webster, 
Stephen  Whiteier, 
Samuel  Whiteier, 
Samuel  Watts, 
Stephen  Webster. 
Ebenezer  Webster, 
Daniel  Williams, 
John  Watts  Jr, 
Stephen  Webster  Jr, 
Baraerah  Varnon. 


Cap  James  Mitehel, 

Previous  to  taking  leave  of  our  friends  on  the  north  of  the  line,  who 
were  thus  suddenly,  and  without  their  consent,  transferred  to  another 
State  jurisdiction,  we  can  do  no  less  than  insert  a  brief  sketch  of  their 
subsequent  history."     We  commence  with 

Hampstead. — This  town  is  made  up  of  two  segments,  one  from  Haver- 
hill, the  other  from  Amcsbury,  being  cut  off  from  those  towns  by  the  State 
line  in  1741.  It  was  originally  called  Timberland,  or  Timberlane,  on  ac- 
count of  the  abundance  of  its  timber. 

The  Indians  never  made  it  a  place  of  abode,  if  we  except  one  or  two 
who  lived  temporarily  at  "  Angly  Pond,"  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 

-'  Those  portions  of  Ilavtrhill  and  Araeslniry  which  fi;ll  to  tho  north  of  the  new  line,  were  soon  after 
incorporated  by  the  General  Court  of  New  Hampshire  into  a  District,  under  the  name  of  "Haverhill 
District,"  and  continued  to  be  known  by  that  name  until  finally  divided  and  incorporated  into  towns. 


316  HISTORY   OF   HATERHILt. 

The  first  families  of  white  settlers  -were  Ford,  Heath,  and  Emerson.  The 
latter  -was  from  Haverhill,  and  settled  near  a  brook  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town,  where  his  descendants  still  reside. 

From  a  petition  of  Eichard  Hazzen  to  the  General  Court  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, under  date  of  May,  1748,  "in  behalf  of  that  part  of  Haverhill 
District  commonly  called  Timberland,"  we  learn  that  "  two  thirds  of  Eev. 
Mr.  Cushing's  hearers  (exclusive  of  Timberland)  live  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Boundary  line,"  and  that  in  November,  1747,  the  district  voted 
that  those  on  the  north  side  should  pay  two  hundred  pounds  as  their  pro- 
portion of  Mr.  Cushing's  salary,  but  at  a  legal  meeting  held  afterward,  the 
inhabitants  of  Timberland  were  set  off  from  Mr.  Cushing's  parish.  Ke 
therefore  prayed  for  power  to  levy  a  rate  for  their  own  minister,  which 
was  granted. 

A  meeting-house  was  built,  and  a  minister  settled^-  the  same  year, 
(1748).  Eev.  Mr.  Barnard,  of  Haverhill,  preached  the  ordination  ser- 
mon. The  first  article  in  Mr.  True's  agreement,  was,  "  That  he  should 
have  the  parsonage  lands,  allotted  by  Haverhill  to  Timbcrlanc,  which  was 
soyjetimes  called  Haverhill  District,  but  now  Hampstead,  for  the  first  set- 
tled minister."! 

The  town  was  incorporated  by  its  present  name,  January  19,  1749. 

Among  the  principal  men  of  the  new  town,  may  be  named  Eichard  Haz- 
zen, Daniel  Little,  and  Captain  John  Hazzen,  all  of  whom  were  originally 
from  Haverhill.  Eichard  Hazzen,  as  will  be  seen  from  his  petition  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  removed  to  Hampstead  during  the  border  troubles.  He 
became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town..  In  1750,  he  surveyed,  and 
made  a  map,  of  the  whole  of  the  eastern  coast,  from  the  Merrimack  to  the 
St.  Croix  rivers.  After  his  death,  his  widow  petitioned  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts  for  aid.  From  her  petition,  we  learn  that  Hazzen  did 
not  receive  the  money  previously  voted  him  by  that  body.  He  died, 
suddenly,  on  the  road  from  Haverhill  to  Hampstead,  in  October,  1754. 

Daniel  Little  was  also  a  prominent  man  in  the  town.  By  the  act  of 
incorporation,  he  was  designated  as  the  person  to  call  the  first  town  meet- 
ing under  the  charter.  Eev.  Daniel  Little,  the  first  minister  at  Kennebunk, 
Maine,  was  a  son  of  the  above. 

Captain  John  Hazzen,  was  a  nephew  of  Eichard,  and  a  man  of  great 
enterprise.     After  living  several  years  in  Hampstead,  he  went,  as  leader 

o  Kcv.  Henry  True. 

t  The  Church  was  not  organized,  however,  until  June  3,  1752.  Sixty-eight  persons  united  in  its  forma- 
tion, fifteen  of  whom  were  from  the  first  church  in  Haverhill. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  317 

of  a  company,  to  settle  a  new  town  in  northern  Xew  Hampshire,  on  the 
Connecticut,  and  had  the  address  to  have  the  town  named  for  his  own 
place  of  nativity  —  Haverhill. 

Captain  Hazzen  was  an  officer  in  the  old  French  War,  and  stood  high 
in  the  estimation  of  government.  Expecting  a  charter  of  a  township  in 
the  "  Coos,"  if  he  made  a  settlement  therein,  he,  in  1761,  sent  on  his  cat- 
tle, with  two  men,  Michael  Johnston  and  JohnPettie,  (both  also  of  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,)  to  commence  such  a  settlement.  In  the  spring  of 
1762,  Captain  Hazzen  went  on  himself,  with  hands  and  materials  for  build- 
ing a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill.''* 

It  appears  that  Kingston  claimed  that  part  of  Hampstead  called  Ames 
hury  Peak,  and,  in  1760,  writ  after  writ  was  served  upon  them  to  recover. 
It  was  finally  settled  in  1764,  by  giving  Kingston  "^1000  old  tenor," 
and  a  grant  of  a  new  township  near  the  Connecticut,  which  was  called 
Unity,  as  it  made  Peace. 

Plaistow. — This  town,  a  large  part  of  which  was  originally  a  part  of 
Haverhill,  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  February  28,  1749.  Among  its 
first  settlers,  who  were  nearly  all  Haverhill  men,  may  be  mentioned  Cap- 
tain Charles  Bartlett  and  Nicholas  White,  Esq.,  both  of  whom  were  men 
of  considerable  prominence.  Its  first  church  was  that  of  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Cushing,  which  fell  a  few  rods  to  the  north  of  the  State  line  in  1741, 

Atkinson  was  set  off  from  Plaistow,  in  1767,  and  incorporated  September 
3d  of  the  same  year.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Hon.  Theodore  Atkin- 
son, a  large  landholder  in  the  town,  and.  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the 


<*  Among  those  wKo  accompanied  him  at  this  time,  was  Colonel  Joshua  Howard,  of  this  town,  then 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  (1)     Johnston  was  drowned  the  same  season,  while  descending  the  Connecticut, 

(1)  lie  died  in  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  in  1839,  aged  ninety-uine  years. 
on  a  visit  to  his  friends,  and  was  buried  on  a  small  island,  since  known  as  Johnston's  Island."  Colonel 
Charles  Johnston,  (brother  of  the  above,)  Jesse  Harriman,  Thom.is  Johnson,  David  Merrill,  and  Ezekiel 
Ladd,  all  of  Haverhill,  were  also  among  the  earlier  settlers  of  the  new  township.  The  latter  afterward 
became  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  place,  and  occupied  the  most  responsible  positions.  He  married 
Euth  Ilntchins,  also  of  Haverhill,  and  died  in  1818,  aged  eighty  years, 

■  The  wifi;  of  Mr.  Ladd  had  seen  and  tasted  some  of  the  refinements  of  life,  and  in  after  years  she  often 
related  her  extreme  mortification  on  the  first  Sabbath  she  attended  meeting  at  her  new  home.  She  had 
been  recently  married,  and  thinking  she  must  appear  as  well  as  any  of  her  neighbora,  she  put  on  her 
wedding  silks,  with  muflled  cnlTs,  extending  from  the  shoulder  to  the  elbow,  and  there  made  fast  by  bril- 
liant sleeve  buttons.  She  wore  silk  hose,  and  florid  shoes.  Her  husband,  also,  appeared  in  his  best,  and 
they  took  their  seats  early  in  the  sanctuary.  But,  as  she  said,  "  they  went  alone,  sat  alone,  and  returned 
alone ;  "  for  it  was  not  possible  for  her  to  get  near  enough  to  any  of  the  women  to  hold  conversation  with 
them.  They  were  actually  afraid  of  her,  and  kept  at  a  safe  distance  lest  they  should  spoil  her  dress.  The 
next  Sabbath  she  appeared  in  a  clean  check-linen  dress,  with  other  articles  in  accordance,  and  found  no 
difficulty  in  making  the  acquaintance  of  her  neighbors,  who  proved  to  be  sociable  and  warm  hearted  friends. 
Mr.  Ladd  afterward  becamfS  widely  known  as  "Judge  Ladd,"  and  was  highly  respected  and  beloved.2 

3  Hist.  Sketches  Coos  Co.  p.  45, 


31 S  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

province.  Previous  to  its  incorporation,  it  was  sometimes  called  New 
Castle.  Settlements  were  made  within  the  town's  limits  as  early  as  1727 
or  172M.  The  first  permanent  settlers  were  Jonathan  and  Edmund  Page, 
and  John  Dow, —  all  of  Haverhill. 

Nathaniel  Cogswell,  who  for  between  thirty  and  forty  years  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Haverhill,  was  among  its  first  principal  men.  '  The  land  for  the 
first  meeting-house  was  given  by  him.  He  was  born  in  Ipswich,  in  1707, 
and  married  Judith,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Badger,  of  Haverhill.  Out  of 
his  nineteen  ehildi'en,  he  gave  eight  sons  to  the  service  of  the  Revolution, 
who  performed  collectively  thirty-eight  years  of  service,  and  all  survived 
the  war  !  All  of  his  children  were  baptised  in  the  first  church  at  Haver- 
hill, f  Mr.  Cogswell  was  a  man  of  large  means,  as  well  as  patriotism,  and 
loaned  much  money  to  his  town  to  expend  for  the  American  cause. 

The  first  minister  in  Atkinson  was  the  Eev.  Stephen  Peabody,  of  Ando- 
ver,  Massachusetts,  who  was  ordained  November  25,  1772,  at  which  time 
a  church  was  formed. |     He  died  in  1819,  aged  seventy-eight. 

Stephen  Peabody  Webster,  of  Haverhill,  was  the  first  person  who  en- 
tered college  from  Atkinson  Academy.  He  was  afterward  Clerk  of  the 
Courts  of  Grafton  County  ;  a  Eepresentative,  Senator,  and  Councillor.  He 
for  many  years  taught  the  Academy  at  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  and  died  there. 

Ezekiel  Little  was  born  in  the  West  Parish  of  Haverhill,  in  1762; 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  178-4  ;  taught  school  in  Boston  for  many 
years ;  was  author  of  an  arithmetic  called  The  Usher,  published  at  Exeter, 
in  1799  ;  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  resided  at  Atkinson,  where 
he  died  in  1840,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 

The  first  couple  published  in  Atkinson  were  David  Clement  of  Haverhill, 
and  Dilley  Ladd  of  Atkinson,  in  October,  1767. 


°  lie  was  a  descemlant  of  John  Cogswell,  a  merchant  of  London,  who  cnnie  to  Ipswich  in  1635,  and  was 
made  a  freeman  in  1030.  On  his  passage  to  this  country  he  was  wrecked,  at  Pemcquid,  Me.  He  died 
Novemhcr  29,  1CG9,  leaving  a  wife  and  seven  children. 

t  Joseph  Cogswell,  who  died  at  Tamworth,  N.  H.,  in  1851,  was  the  last  survivor  of  this  large  family 
of  children. 

X  Itev.  Mr.  Peabody  maiTicd,  first,  Polly  IlascUine,  of  Bradford,  and  second,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
Rev.  John  Shaw,  of  Haverhill.  The  latter  was  sister  of  the  wife  of  the  first  President  Adams.  She  mar- 
ried Shaw  in  1777,  and  Peabody  in  1795.  There  is  a  generally  credited  tradition,  that  Mr.  Peabody  had 
consulted  Mrs.  Shaw,  but  a  short  time  before  her  first  husband's  death,  in  regard  to  his  own  "lone"  con- 
dition, and  asked  her  advice  as  to  the  most  suitable  person  to  ''share  his  joys  and  his  sorrows."  A  par- 
ticular candidate  for  such  a  partnership  was  recommended  and  agreed  to,  but  before  sutlicient  t'me  had 
elapsed  to  consult  the  third  party,  Mr.  Shaw  suddeiily  died,  and,  in  his  ze.al  to  console  the  bereaved  widow 
Mr.  Peabody  entirely  forgot  the  claims  of  the  original  candidate,  and  was  so  soim  announced  as  the 
"  happy  man,"  that  it  was  even  whispered  that  the  previous  decision  was  revised  on  the  day  of  the 
funeral. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  319 

Salem  was  incorporated  as  a  District  soon  after  the  State  line  was  run, 
in  1741,  and  as  a  Town,  in  1750.  In  our  searcli  among  the  papers  in  the 
State  Archives  of  New  Hampshire,  we  found  several  interesting  documents 
relating  to  the  incorporation  of  that  town.  The  first  is  a  petition  (with- 
out date,  but  probably  1746,)  from  thirty-one  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
west  part  of  Haverhill  District,  praying  to  be  set  off  into  a  new  parish  or 
town.--^  Following  the  above,  is  a  petition  from  thirty-four  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  same  locality,  praying  that  they  may  not  be  set  off,  as  above. 
They  say  there  are  sixty  or  seventy  families  settled  in  the  district  referred 
to ;  that  they  have  been  to  a  very  great  expense  in  building  a  meeting- 
house, and  settling  a  minister  ;  and  though  they  do  not  object  to  a  new 
toion,  they  pray  not  to  be  disturbed  as  to  their  parish  concerns.f  After 
this  comes  a  petition  from  fifty-nine  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Haverhill 
District,  praying  for  the  new  town,  or  parish.  This  evidently  turned  the 
scale  and  an  act  of  incorporation  was  granted  soon  afterward. 

The  first  church  formed  in  that  part  of  Salem  once  belonging  to  Haver- 
hill, was  organized  in  1740,  and  before  the  State  line  was  run.  Eev. 
Abner  Bailey  was  the  first  minister,  and  was  ordained  the  same  year.  He 
died  in  1798. 

Policy  Pond,  which  lies  partly  in  Salem  and  partly  in  Windham,  was 
formerly  called  "  Haverhill  Pond."  A  tract  of  land  granted  to  Eev.  Mr. 
Higginson,  by  the  General  Court,  in  1715,  began  "upon  said  pond,"  and 
ran  south  "  upon  Haverhill  Line,"  730  poles  to  a  tree  "  standing  in  Hav- 
erhill Line." 

°  Among  the  names  of  the  petitioners  we  noticed  those  of  Thomas,  Samuel,  Caleb  and  Obadiah  Duston. 
t  Among  these  petitioners  were  eight  by  the  name  of  Page,  six  named  Knights,  and  four  named  Noycs. 


320  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


1742  TO  1765. 


"We  liave  already  noticed,  under  date  of  1734,  tte  unsuccessful  attempt 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  easterly  part  of  tlie  town  to  be  set  off  into  a  sep- 
arate parish.  We  do  not  find  that  a  second  elffort  was  made  until  1743, 
when  they  were  more  fortunate  than  on  the  previous  occasion,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  following,  which  we  copy  from  the  original  documents  in  the 
Archives  of  the  State  :  — 

"  To  his  Excy  Wm  Shirley  Esq.  Captain  Genl  &  Govt  in  Chief  over  his 
Majesty's  provence  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Engd.  and  to  the 
honble  his  i\Iajesty's  Council,  and  to  the  honble  House  of  Eepresentves  in 
Genl  Court  assembled  May  25.  A  D  1743. 

The  petition  of  Us  the  Subscribers  being  Freeholders  &  Inhabitants  of 
the  Easterly  part  of  the  oldest  or  first  Parish  in  Haverhill,  humbly  shew- 
eth  —  That  the  Meeting  House  now  standing  in  said  Parish  was  built  in  the 
year  1699,  &  then  set  suitable  to  accomodate  the  whole  Town,  for  then 
the  whole  Town  were  but  one  Parish  &  about  the  year  1723  or  4  this  Court 
was  pleased  to  set  off  the  Westerly  part  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill  with 
divers  of  the  Inhabitants  into  a  Town  called  Methuen,  &  about  the  year 
1730  this  Court  was  pleased  to  set  off  a  Parish  on  the  Northerly  part  of 
the  Town  of  Haverhill,  &  about  the  year  1734  this  Court  was  pleased  to 
set  off  a  parish  at  the  Westerly  End  of  the  then  remaining  or  oldest  Par- 
ish in  Haverhill. 

And  now,  please  your  Excy  &  Hours,  the  Meeting  House  now  in  the 
old  Parish  stands  but  a  mile  at  furthest  off  the  West  Parish  Line,  & 
the  said  Meeting  House  stands  near  six  miles  from  the  East  End  of  said 
Parish,  &  we  have  petitioned  to  the  said  Parish  for  some  Ease  in  this 
affair,  &  no  help  can  be  obtained  as  your  Excy  &  Hours  may  plainly  see 

by  Copies  herewith  exhibited Therefore  your  poor  Petrs  pray  that 

this  honble  Court  would  appoint  a  Committee  to  go  &  view  the  whole 
Parish,  &  make  Report  to  this  Court  whether  it  be  not  just  &  proper  to 
divide  the  whole  Parish  into  two  equal  halves  or  distinct  Parishes  by 
themselves,  &  to  affix  a  Line  between  them,  or  otherwise  to  provide  for  the 
Ease  &  Eclief  of  your  poor  Petrs  in  the  Case  as  your  Excy  &  Hours  shall 


BISTORT  OF   HAVERHILL. 


321 


in  your  Wisdom  &  wonted  Goodness  think  best,  so  shall  your  poor  dis- 
tressed Petrs  ever  pray  as  in  duty  bound  &c. 


\  Nathaniel  peaslee, 
Joseph  Grele, 
Thos  Cottle, 
John  George, 
Reuben  Currier, 
George  Santeler, 
Joseph  Tyler, 
Peter  Green, 
Nathaniel  page, 
Timothy  Eaton, 
Moses  Eatton, 
Abraham  page, 
Samuel  Smith, 
Zechariah  Hannaford, 
Lewis  page, 
Caleb  Currier, 
Eobert  Hastings  Jun, 
Georg  Hastings, 
Joseph  Kelly  Jun, 


John  Morrison, 
Green  whicher, 
Benjamin  Davis, 
Jacob  Sanders, 
Humphrey  Chas, 
John  Chase, 
Eobert  Hunkins  Jun, 
Thomis  Hunkins, 
Ebenezer  Colby, 
Eichard  Colby, 
Isaac  Colby, 
Samuel  Ela, 
Israel  Ela, 
James  Sanders, 
Eobert  Hastings, 
Joseph  Kelly, 
Ephraim  Davis, 
Simeon  Brown, 
John  Sanders, 


John  Sanders, 
James  Bradbury, 
Eobert  Hunkins, 
Abner  Ches, 
Antony  Colby, 
Daniel  Ela, 
Benjamin  page, 
Ezekiel  page, 
James  holgate, 
William  Georg, 
Gideon  George, 
Jonathan  Tyler, 
Jonathan  Tyler  Jr, 
Samuel  Davis, 
Samuel  Davis  Junr, 
Jacob  Chase, 
John  Swett, 
Ebenezer  Whittier, 


June  1,  1743,  the  above  petition  was  read  in  the  House  of  Eepresenta- 
tives,  and  the  petitioners  were  ordered  to  serve  the  first  parish  with  a  copy 
of  the  petition,  "  that  they  may  shew  cause  (if  any  they  have)  why  the 
prayer  thereof  should  not  be  granted." 

June  9th,  a  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  matter,  and  Joshua  Bay- 
ley  and  Captain  James  Pearsons  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  answer 
to  the  General  Court  in  behalf  of  "the  old  parish."  The  following  is 
their  answer :  — 

"  To  His  Excellency  William  Shirley  Esqr  Governor  and  Commander 
in  Chief  in  and  over  His  Majesties  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England :  And  to  the  Honorble  His  Majesties  Council  and  Honorble 
House  of  Eepresentatives  in  Generall  Court  assembled  at  Boston  June  ye 
14th  1743.— 

The  Answer  of  the  first  or  Oldest  Parish  in' the  Town  of  Haverhill,  to 
the  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  part  of  said  Parish,  hum- 
bly sheweth. — 

That  we  dont  pretend  to  deny  but  that  the  Meeting  House  in  said  Parish 
was  erected  in  ye  year  1699,  and  was  then  Suitable  to  accomodate  the 
whole  Inhabitants  who  were  Settled,  tho  it  was  by  no  means  near  the  cen- 
ter of  the  Town :  We  are  also  ready  to  own  that  a  great  part  of  Methuen 
was  taken  out  of  the  Westerly  Part  of  Haverhill,  in  ye  year  1724. — 
41 


352  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL' 

That  in  the  year  1730  an  other  Parish  was  set  off  hy  the  name  of  thd 
North  Parish,  And  in  the  year  1734,  an  other  Parish  -was  set  off  by  the 
name  of  the  AVest  Parish,  the  said  Parishes  being  north  and  west  of  our 
Meeting  house. 

But  that  they  have  petitioned  the  Parish  for  ease  in  the  affair  and  could 
obtain  no  help  we  absolutely  deny,  for  that  it  may  please  your  Excellency 
and  Honours  they  were  at  their  requesls  in  the  year  1734  set  off  into  a 
distinct  and  Separate  Parish  by  a  vote  of  the  Parish  &  a  line  aflSxt  be- 
tween us  as  they  desired,  but  many  of  the  Inhabitants  on  the  Easterly  side 
of  that  line  being  against  being  a  Parish.  "When  the  others  petitioned 
this  Great  &  Honourable  Court  to  be  vested  with  the  powers  and  privi- 
ledges  of  a  Parish  it  was  denyed  them,  &  they  were  turned  back  to  the 
old  Parish  againe. 

We  would  farther  humbly  suggest  to  your  Excellency  and  Honours  that 
such  persons  who  live  in  the  Easterly  part  of  the  Parish  &  have  made 
proper  application,  have  been  eased  of  their  Burthen  &  charge. 

We  your  Eespondents  begg  leave  further  to  add  that  in  the  month  of  May 
last  there  was  a  vote  passed  to  divide  ye  Parish,  and  a  line  was  fixt  which 
we  hoped  might  make  a  peace  in  the  Parish  (tho  at  the  same  time  we  are 
humbly  of  opinion  that  the  whole  Parish  will  make  but  Two  verry  lean 
Parishes  when  divided)  &  we  set  off  all  such  persons  and  their  estates  who 
ware  desirous  to  go  to  the  new  proposed  Parish,  Except  two  or  three  men- 
tioned below,  all  tenants  but  one,  but  we  could  not  but  think  it  a  verry 
great  hardship  to  force  any  from  us  who  were  desirous  to  tarry  with  us, 
more  espetially  if  they  must  go  farther  to  the  new  Meeting-house  then  to 
come  to  the  Old  One,  and  we  are  yet  Humbly  of  the  same  Opinion  &  think 
they  had  no  ground  for  such  complaint.  May  it  please  your  Excellencies 
and  Honours,  it  appears  to  us  that  we  have  been  tenderly  thoughtful  in 
what  we  have  done  relating  to  a  divisional  line,  having  set  off  near  one 
half  of  the  Land  &  near  Sixty  Families,  yea  all  that  have  desired  it  ex- 
cept two  or  three  men  which  by  our  own  Act  may  go  with  their  estates  to 
the  new  Parish  if  they  please. 

Upon  the  whole  we  hope  that  your  Excellencies  &  Honours  will  not 
think  it  needful  to  send  up  a  Comittee  or  to  force  any  from  the  Old  Parish 
that  cannot  be  willing  to  be  parted  from  it. 

We  beg  that  your  Excellencies  and  Honours  will  be  pleased  to  have  a 
tender  regard  to  the  Old  Parish  that  was  once  the  Center  of  a  verry  large 
Town  is  now  become  (by  the  loss  of  almost  all  Methuen  &  three  separate 
Parishes)  to  be  ven-y  small.  We  would  further  observe  to  your  Excellencies 
&  Honours  that  altho  the  Easterly  part  of  old  Parish  was  set  off  in  the  year 


HISTORY   OF  HAVERHILL.  323 

1734  &  a  line  fixt  nearer  to  tlie  old  Meeting  House  than  tlie  dividing  line 
fixb  in  May  last,  which  was  occationed  by  the  West  Parish  (not  then  set 
off)  Joyning  with  the  Eastermost  part  of  the  said  old  Paiish&  affixed  the 
line  whore  they  pleased  which  had  not  been  done  had  the  West  Parish 
been  set  off  first.  On  the  whole  we  humbly  begg  that  your  Excellencies 
&  Houoars  will  be  pleased  to  do  that  for  us  which  in  your  great  wisdome 
shall  be  thought  best  for  us,  and  your  humble  Kespondents  as  in  duty 
bound  shall  ever  pray  &c. 

Joshua  Bayley  \  Committee  for  &  behalf  of  the 
James  Pearson  j      old  Parish  in  Haverhill." 

June  lith,  these  petitions  were  read  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  in  Council,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  Haverhill,  view 
the  parish,  hear  the  parties,  and  report. 

September  9  th,  the  committee  reported  in  favor  of  the  petitioners  for 
the  new  parish,  and  it  was  accordingly  set  off.  The  dividing  line  was  the 
same  as  the  present 

The  town  having  been  divided  into  parishes,  a  proposition  was  made  to 
divide  the  parsonage  lands  among  them,  but  it  was  not  agreed  to. 

The  following  interesting  paragraphs,  relating  to  the  easterly  part  of  the 
town,  we  copy  from  Mirick  :  — 

"  The  house  of  Dr.  H.  Brown,  at  Holt's  Rocks,  was  destroyed  by  fire 
on  the  22d  of  January  (174:3),  and  his  daughter,  aged  23  years,  and  a 
young  man  who  was  then  living  with  him,  a  son  of  D.  Currier,  were  burnt 
to  death.  Their  remains  were  interred  in  a  field,  now  overgrown  with 
trees,  owned  by  John  Johnson  Esq.,  and  grave-stones  erected  to  their 
memory.  But  they  are  thrown  down  and  so  broken  and  defaced,  that  the 
letters  are  nearly  illegible.  With  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Johnson,  we  found 
them,  lying  flat  on  the  ground,  and  nearly  concealed  from  view.  It  is  a 
very  romantic  situation,  on  the  side  of  a  hill  covered  with  young  sycamores, 
and  which  slopes  gently  until  it  reaches  the  Merrimack.  This  gentleman 
also  informs  us  that  other  persons,  principally  infants,  were  buried  in  the 
same  place;  but  no  monuments  were  erected  to  their  memory,  and 
the  mounds  have  totally  disappeared. 

The  little  village  at  the  Rocks,  increased  very  slowly.  We  were  in- 
formed by  Mr.  Phineas  Nichols,  a  venerable  gentleman,  94  years  of  age, 
that  there  were  but  four  houses  in  1750,  and  that  he  could  distinctly  re- 
member them.  They  were  owned  and  occupied  by  Dr.  Brown,  John  Swctt, 
Joseph  Burrill,  and  Mr.  Nichols's  father.  Dr.  Brown  moved  to  Fryburg, 
Maine,  soon  after," 


324  HISTORY    OT   HAVERHILt. 

From  the  proprietor's  records,  of  November  21, 1743,  we  learn  that  Ed- 
ward riynt  had  leave  granted  him  "  to  finish  a  vessel  he  had  put  up  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  near  his  house,"  and  also  to  put  up  any  others  during 
the  proprietors'  pleasure.  This  is  the  first  mention  we  find  of  ship-build- 
ing since  the  petition  of  Springer,  ten  years  before. 

From  the  same  records,  we  learn  that  John  Ayer  had  recently  built  a 
"  tan-house,"  on  land  given  him  by  the  proprietors  for  that  purpose,  "  in 
the  rear  of  his  father's  garden,""  and  had  also  built  a  bridge  across  the 
Btream  near  it.  In  consideration  that  he  would  forever  keep  the  bridge 
in  repair,  the  proprietors  granted  him  the  piece  of  land  west  of  his  tan- 
house. 

By  a  vote  of  the  town,  the  parsonage  land  was,  in  1744,  divided  into 
lots.  A  highway,  two  and  a  half  rods  wide,  was  laid  out  through  the 
lots  "  to  near  the  mouth  of  Little  Eiver,  and  over  said  river."  The  ex- 
pense of  the  bridges  was  to  come  out  of  the  sale  of  the  lots.  This  high- 
way was  that  now  called  Merrimack  Street.  The  lots  were  laid  out  on  the 
north  side  of  it,  and  numbered  from  east  to  west,  the  lot  cornering  on 
Merrimack  and  Main  Streets  (known  these  many  years  as  "  "White's  Cor- 
ner,") being  "  Lot  Number  One." 

The  width  of  the  highway  through  these  lots  forms  a  striking  contrast 
to  that  of  the  road  from  Sanders'  Hill  to  the  Men-imack  above  Holt's 
Eocks,  which  was  laid  out  among  the  first  in  the  town.  The  latter  was 
twelve  rods  wide.  This  extreme  width,  however,  became  in  time  the  cause 
of  a  deal  of  trouble  to  the  town,  and  about  the  time  of  which  we  now 
write,  the  "  twelve  rod  way"  was  almost  continually  before  the  town  meet- 
ings. It  was  finally  (1754)  narrowed  down  to  four  rods  in  width,  and  the 
surplus,  amounting  to  nineteen  acres  and  eighty-two  rods,  sold  to  various 
persons  along  the  line  of  the  road. 

The  setting  up  of  ship-builders  in  town  seems  to  have  been  followed,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  by  the  establishment  of  more  blacksmiths.  Thus  we 
find  that,  soon  after  Springer  was  allowed  to  set  up  the  business,  in  1733, 
John  Gage  petitioned  the  proprietors  for  liberty  to  set  a  blacksmith's  shop 
near  the  river, — which  was  granted ;  and  no  sooner  had  Flynt  received 
permission  to  establish  a  ship-yard,  than  Edmund  Greenleaf  applied  for 
liberty  to  set  up  a  blacksmith's  shop  near  the  same,  —  which  was  also 
granted. 

Having  erected  a  mccting-house,  and  settled  a  minister,  the  East  Parish 
immediately  applied  to  the  town  for  some  land  for  a  parsonage,  which  was 

*  Near  the  west  end  of  Ayer's  (now  Plug)  Pond. 


HISTORY  OF  HAVERHILL.  325 

granted  the  following  spring  (1745).  The  land  thus  laid  out  to  them 
was  valued  at  "  £1200  old  tenor." 

Thomas  Cottle  petitioned  the  town,  in  1745,  for  liberty  to  establish  a 
ferry  near  his  house  ;  and  as  he  represented  that  the  ferry  might  "  be  sar- 
vicable  to  the  town  and  other  travailers,"  and  offered  to  ferry  the  town's 
people  one-fourth  cheaper  than  strangers,  his  petition  was  granted.  This 
made  the  number  of  ferries  across  the  Merrimack  at  that  time,  between  the 
village  and  Holt's  Eocks,  no  less  than  five,  viz. :  —  Swett's,  at  Holt's 
Eocks ;  Cottle's  at  the  mouth  of  East  Meadow  Eiver  (Cottle's  Creek) ; 
Pattee's,  near  the  present  house  of  David  Nichols ;  Mulikin's,  where  the 
chain  ferry  now  is,  and  Griffin's,  nearly  opposite  the  foot  of  the  present 
Lindell  Street,  at  the  village. 

In  1746,  the  town  voted  to  exempt  the  first,  or  "old"  parish,  from 
paying  anything  for  any  other  school  in  town,  provided  they  would  keep  a 
grammar  school  constantly  in  their  own  parish,  at  their  own  expense. 

At  this  period,  the  rates,  or  taxes,  were  made  out  in  "lists,"  and  placed 
in  the  hands  of  collectors,  who  were  usually  constables."  As  each  man 
paid,  his  name  was  checked,  and  sometimes,  (if  he  was  particular  to  re- 
quire it)  he  also  received  the  collector's  written  receipt.  The  amount  on 
each  collector's  book,  or  list,  was  charged  to  him,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
pay  the  whole  amount  into  the  treasury,  within  a  reasonable  time,  whether 
he  had  collected  it  or  not.  The  only  way  in  which  he  could  dispose  of  a 
hard  customer's  tax,  was,  either  to  collect  it  in  some  way,  or  pay  it  out  of 
his  own  pocket,  or  induce  the  town,  by  a  special  vote,  to  "forgive"  him 
the  amount.  At  first,  the  collectors  were  not  allowed  any  pay  whatever 
for  their  services  ;  and  it  was  not  until  1780  that  a  regular  commission 
was  given  them.  It  was  then  voted  to  allow  them  a  "  Poundage  of  Four 
Pence  on  Twenty  Shillings." 

That  the  office  was  no  sinecure,  is  seen  from  the  fact  that  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years  the  town's  rule  was,  that  if  a  man  was  chosen  constable,  he 
must  either  "stand,"  procure  a  substitute  acceptable  to  the  town,  or  pay 
a  fine  of  five  pounds,  unless  he  was  "  excused,"  which  was  not  common. 
We  could  probably  fill  an  entire  page  with  the  names  of  those  who  took 
the  last-named  horn  of  the  dilemma. 

After  the  town  was  divided  into  parishes,  each  parish  collected  its  own 
minister  tax,  in  its  own  way.  The  First  Parish  frequently  collected  its 
minister  tax  in  the  following  manner :  —  A  contribution,  as  it  was  called, 

"  For  many  years  there  was  only  one  constable,  or  collector,  in  the  town.  Afterward,  two  were  chosen 
— rone  for  the  portion  east  of  the  Little  Eiver,  the  other  for  that  on  the  west.  Still  later,  one  was  chosen 
for  each  Parish. 


826  HISTORY   OV  HAVERHILL. 

was  taken  every  Sabbath  afternoon,  when  any  person  wbowislied  to  pay 
his  tax  in  this  manner,  had  liberty  to  pay  such  a  sum  as  he  pleased.  Each 
person  was  ordered  to  fold  his  money  in  a  paper,  and  write  his  name  and 
the  amount  within.  A  person  was  yearly  appointed  to  receive  these  mon- 
ies, and  pass  the  amount  to  the  credit  of  the  name  within  written.  If  no 
name  was  written  within  the  paper,  it  was  considered  as  a  free  gift  to  the 
minister,  and  was  disposed  of  as  such.  In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony, 
the  contribution  was  usually  made  by  each  going  up  to  the  "  Deacons' 
seat,"  and  depositing  his  offering.  The  magistrates  and  the  chief  men  led 
off,  and  the  others  followed  in  order,  down  to  the  youngest,  and  the  hum- 
blest.    This  custom  declined  about  1G65. 

The  following  brief  list  of  names  of  persons  residing  in  this  town,  in 
1747,  with  the  trade  or  occupation  of  each,  is  compiled  from  various  papers 
in  the  State  Archives,  and  is  not  without  interest.  We  introduce  it,  as 
we  introduce  many  other  lists  of  names,  principally  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  those  who  may  be  interested  in  tracing  the  genealogy  and  history 
of  families :  — 

James  Pecker,  an  a  Potacary,  Jonathan  "Webster,  Hatter, 

Edmond  Mors,  a  Shoomaker  or  Cord-  Andrew  Frink,  Shipwrite, 

winder,  Nathaniel  Knolton,  Tayler, 

Daniel  Appleton,  Joyner,  Mr  Trask,  Brick-Layer, 

James  Parson,  Husbandman.  Ebenezer  Hale,  Cordwinder, 

John  Byenton,  Black  Smith,  William  Hancock,  farmer, 

grant  Webster,  Marchant, 

The  year  1748,  was  another  year  of  trouble  in  our  town  affairs,  as  will 
be  seen  from  the  array  of  documents  which  follow. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March  1st,  Nathaniel  Peaslee  was  declared 
chosen  moderator,  whereupon  Samuel  White  and  fifteen  others,  protested 
against  his  oflSciating,  on  the  ground  that  "he  was  not  chosen  according 
to  Law."  After  vainly  attempting  to  have  the  proceedings  conducted 
"according  to  law,"  the  disaffected  retired  from  the  meeting,  and  those 
who  remained  proceeded  to  choose  the  other  officers,  and  transact  the  other 
business  of  the  town. 

The  "bolters  "  did  not,  however,  rest  quietly  under  the  new  adminis- 
tration, but  immediately  petitioned  the  General  Court,  in  substance,  as 
follows :  —  ' 

The  meeting  of  March  1  st  was  called  to  order  by  Nathaniel  Peaslee, 
one  of  the  selectmen  for  the  previous  year,  who  ordered  votes  to  be  brought 

o  Tha  petition  ii  dated  March  3d,  1748,  and  aigned  by  fifty-nin*  of  th«  inkabitaaU. 


HiSTORt   OF  HAVERHILt. 


S27 


in  for  a  moderator,  and  was  himself  elected,  or  chosen,  by  a  majority  of 
two  votes.  The  petitioners  claimed  that  several  votes  were  cast  illegally, 
and  more  than  seven  of  them  at  the  time  "  requested  that  the  vote  might 
be  decided  by  the  Poll,  but  the  Moderator  refused  to  allow  it,"  and  de- 
clared that  the  law  of  deciding  votes  by  the  Poll  did  not  take  place  till 
after  a  moderator  was  chosen.  The  petitioners  claimed  that  persons  were 
allowed  to  vote  at  the  meeting  who  were  not  qualified  by  law  —  were  not 
"  Inhabitants  nor  Treeholders  in  said  Town  of  Haverhill,  nor  even  in  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  but  in  New  Hampshire,"  and  that  the  votes 
of  some  who  were  qualified  were  refused.  The  petitioners  therefore  prayed 
that  some  one  might  be  appointed  by  the  Court  to  look  into  the  matter. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  petitioners :  — 

Henry  Springer,  Edward  Flint,  John  Cogswell, 

Joseph  Badger,  James  Pecker,  Jacob  Sanders, 

Nathaniel  Walker,  Nathaniel  Johnson,  John  Sanders, 

Abner  Kimball,  Eichard  Harriman,  Nathll  Sanders, 

Stephen  Huse, 

Stephen  Harriman, 

Joshua  Sawyer, 

Eichd  Hazzen, 

James  Chase, 

Nathaniel  Eolfe, 

Nathll  Balch, 

Andrew  frink, 

Peter  Ayer, 

Jacob  Ayer, 

Ithamor  Emerson, 

Simon  Ayer, 

Samuel  Hasaltine, 

Joshua  Page, 

John  Gage, 

Moses  Clements, 

From  a  certificate  attached  to  the  petition,  it  appears  that  the  petition- 
ers held  a  meeting,  and  chose  John  Sanders  and  Peter  Ayer  to  present  their 
petition  to  the  General  Court. 

Accompanying  the  petition,  they  sent  fourteen  depositions,  signed  by 
twenty-eight  of  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  town,  in  further  support  of 
their  charges. 

Other  reasons  for  declaring  the  doings  of  the  meeting  of  March  1st 
illegal  are  contained  in  a  deposition  of  Joshua  Sawyer,  and  others,  under 
date  of  September  17,  1748,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract :  — 

"  There  was  not  any  List  of  Valuation  Eead  nor  any  List  of  Non 
Voters  nor  any  Wrighting  of  what  name  or  nature  Soever  by  which  the 


Eichard  Emerson, 
Abraham  Kimball, 
John  Pecker, 
James  McHard, 
"Will  hancock, 
Grant  Webtser, 
John  Sawyer, 
Samuel  White, 
Benja  Gale, 
Joseph  Patten, 
Samll  Appleton, 
Samll  White  Jun, 
Edmd  Mooers, 
Daniel  Appleton, 
John  Smylie, 
Samuel  Johnson, 


Samuel  Ayer, 
Thomas  Haynes, 
John  Hinkley, 
David  Ajer, 
Nathaniel  Knowlton, 
Ebenezar  Buck, 
Jonathan  Simones, 
Daniel  Davies, 
Edmund  Greenleaf, 
Symonds  Greenough, 
William  Greenleaf, 
Ebenezer  Hale, 
Nathan  Haseltine, 
Jonathan  Webster, 
Andrew  Mitchel. 


328 


HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL. 


Selectmen  did  Pretend  to  Shew  who  was  qualified  by  Law  to  Vote  in  Town 
affairs  nor  who  was  not  qualified  to  vote  in  Town  affairs  until  after  the 
second  time  of  Voting  for  the  Moderator  nor  until  some  Considerable  time 
after  Mr  Nathaniel  Peasle  Had  taken  the  Seat  of  and  Officiated  as  Mod- 
erator by  Calling  to  the  People  to  Bring  in  their  Votes." 

To  the  above  mentioned  petition,  the  selectmen  of  1747  and  1748,  and 
others  of  the  inhabitants,  made  reply  in  substance,  as  follows :  — 

The  petition  of  Sanders  and  others  contained  false  and  abusive  asser- 
tions ;  the  petitioners  were  a  number  of  uneasy  persons,  the  greater  part 
of  whom  came  lately  from  other  towns  to  reside  among  them,  and  were 
continually  stirring  up  contentions  in  the  town ;  that  lately  many  of  them 
were  engaged  in  a  vile  riot  in  town,  for  which  some  of  them  were  to  appear 
before  the  Hon.  Judge  Berry,  at  Ipswich,  on  the  day  of  the  annual  meet- 
ing, had  they  not  agreed  with  the  man  whom  they  had  chiefly  abused, 
for  a  considerable  sum  of  money ;  that  they  took  advantage  of  the  great 
depth  of  snow,  and  consequent  inability  of  those  living  in  the  remote 
parts  of  the  town  from  coming  to  the  meeting,  to  gain  some  advantage  to 
themselves  ;  that  John  Sanders  was  greatly  prejudiced  against  moderator 
Peaslee,  because  the  latter  had  exposed  and  prevented  the  former  from 
obtaining  more  money  from  the  Province  than  belonged  to  him,  by  a  false 
account ;  the  moderator  was  duly  and  legaly  chosen,  and  had  the  Kev. 
Mr.  Barnard  open  the  meeting  with  prayer ;  and  many  of  the  petitioners 
were  not  qualified  to  vote,  and  some  were  not  even  residents  of  the  town. 

The  petition  is  dated  March  28,  1748,  and 'signed  by 
John  Ladd,  ")    Selectmen 


Jonathan  Marsh, 
Thomas  Dustin, 
Barachias  Farnham, 

Eeuben  Currier, 
Amos  Peaslee, 
Joseph  Grele, 
Thomas  Eatton, 
Joseph  Haseltine, 
Nathaniel  Chase, 
Daniel  Lad  Jun,  \J 
Joseph  Merrill, 
Eichard  Bayley,^/ 
Daniel  Johnson, 
Siimuel  AVebster, 
John  Gorge, 
Samuel  AVhiticker, 
David  AVhiticker, 


for  ye  yr 

A  Dom 

1747 


John  Ladd, 
Thomas  Johnson, 
William  Ayer, 


Selectmen 

for  the 

Year  A  Dom 

1748 


Wm  mitchel, 
Jona  mitchel, 
William  George, 
Daniel  Ela, 
Lewis  Page, 
John  Eatton,  Town 
Samuel  Guild, 
Thos  Cottle, 
moses  Davis, 
Joseph  Tyler, 
George  Hastings 
James  Pike, 
Samuel  Peaslee, 
Ezra  Chase, 


Ebenezer  Colby, 
John  Chase, 
Humphrey  Chase, 
Israel  Ela, 
Joseph  Whittier, 
Clerk  James  Gild, 

Abraham  Page, 
Gideon  George, 
Jacob  Ela, 
Ephraim  Marsh, 
John  Haseltine, 
Jonathan  Haynes, 
Edward  Carleton, 
Stephen  Webster  Jun, 


BISTOUT   OP   HAVERHILt. 


329 


Joseph  Hutchins, 
Jeremiah  Bayley, 
Timothy  Emerson, 
Ebenezer  Bayley, 
Thomas  Page, 
John  Emerson, 
Amos  Bayley, 
Jonathan  Emerson  Jun, 
James  Haseltine, 
John  marbel, 


Stephen  "Whiticker, 
Edward  ordway, 
Micah  Emrson, 
Samuel  Emerson, 
Kehemiah  Bradly, 
Jonathan  Emerson, 
James  Eatton, 
Daniel  Meerie, 
Jonathan  Marhle, 
Nathaniel  Webster, 


Cornelius  Johnson, 
Saml  Shepard, 
James  holgatc, 
Ebenczr  "Whittier, 
John  Green, 
Eobart  Hunkin  jr, 
John  morrison, 
benjamin  greely, 
Peter  Green,     — — 
Maverick  Johnson, 


John  Edwards, 
Joseph  Kelly, 
James  Sanders, 
Eobart  Hunkins, 
Samuel  Ela, 
Timothy  Eatton, 
Phillip  Haseltine, 
John  Smith, 
Nathan  Webster, 


Nathll  Clement, 
Thomas  Corlis, 
Joseph  Dow, 
Joseph  Kelley  Jr, 
Samuel  Davis  Jr, 
Moses  Eatton, 
Samuel  Gage, 
John  Corlis  Ju, 
Moses  Hazzen. 


Under  date  of  March  29th,  1748,  we  find  a  petition  signed  by  twenty- 
seven  of  the  "  freeholders  &  inhabitants,"  who  therein  declare  that  they 
were  not  present  at  the  annual  meeting,  on  account  of  the  great  depth  of 
snow,  but  had  heard  of  the  proceedings,  and  praj-cd  that  the  petition 
of  Sanders,  and  others,  be  not  granted.  The  following  names  are  attached 
to  this  petition :  — 

Jonathan  Duston  Ju, 
John  Corlis, 
Joseph  Bradley, 
Benjamin  Clement, 
Joseph  Emerson, 
William  Johnson, 
Samuel  Clements, 
Daniel  Lad, 
Thomas  Bayley, 

The  committee  to  whom  these  several  petitions  were  referred,  re- 
ported "  that  the  town  meeting  held  on  the  first  day  of  March  be  sett 
a  side,  &  that  the  selectmen  for  the  year  1747  grant  a  new  Warrant 
for  the  Choice  of  all  ordinary  Town  oflScers  that  Towns  by  Law  are  Ena* 
bled  to  choose ;  "  the  meeting  to  be  held  sometime  in  April.  The  report 
was  accepted. 

A  town  meeting  was  accordingly  convened,  on  the  26th  of  April,  at 
which  the  officers  chosen  March  1st,  were  all  re-chosen,  except,  that 
Thomas  Duston  was  chosen  a  selectman  in  the  place  of  Moses  Clement. 
This  was  not,  however,  in  the  opinion  of  "  John  Pecker  and  others,"  done 
"  according  to  law,"  and  they  promptly  "  dissented." 

Soon  after,  (May  25,  1748,)  Richard  Saltonstall,  and  forty -one  others, 
presented  a  memorial  to  the  General  Court,  in  which  they  set  forth  that 
"  the  afi^airs  of  the  second  meeting  were  conducted  with  more  wickedness 
partiality  and  premeditated  corruption  than  the  first;"  that  the  select- 
men, (who  were  also  assessors)  "to  cure  their  great  Neglect  in  not 
Valueing  the  Estates  and  faculties  of  the  Inhabitants,"  had,  after  their 
42 


830 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERmit. 


term  of  office  had  expired,  made  a  pretended  valuation,  by  -wLich  they 
disqualified  some  pf  the  opposite  party,  and  admitted  others  who  were 
clearl}'  not  entitled  to  vote, —  all  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  their  own 
points  in  governing  the  choice  of  officers;  that  the  cause  of  all  the  un- 
easiness among  the  inhabitants,  was  the  belief  that  the  selectmen,  or  seme 
of  tlicra,  had  combined  with  the  Town  Treasurer,  (who  was  also  Town 
Clerk)  "to  Imbezell  large  sums  of  the  publick  money  &  apply  it  to  their 
own  use."  They  therefore  prayed  for  a  new  meeting,  to  be  presided  over 
by  a  disinterested  moderator,  and  that  the  transactions  of  the  last  meeting 
be  set  aside. 

The  following  names  are  attached  to  the  memorial :  — 


Eicha  Saltonstall, 
Joshua  Baylcy, 
John  Pecker, 
John  Sunders, 
Kathll  Sanders, 
John  Aver, 
Jonathan  Simonds, 
Joseph  Patten, 
Piichd  Hazzcn, 
Nathcl  Balch, 
Jas  Pecker, 
Wm  Brady, 
Simon  Ayer, 
Abraham  Kimball, 


T\'ill  hancock, 
Joshua  Page, 
Jacob  Sanders, 
Jno  AVhite, 
Samll  Appleton, 
Bcnja  Gale, 
Edmund  Greenleaf, 
Edmund  j\Jooers, 
Nathaniel  Walker, 
Jacob  Aycr, 
Nathaniel  Bolfe, 
Jonathan  Webster, 
James  McHard, 
Samuel  White, 


Eichard  Emerson, 
Grant  Webster, 
Peter  Ayer, 
Joseph  Badger, 
Ithamar  Emerson, 
Nathaniel  Knowlton, 
Andrew  fiiuk, 
John  Boynton, 
Stephen  Huse, 
Moses  Clements, 
Ebenezer  Hale, 
John  Smylie, 
Nathan  hesscltine. 


The  General  Court  ordered  the  petitioners  to  serve  the  selectmen  and 
moderator  with  a  copy  of  their  petition,  and  June  15th  was  assigned  for 
a  hearing  of  the  pai-ties.'-'^  On  account  of  the  sickness  "  of  divers  of  the 
principal  persons,"  who  subscribed  the  last  mentioned  petition,  the  hearing 
was  postponed  to  the  next  day,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  "  to  hear 
the  parties  who  are  now  in  Town,"  and  report.f  The  consideration  was, 
however,  again  postponed  to  September,  when  the  committee  repcitod  that 
the  proceedings  of  the  second  meeting  be  set  aside  and  declared  null  and 


o  The  Selectmen  in  their  response  to  the  General  Court,  on  the  memorial  of  Siiltonstall,  and  others, 
deny  any  attempt  nt  partiality  in  accepting  or  rcl'using  votes ;  leave  the  Town  Treasurer  to  vindicate 
h'msilf;  dci-larc  that  all  their  oT\n  transactions  in  town  aflaivs  arc  open  for  the  to'nn  to  examine;  and 
close  by  declaring  the  memorial  false  and  vexatious. 

t  AVe  find  a  paper,  dated  Boston,  June  17,  17-18,  and  signed  by  the  Selectmen  on  the  one  part,  and 
Nathiiniel  Satu'ers  and  Joseph  Patten  for  the  niimorialists  on  the  other  part,  agreeing  for  peace  on  the 
following  conditions : 

The  numi>rialists  arc  to  drop  their  petition  on  condition  that  n,  new  town  meeting  be  held,  and  that  a 
disinterested  committee  be  chosni  to  settle  with  the  Town  Treasurer,  on  which  committee  no  selectman  or 
member  0/  a  former  committee  should  be  placed. 


1 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  831 

void,  and  a  new  meeting  be  called ;  and  as  no  valuation  bad  been  taken 
the  present  year,  "  according  to  Law,"  that  the  valuation  of  1747  be  the 
rule  for  regulating  the  votes.  The  Court  adopted  the  report,  and  appointed 
John  Choate,  Esq.,  to  be  moderator  of  the  meeting. 

Accordingly,  a  meeting  was  holdcn  on  the  22d  of  Xovember,  vrhcn  Mr. 
Choate"  presided,  and  the  same  persons  were  for  the  third  time  clioscn  toun 
officers  !     But  this  time  they  were  chosen  "  according  to  Law  "  ! 

A  proposition  was  made  this  year,  but  negatived,  to  build  a  school-house 
in  each  parish.  From  this  it  would  appear  probable  that  the  only  school- 
house  then  in  town,  was  that  in  the  village  ;  although,  as  we  have  seen, 
the  town  had  long  before  (1723)  voted  to  build  several  others.  This 
supposition  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the  next  spring  it  was  voted  to 
"  sell  the  old  school  house." 

From  an  answer  of  the  "Proprietors  of  the  Common  Lands"  to  the 
General  Court,  we  learn  that  at  this  time  (1748)  a  "  Common  Right  "  was 
worth  only  three  pounds,  Old  Tenor,  and  they  were  ready  to  sell  at  that 
price.  They  say  that  when  the  old  grants  are  all  made  good,  they  "  dont 
think  one  penny  will  fall  to  the  Proprietors."! 

During  the  French  and  English  War  of  1744-48,  a  number  of  Haver- 
hill men  were  in  active  service.  Several  were  at  the  taking  of  Louisburg, 
in  1745,  but  as  the  muster  rolls  of  that  expedition  omit  the  place  of  resi- 
dence, or  enlistment,  of  the  men  engaged  in  it,  we  are  unable  to  give  their 
names.  Oq  the  renewal  of  hostilities  by  the  Eastern  Indians,  who,  as 
before,  were  found  siding  with  the  French,  the  provincial  government  sent 
a  large  number  of  troops  to  the  eastern  country,  among  whom  were  several 
Haverhill  men.  Of  those  stationed  at  Scarborough,  in  1748,  were  nine 
from  this  town.  J  Four  of  them  continued  in  that  service  until  the  peace, 
in  the  following  year. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting,  for  1749,  a  proposition  was  made  to  hold 
the  town  meetings  one  half  of  the  time  in  the  West  Parish,  and  the  other 
half  in  the  East  Parish,  —  but  it  was  promptly  voted  down. 

o  Mr.  Choate  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court,  from  Ipswich. 

t  Peter  Aver  wa9  an  original  iiroprietor.  or  owner,  of  two  Common  Rights,  which  descended  to  his  five 
daughters.     One  of  his  daughters  divided  lier  proportion  among  her  own  four  daughters.. 

J  Obadiah  Perry,  Corp.,  Thomis Stone,  cD.niicI  Silver, 

Thorn  IS  Wcscorab,  CE],pnrzcr  Brown,  Halt  Williams, 

"Job  Gage,  ''Oliver  Scales,  Jonathan  Hwilon.  Sp.nlinrls. 

Those  served  from  April  3  to  November  30,  ITIS.    Those  designated  by  a  "  contiuued  in  the  service 
until  August  8,  1749. 


832  HISTORY    OP   HATERHItli. 

From  the  proprietors'  records  of  March  Gth,  we  make  the  following 
extract :  — 

"In  answer  to  ye  petition  of  sundry  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  Town  of 
Haverhill,  ('  to  yc  proprietors  of  Common  &  undivided  lands  in  ye  Town 
of  Haverhill  &  yt  part  of  Methuen  which  was  formerly  a  part  of  sd 
Town  of  Haverhill ;  together  with  yt  part  of  Haverhill  which  fulls  within 
ye  province  of  new  hampshire,  &  commonly  called  Haverhill  District ' ) 

"  ye  sd  proprietors  agreed  &  voted  yt  all  their  Eight  proprtec  &  Inter- 
est yt  they  have  in  the  land  lying  betwixt  ye  head  of  ye  lotts  6z  merrimack 
Elver  from  Capt  John  Pecker's  wharfe  down  to  ye  plaine  gate  so  called 
(Excepting  a  road  all  along  bj  ye  head  of  ye  lotts  so  wide  as  ye  Town 
shall  think  proper)  be  &  hereby  is  given,  granted  &  appropriated  to  ye 
use  &  benefit  of  said  town  within  ye  Massachusetts,  To  be  Disposed  off 
as  the  said  Town  shall  see  Cause ;  with  this  proviso ;  that  the  said  Town 
do  Disalow  &  Discontinue  the  said  road  laid  out  by  the  selectmen  from 
Kent's  lott  down  to  ye  plain  gate  on  Februay  11.  1724-5  r 
this  above  voted  in  the  affirmative 

Moses  Hazzen  Entered  his  Discnt  against  giveing  or  selling  of  any  land 
from  Richard  Saltonstall's  Esqr  Down  to  the  plaine  gate. 

Edward  Flint  Entered  his  Discnt  against  Disposeiiig  of  any  of  ye  way 
or  land  before  mentioned." 

Pecker's  wharf  was  near  the  mouth  of  Mill  Brook  ;  and  the  Plain  Gate, 
as  near  as  we  can  judge,  was  near  the  present  house  of  Eev.  Mr.  Kecly. 

The  summer  of  1749  was  remarkable,  on  account  of  a  very  severe 
drought.  This  was  attended  with  swarms  of  caterpillars,  and  other  de- 
vouring insects,  and  caused  great  distress  in  Xew  England.  The  heat  and 
dryness  was  so  severe,  that  the  ground  cracked  in  many  places,  and  where 
pieces  of  broken  glass  lay  on  the  surface,  it  caught  fire.  Not  more  than 
a  tenth  of  the  usual  crop  of  hay  was  cut ;  and  much  was  imported  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  even  from  England.  June  9th  was  observed  as  a  gen- 
eral Fast  on  account  of  the  drought ;  and  August  14th  as  a  day  of 
Thanksgiving  for  a  plentiful  rain.  ' 

From  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  the  difiicultics  between  the  proprie- 
tors and  the  non-proprietors  of  the  common  and  undivided  lands,  (in 
1724)  down  to,  and  including  1751,  the  former  were  largely  occupied  in 
disposing  of  their  remaining  lands.  The  lands  in  the  extreme  northwest 
part  of  the  town,  known  as  the  "fifth  division,"  and  the  tract  north  of  the 
village,  known  as  the  "Cow  Common,"  were  the  last  large  bodies  of  land 

•  E«T.  Ur.  Frendu'*  Ma. 


mSTOKY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

to  be  disposed  of.  The  remainder  were  in  detached  pieces,  scattered  here 
and  there  about  the  town,  many  of  them  quite  small.  In  1739,  forty' 
seven  such  parcels  were  disposed  of,  many  of  them  being  given  to  parties 
applying  for  them,  whether  they  chanced  to  be  proprietors  or  otherwise. 

Among  the  last  lands  to  be  disposed  of,  was  the  strip  lying  between  what 
is  now  called  Water  Street  and  the  river,  and  extending  from  the  .present 
bridge  to  Mill  Brook.  A  few  small  lots  of  this  had  been  previously  dis- 
posed of,  but  most  of  it  yet  belonged  to  the  proprietors,  until  the  year 
1751,  when  there  seems  to  have  been  quite  a  rush  for  lots  "  to  build  a 
wharf."  Enoch  Bartlett  led  off  with  a  petition  for  land  enough  to  build 
a  wharf  fifty  feet  long  "  against  the  house  of  Joshua  Bayley  Esq."  (This 
was  the  first  lot  below  the  present  bridge.)  Joseph  Greelee  followed,  ask- 
ing for  a  lot  for  the  same  purpose  "  between  Richard  Hazzen's  grant  and 
Capt  Eastman's  wharfe."  Then  came  John  Sawyer  for  a  small  piece 
"between  Capt  Pecker's  or  White's  wharf  and  ye  ferry  place."  (Pecker's 
wharf  was  near  the  easterly  end  of  the  street.)  After  him,  Symond 
Greenouch  made  application  for  a  piece  "  against  his  dwelling  house." 
Then  came  Nathaniel  Cogswell,  for  three  rods  wide  "  on  ye  south  of  his 
house;  "  Abner  Kimball,  for  a  lot  "  between  Capt  Pecker's  and  ye  ferry 
place ;  "  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  for  one  "  near  Capt  Eastman's  wharf;  "  Sam- 
uel Blodgett,  for  one  near  the  same  place ;  and  last,  but  not  the  least, 
Eeubcn  Currier  desired  one  in  the  same  favorite  locality.  These  applica- 
tions were  all  for  land  and  liberty  "  to  build  a  wharf,"  and  they  were  all 
granted  ;  though,  from  the  fact  that  Thomas  Haynes,  Ebenezer  Carleton, 
and  Nathan  AVcbstcr  "  dissented,  and  forbid  the  granting  or  selling  of 
any  more  land  on  the  river,"  it  'appears  that  some  of  the  proprietors 
thought  these  eligible  lots  were  being  disposed  of  altogether  too  freely. 

Besides  these  grants  of  land  for  wharves,  some  of  the  lots  were  also 
disposed  of  to  John  Watts,  Deacon  James  Ayer,  and  others,  for  building 
purposes ;  and  Kichard  Hazzen  had  given  him  a  lot  on  the  river,  below 
Mill  Brook,  for  a  "  building  yard."  His  bound  commenced  "  on  the  road, 
four  rods  east  of  Mill  Bridge,  and  thence  four  rods  east,"  and  extending 
to  the  river.  Hazzen  was  at  this  time  a  resident  of  Hampstead,  but  from 
the  above,  it  would  seem  that  he  was  about  to  engage  in  ship-building  in 
this  town. 

Jonathan  Buck,  at  the  same  time,  petitioned  for  "a  ship  yard  near  the 
burying  place,"  but  was  refused.  Buck  was  afterward  (1759)  granted 
all  the  rights  and  privileges  the  proprietors  had  in  the  Mill  Brook,  "  below 
the  Great  Eoad."  Buck  then  owned  the  land  on  the  west  side  of  the 
brook,  and  a  Mr.  Morley  owned  that  on  the  east  side.     The  former  soon 


334  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

after  removed  to  Maine,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  tte  town  of  Bucks- 
port,  where  he  has  descendants  still  living.  Mr.  Buck  lived,  while  in  this 
town,  in  the  gambrel-roofed  house  nearly  opposite  the  residence  of  Deacon 
Samuel  Chase,  on  Water  Street,  and  which  was  afterward  occupied  by  his 
eon,  who  was  quite  a  famous  hunter. 

The  above  facts,  taken  in  connection  with  those  already  given  in  rela- 
tion to  the  building  of  vessels,  clearly  indicate  the  date  when  the  first 
considerable  attention  was  given  to  commerce  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town.  From  this  time,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Ecvolution,  this 
branch  of  business  rapidly  increased,  until  Haverhill  became  one  of  the 
most  important  and  extensive  interior  commercial  towns  in  the  State. 

The  subject  of  schools  in  the  parishes  was  again  brought  to  the  attention 
of  the  town  this  year,  (1751)  and  it  was  finally  voted  that  a  grammar 
school  should  be  kept  in  each  parish  four  months  in  the  year.  Probably 
one  of  the  most  effective  reminders  of  their  duty  in  this  direction,  just  at 
this  time,  was  the  intimation  of  a  summons  to  appear  at  Salem  Court  and 
answer  to  a  "  presentment "  for  not  being  provided  with  a"  grammer  school 
master."  The  above  vote  did  not,  however,  save  them  from  the  latter,  as 
we  find  that  the  next  spring  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  Esq.,  was  chosen  to  appear 
and  answer  such  a  presentment  against  the  town. 

In  1752,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  greatly  alarmed  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  small-pox  in  the  neighboring  towns,  and  John  Cogswell 
and  Samuel  White  were  appointed  to  assist  the  selectmen  to  use  every 
method  to  prevent  its  entrance  into  the^  town.  A  set  of  constables  were 
also  chosen  to  serve  such  wan-ants  as  should  be  issued  for  that  purpose. 
When  we  consider  that,  although  this  loathsome  disease  is  now  much  bet- 
ter understood,  and  far  less  fatal  than  formerly,  the  people  of  the  present 
day  are  yet  always  greatly  excited  and  alarmed  at  its  approach,  we  need 
not  be  surprised  that  our  ancestors  took  the  most  vigorous  measures  to 
protect  themselves  from  infection.  But  notwithstanding  their  precautions, 
the  disease  at  length  found  its  way  into  the  town,  and  in  1755-6,  several 
persons  died  with  it."^ 

Before  closing  our  notice  of  the  year  1752,  we  ought,  perhaps,  to  refer 
to  the  change  in  computing  time  which  was  made  this  year,  and  which 
originated  th'e  terms  "  Old  Style  "  and  "New  Style." 

When  this  country  was  first  settled,  the  usual  manner  of  writing  dates 
was  by  numbering  the  months.  March  was  the  first  month,  and  the  25th 
of  March,  being  Lady  Day,  or  Annunciation  of  the  Church,  was  the  first 


o  The  disease  again  made  its  appearance  in  1757,  when  we  find  that  the  house  of  Timothy  Eaton  was 
med  as  a  "  pest  bouM." 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


836 


day  of  the  year.  Subsequently,  the  practice  of  numherlng  the  months  was 
discontinued,  but,  until  1752,  the  year  still  commenced  with  the  25th  of 
March.  In  1751,  the  British  Parliament,  by  statute,  provided  that  the 
then  next  first  day  of  January  should  be  reckoned  to  be  the  first  day  of 
the  year  1752,  and  that  the  day  following  the  second  of  September,  1752, 
should  be  called  the  fourteenth,  thus  omitting  eleven  intermediate  nominal 
days.  By  that  act,  bissextile,  or  leap-years,  are  established  every  fourth 
year,  excepting  each  hundredth  year,  and  of  each  hundredth  year  every 
fourth  is  to  be  a  leap-year,  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-six  days,  commenc- 
ing with  the  year  2000. 

The  manner  of  computing  time,  (to  1751)  commonly  called  the  Julian 
Calendar,  had  been  in  use  from  the  time  of  the  general  Council  of  Nice, 
A.  D.  325.  By  the  Julian  Calendar  every  fourth  year  was  a  leap-year  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty-six  days,  which  calendar  was  discovered  to  be 
erroneous,  as  the  spring  equinox,  which  at  the  time  of  the  Council  of  Nice, 
in  325,  happened  on  or  about  the  21st  of  March,  did  happen  in  1751, 
about  the  9th  or  10th  of  the  same  month  ;  hence  the  necessity  of  omitting 
the  eleven  nominal  days  in  September.  1752. 

The  correction  of  the  calendar,  made  by  Pope  Gregory  XIII,  in  1582, 
was  immediately  adopted  in  all  Catholic  countries,  although  not  established 
in  England  until  1752.  From  the  latter  cause  arose  the  custom  of  indica- 
ting the  change  by  the  use  of  double  dates  between  the  first  of  January 
and  the  t^oenty -fifth  of  March  in  each  year,  thus,  — January  1,  1751-2. 
•  A  striking  omission  in  the  town  records  of  the  time  of  which  we  write, 
is  found  in  the  fact  that,  from  the  year  1729  to  1770,  no  mention  is  made 
of  the  election  of  Eepresentatives  to  the  General  Court,  although  it  is  an 
indisputable  fact  that  such  were  regularly  chosen.  The  records  frequently 
refer  to  them,  but  never  to  their  election. 

In  1753,  a  tax  was  laid  by  the  government  on  coaches,  chariots,  chaises, 
calashes,  and  riding  chairs.  "We  presume  the  following  table,  giving  the 
number  of  each  in  this  town,  as  officially  returned,  will  not  prove  unin- 
teresting :  — 


Coaches, 

Chariots, 

Chaises, 

Calashes, 

Biding  Chairs, 

1753 

0 

0 

1 

7 

0 

1754 

0 

0 

1 

9 

0 

1755 

0 

0 

0 

18 

0 

1756 

0 

0 

0 

13 

0 

1757 

0 

0 

0 

15 

0 

836  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILIft 

Probably  wc  cannot  give  a  more  truthful,  as  well  as  vivid  idea  of  the 
general  stjic,  and  appearance  of  the  ordinary  "calash,"  which  was  almost 
the  only  light,  or  pleasure  carriage,  in  the  town  one  hundred  years  ago, 
than  by  comparing  it  to  a  very  clumsy  old  fashioned  wagon-seat,  set  upon 
an  equally  clumsy  pair  of  low  wagon-wheels,  with  shafts  attached.  Those 
impromptu  affairs  that  we  now  occasionally  see,  are  a  decided  improve- 
ment over  those  of  "a  hundred  years  ago,"  in  every  respect,  —  except, 
perhaps,  a  platform  for  the  feet  to  rest  upon. 

Chaises,  of  which  there  was  a  solitary  one  in  town  at  this  time,  were 
those  large  and  heavy  wheeled,  square-topped  vehicles,  of  which  the  "  old- 
est inhabitant  "  has,  perhaps  an  indistinct  recollection.  .  They  were  in  the 
possession  of  only  a  few  of  the  "  most  respectable  "  and  wealthy  people, 
and  were  only  made  use  of  to  ride  to  meeting  on  the  Sabbath,  and  on  great 
and  important  occasions. 

Mr.  Nathan  Webster,  now  living,  remembers  (about  1796)  when  there 
were  but  two  in  all  the  West  Parish.  These  were  owned  by  the  two  Dea- 
cons of  the  church  —  Deacon  Moses  Webster  and  Deacon Eaton. 

Soon  afterward,  the  minister,  Eev.  Mr.  Adams,  purchased  one.  At  that 
time,  the  most  common,  and  indeed  the  almost  universal  mode  of  travel- 
ling, was  on  horseback.  Thus  the  farmer  rode  to  mill,  or  "to  town," on  a 
week-day ;  and,  on  the  Sabbath,  with  his  good  wife  on  the  pillion  behind 
him,  —  and  perhaps  a  child  in  the  arms  of  each,  —  he  leisurely  and  sob- 
erly jogged  to  meeting  on  his  faithful  and  steady  "Old  Dobbin."  The 
women  rode  on  horseback  to  the  village,  to  do  their  "  trading."  Mr. 
Webster  remembers  counting  "  twenty-four  in  one  troop"  as  they  were 
thus  riding  by  his  father's  house,  on  their  way  to  town,  —  "  chattering  like 
a  flock  of  blackbirds  ! " 

Wagons  were  unknown  until  about  1800,  or  later.  In  that  year,  Eobert 
Hamilton,  of  Conway,  Mass.,  built  a  one-horse  wagon,  and  claimed  it  to 
be  the  first  one  in  America,  and  himself  the  inventor.  As  late  as  1810, 
such  carriages  were  nowise  common,  swid  it  was  not  until  about  1820  that 
they  came  into  general  use. 

The  first  carriage  said  to  be  built  in  America,  was  made  in  Dorchester, 
Mass.,  by  a  man  named  White,  for  a  private  gentleman  in  Boston.  It 
was  copied  from  an  English  chariot,  though  made  much  lighter.  But  on 
account  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  material,  and  high  wages,  they  were 
long  afterward  ordered  from  England  and  France. 

In  1754,  the  town  for  the  first  time  voted  to  raise  a  specific  amount  of 
money  for  the  repair  of  the  highways.  The  sum  fixed  upon  was  one 
hundred  pounds.     Two  shillings  a  day  were  allowed  fot  a  man,  and  the 


HISTORY    OF    HATEEHILL.  337 

same  for  oxen  "  with  a  good  cart  or  plow,"  or  eighteen  pence  for  oxen 
alone.  The  apparent  difference  between  these  prices  and  those  previously 
voted  to  be  paid,  is  explained  by  the  fact  of  a  change  in  the  kind  of  cur- 
rency most  in  use  at  these  several  periods. 

At  the  same  time,  a  similar  proposition  was  made  in  regard  to  school 
money,  but  it  was  rejected.  The  next  year,  however,  the  proposition  was 
renewed,  and  this  time  it  was  carried.  Fifty  pounds  were  appropriated 
for  the  support  of  the  schools  the  current  year  ;  and  it  was  voted  to  allow 
the  parishes  their  proportion  of  the  school  money. 

From  and  after  this  time,  except  the  years  1761  to  1764,  inclusive,  the 
school  in  the  First  Parish  was  kept  all  the  year  round.  Previous  to  1761, 
it  was  termed  a  "  Grammer  School."  In  1765,  it  was  called  an  "  English 
School,"  and  "  only  Peading,  Writing,  &  Cyphering,"  were  taught  in  it. 

The  summer  of  1755,  was  one  of  "excessive  heat  and  drought;"  in 
consequence  of  which  there  was  a  great  scarcity  of  hay  and  provisions, 
and  prices  were  very  high.  So  serious  was  the  condition  of  things,  that 
a  Fast  was  ordered  by  the  General  Court.  Happily,  refreshing  rains  soon 
followed,  and  the  autumn  harvest  was  unexpectedly  productive. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  of  the  same  year,  occurred  the  most  violent 
earthquake  ever  known  in  North  America.  "It  continued  about  four  and 
a  half  minutes.  In  Boston,  about  one  hundred  chimnies  were  levelled  with 
the  roofs  of  the  houses,  and  about  fiaeen  hundred  shattered,  and  thrown 
down  in  part.  There  was  a  shock  every  d  ly  till  the  twenty-second." 
Th3  simc  year  and  m^nth,  is  also  memorable  for  the  terrible  earthquake 
which  destroyed  Lisbon. 

The  proprietors  of  the  common  and  undivided  lands  in  the  town,  having 
disposed  of  nearly  every  foot  of  land  belonging  to  them,  were  now  about 
dissolving  their  organization.  Their  work  was  nearly  finished.  No  meet- 
ing was  held  from  September  5,  1755,  to  November  20,  1758,  and  from  the 
latter  date,  to  1763,  there  were  but  few  meetings,  and  but  little  business 
transacted.  In  April  of  the  latter  year,  Joshua  Sawyer  petitioned  them 
'•  for  liberty  to.  flow  and  draw  ye  water  off  ye  Great  Pond,"  and  Bavra- 
chias  Farnam  requested  leave  to  build  a  mill  on  the  brook,  on  his  own 
land,  and  an  equal  privilege  to  flow  and  draw  the  Pond  with  Sawyer. 
The  record  does  not  show  that  either  petition  was  granted.  In  July  a 
meeting  was  called,  at  which  some  business  was  done  and  an  adjournment 
made  to  October  10th.  This  proved  to  be  the  last  meeting  of  the  proprie- 
tors, and  as  a  fitting  close  to  our  history  of  their  doings  through  the  long 
43    « 


838  HISTOET   OF   HAVERHILI.. 

period  of  their  active  organization,  we  copy  the  entire  record  'of  the  last 
named  date :  — 

"  Essex  Ss  Haverhill  October  10.  A  D  1763.  This  being  the  time 
to  which  ye  Props  meeting  was  adjourned.  The  moderator  did  not  come, 
and  so  this  meeting  ended  of  course. 

Att    Nathl  Peaslee  Sargeant  Props  Clerk." 

In  the  year  1759,  Samuel  Blodgett  erected  "  pot  and  pearl  ash"  works 
on  Mill  Brook.  They  were  among  the  first  in  the  country,  and  continued 
in  successful  operation  for  some  years. 

In  1760,  the  town  granted  John  Swett  a  lease  of  the  ferry  at  Holt's 
Eocks  for  ten  years.  This  ferry  had  for  forty  years  previous  to  that  time 
been  kept  by  his  father. 

About  this  time,  settlements  began  to  extend  rapidly  toward  the  north 
and  east  —  particularly  the  latter.  Early  in  the  year  last  named,  several 
Haverhill  men  were  granted  six  townships  in  the  Province  of  Maine, 
between  the  Penobscot  and  St.  Croix  Eivers.* 

In  17G1,  the  crops  of  grain  in  Eastern  Massachusetts  were  mostly  de- 
stroyed by  a  severe  drought,  so  that  many  families  were  out  of  com  and 
rye  before  the  winter  was  half  gone.  In  this  emergency,  Joseph  Haynes, 
of  the  West  Parish,  made  a  journey  to  Connecticut,  on  horseback,  to  make 
arrangements  to  obtain  a  supply  for  the  needy  in  the  town.  Having 
agreed  with  the  store-keepers  at  Hartford,  Wethersfield,  and  vicinity,  to 
collect  a  quantity  for  him,  he  returned  home.  In  a  few  weeks  he  again 
went  on,  loaded  a  vessel  with  corn,  and  sailed  for  Haverhill,  where  he 
arrived  safely  with  his  precious  cargo.  Several  persons  oflPered  him  his 
price  per  bushel,  and  take  the  whole  cargo,  but  he  declared  he  did  not 
buy  it  to  speculate  on  himself,  and  that  nobody  else  should  have  it  for  that 
purpose.  He  sold  the  cargo  in  parcels,  not  exceeding  five  bushels  each, 
and  only  to  those  who  actually  needed  it  for  food,  or  for  seed.  Such  an 
act  well  deserves  honorable  mention  in  a  history  of  the  town. 

Sometime  in  the  summer  of  1763,  the  bridge  over  Little  Ejver  near  the 
present  flannel  factory,  was  rebuilt.  The  following  materials  were  required 
for  the  job :  Two  gallons  and  three  quarts  of  rum,  two  and  a  half  pounds 
of  "  Shugar,"  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  of  two-inch  plank,  one 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  of  two  and  a  half  inch  plank,  and  twenty  feet  of 
white  oak  timber.     The  first  article  was  doubtless  used  for  hracing. 

°  David  Marsh,  Enoch  Bartlet,  Isaac  Osgood,  Jonathan  Buck,  James  Duncan,  James  McHard.  "  and 
others."  Buck  was  the  only  one  of  the  petitioners  named,  who  actually  settled  on  the  lands.  In  June, 
1775,  he,  with  other  inhabitants  of  Belfast,  Majaliigwaduce,  and  Benjamin's  River,  applied  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  for  a  supply  of  corn  and  ammunition,  of  which  they  wore  in  great  want.  The  Congress 
Tot«d  them  a  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition,  and  two  hundred  bushels  of  nidian  corn. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  339 

At  tlie  annual  meeting  in  1764,  the  proposition  to  divide  the  parsonage 
lands  among  the  four  parishes  was  again  negatived. 

Previous  to  1765,  there  had  been  but  one  church,  one  meeting-house, 
and  one  mode  or  form  of  religious  worship  in  each  of  the  parishes ;  and 
but  one  form  or  standard  of  religious  faith.  The  "established  church  '\in 
the  town,  and  indeed  in  the  colony,  was  the  "  orthodox  congregational  " 
church.  This  was  emphatically  "  the  religion  of  the  State,"  and  it  Was 
not  until  more  than  a  century  after  the  establishment  of  the  Massachusetts 
and  Plymouth  colonies  that  any  ot^cr  system  was  even  tolerated.  But  the 
attempt  to  oblige  men  to  any  particular  form,  or  doctrine,  produced  in  time 
the  very  state  of  things  which  was  so  much  feared  by  the  founders  of  these 
colonies.  New  doctrines  were  proposed,  believed,  and  taught,  and  new 
sects  arose,  despite  of  the  most  stringent  laws  against  them,  and  in  the 
face  of  even  persecution  itself. 

Among  the  earliest  of  the  sects  which  sprang  up  in  Massachusetts  and 
claimed  recognition  as  such,  were  the  Baptists.  From  an  obscure  begin- 
ning they  gradually  worked  their  way  until  the  disciples  of  the  new 
doctrine  were  numbered  by  thousands,  among  whom  were  some  of  the 
ablest  minds  of  that  time.  One  of  these  was  Kev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  a  man 
of  rare  powers  as  a  preacher,  and  who  became  an  acknowledged  leader  in 
the  "New  Light"  movement.  He  visited  Haverhill  in  the  fall  of  1764, 
and  labored  with  such  success  that  a  church  of  "  Separatists,"  or  as  they 
soon  came  to  be  called,  "  Baptists,"  was  organized  the  following  spring, 
and  immediately  proceeded  to  build  themselves  a  meeting-house.  So  rapid 
■was  the  growth  of  the  new  church,  that  in  less  thaii  three  years  it  num- 
bered over  one  hundred  members.  As  we  give  a  particular  account  of  this 
church  in  another  place,  we  pass  over  it  for  the  present  without  further 
notice. 


340  HISTORY    OF   nATEftniLl* 


CHAPTEll  XXL 


THE  FRENCH  "\VAK. 175G  TO  1763. 


After  a  very  short  period  of  actual  peace  between  the  French  an(3 
English  in  North  America,  the  New  England  colonists  were  again  thrown 
into  a  state  of  anxiety  and  distress  by  another  war  against  France.  The 
war  actually  commenced  in  1754,  though  not  formally  declared  till  Maj', 
175G.  Early  in  the  spring  of  170'),  preparations  were  made  by  the  colo- 
nies for  vigorous  and  extensive  operations  against  the  enemy.  Four 
expeditions  were  planned : — one  against  the  French  in  Nova  Scotia;  a 
second  against  the  French  on  the  Ohio ;  a  third  against  Crown  Point ;  and 
a  fourth  against  Niagara. 

In  the  expedition  to  Nova  Scotii  were  a  number  of  Haverhill  men,  but, 
for  the  reasons  given  in  another  place,  we  are  un:;ble  to  give  their  name?/ 
This  expedition  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  sevei-al  of  the  French  forts  in 
that  province,  and  in  the  dispersion  of  the  "neutral  French."  This  last 
act  deserved,  and  has  receiA'ed,  the  severest  condemnation.  Four  hundred 
and  eighteen  inoflfonsive  people  were  kidnapped,  and  over  seven  thousand 
were  transported,  and  their  property  confiscated.  And,  as  if  this  was  not 
enough,  families  xoere  separated,  and  transported  in  different  ships  to  widely 
separated  parts  of  the  country  !  Devils  incarnate  could  not  have  devised 
a  more  cruel  scheme. 

About  one  thousand  of  these  poor  Acadians  were  landed  in  Boston,  at 
the  opening  of  winter.  These  gradually  became  dispersed  among  the 
towns  in  Massachusetts.  Many  of  them  fell  upon  the  towns  for  support. 
This  town,  in  1759,  paid  twelve  pounds,  ten  shillings,  toward  supporting 
eight  of  them,  who  had  been  assigned  the  town  as  its  proportion  to  support. 
These  eight  persons  were  all  women  and  children. 

In  the  expedition  to  Crown  Foiut  were  the  following  from  this  town :  — ■ 

At  Lake  George,  November  22,  1755,  were  Nathan  Merrill,  John  Pres- 
ley, Filbrick  Colbey,  and  Nathan  Page. 

In  a  Cluster  Poll,  (dated  Felraary  24,  1756,)   of  "men  who  went  ta 
Albany,"  we  find  nearly  an  ert're  company  from  this  town.     The  follow- 
ing are  the  names,  with  the  time  of  eiit:ring  and  leaving  the  service  :  — 
Edmund  Mooers,  Capt,  entered  Apl  4,  1755,  Discharged  Jan  5  175& 

Jonathan  Duston,  Ensign  "         "  "       "  "         Dec  12  1755 

Daniel  Mooers,  Serjt  "         "  12     "  "         Oct  18     " 

Michael  Amy,  Corp  "         "8       "  "  *'  15     " 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILt. 


341 


entered  May  6 

"     Apl  7 
(k)    "         " 


1755,  discharMd  Oct.  22  1775 


Apl  12 
"  15 

"  2G 


"  29 
May  2 
"  14 
"  14 


Dec  12 

Sep  8 

Dec  12 

.<    i. 

"15 

Oct  9 

Dec  12 

"    15 

Oct  22 

Dec  15 

<<      >< 

<<     << 

Oct  9 

Dec  15 

Oct  24 

Dec  12 

"    15 

"    12 

iDaniel  GriflSn,  Corp. 

Bartho  Pecker,     Private 

"•■  Joseph  Brown  " 

James  Clement  " 

Wm  Towusend  " 

Wm  Pell 

Page  Harriman  " 

Joseph  Bayley  " 

David  Eaton  " 

Samuel  Ordway  " 

Samuel  Staples  " 

John  Frink  " 

Samuel  Thompson      " 

Joua  Haszeltine  " 

Stephen  Woodward    " 

James  Emerson  Jr     " 

Moses  Eaton  " 

Daniel  Williams         " 

Timothy  Clements      " 

Joshua  Corliss  "  "         ♦'    "      "  '«  "      >'      " 

In  the  company  of  Captain  Samuel  Gerrish,  of  Newbury,  were  the  fol- 
lowing from  Haverhill :  — 

Jonathan  Sergent,  Serjt,         entered  Sept  15,  1755,  Dischd  Dec  17, 
Joseph  Silliway,         " 
Bradbury  Morrison,  Clerk, 
Amos  Currier,  Drummer 
Austin  George  Private 

William  Guy,  " 

Zechariah  Huuniford     " 
Abiel  Knight  " 

Jona  Dustan  " 

-  William  Emerson  " 

Philbrook  Colby 
Eleazer  Smith  " 

Barton  Pollard  " 

"NYm  Middleton  •  " 

In  the  company  of  Captain  Henry  Ingalls,  of  Andover,  were 
James  Emerson,  Private,  entered  Oct  3,  Dischd  Doc  13 

Peter  Fling  "  «<  <<   <<  <<         <<    ig 

°  The  letter  (k)  annexed  to  his  name,  signifiw  killed. 


1755 


Nov  27     " 
Dec  17     " 


842 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 


In  the  return  of  Captain  James  Eichardson's  company,  under  date  of 
May  0,  175G,  we  find  the  following  from  this  town:  — •' 

Lewis  Kicker  (miner),     Ephraim  Perry,  Daniel  Williams, 

Stephen  Heath )   ,        .   ,     John  Dow, 
"NVm  Kimball    )  Joshua  Perey.f 

Edmund  Pillsbury, 
Philbrook  Colby, 

In  the  "Muster  Eoll  of  Men  raised  in  1756  for  the  Expedition  to 
Crown  Point,"  in  Colonel  Saltonstall's  regiment,  we  find  the  following 
from  Haverhill.     They  all  enlisted  previous  to  April  15th  :  — 


Thomas  Worthing, 
Asa  Gile, 
Oliver  Page, 
Moses  Merrill, 


Capt  Edmund  Mooers, 
Lt  James  Russell, 
John  Frink, 
John  Presley, 
Edmund  Black, 
William  Middleton, 
William  Hoyt, 
James  Hide, 
John  Ingerfield, 


Nathan  Page, 
Moses  Eams, 
Oliver  Page, 
Peter  Ingerfield, 
Moses  Stickney, 
Philbrook  Colby, 
Daniel  AVilliams, 
Nathl  Smith, 
Samuel  Foster. 


Edmund  Pillsberry, 

Benj  Howard, 

John  Burrel, 

Lt  Moses  Hazzen, 

Moses  Clark, 

Lt  Nathan  Baker, 

Zebediah  Sergeant, 

Bartholomew  Pecker, 

Asa  Guile, 

In  the  Muster  Roll  of  "Major  Saltonstall's  Company  of   Impressed 
Men,"  April,  1756,  we  find  the  following  Haverhill  men:  — 
Samuel  Haseltine,  Joshua  Page,  Samuel  Ayer, 

Joseph  Emerson,  Joseph  Haseltine,  Ithamore  Emerson, 

John  Coon,  Moses  Merril,  John  Emerson  Jr, 

From  documents  accompanying  the  above,  it  appears  that  fifty  men 
were  called  for,  for  that  particular  service,  but  ninety-five  were  enlisted. 
The  number  wanted  were  selected  from  the  whole  number  enlisted.     The 
following  were  selected  from  Haverhill :  — 
Lt  Moses  Hazzen,  "^ 

NaThTsm^'       I  from  Col  Saltonstall's  Comp 
Moses  Clark,         J 
Samuel  Ayer, 
Joshua  Page, 
Ithamore  Emerson, 
John  Emerson  Jur, 


-  from  Maj  Saltonstall's  Comp. 


•  From  these  returns,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  same  names  were  not  unfrequently  reported  in  several 
different  companies  the  same  year.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  they  enlisted  from  time  to  time 
for  a  particular  service,  and  for  short  periods.  To  take  up  each  name  separately,  and  give  the  times  and 
places  of  service,  would  require  more  space  than  we  can  afford  to  spare  for  that  purpose,  and  we  therefore 
give  the  names  as  we  find  them,  and  leave  to  those  particularly  interested,  the  task  of  tracing  out  the 
entire  period  of  service  of  individual  soldiers. 

t  Joshua  Perry  was  in  Captain  Hodge's  company,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  when  an  attack  wai 
made  by  the  enemy,  and  all  of  his  company,  except  himself  and  four  others,  were  killed  or  captoied. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 


343 


In  the  Muster  Koll  of  Captain  Timothy  Parker's  company,  at  Fort 
Edward,*  July  26,  1756,  were  the  following  who  give  this  town  as  their 
last  place  of  residence,  though  not  all  of  them  were  born  here :  — 
Jeams  Russell,  Ens,         Silas  Flood,  cordwainer  John  Con, 
Samuel  Hog,  cordwainer  Edmund  Pillsbury,  Timothy  Page, 

Jethrew  Clugf,  Moses  Merrill,  Philbrook  Colby,  Black- 

Asa  Gile,  Thomas  AVorthen,  smith, 

Oliver  Page,  Joshua  Perre, Blacksmith  Daniel  Williams. 

In  the  company  of  Jonathan  Pearson,  at  the  same  time  and  place,  was 
William  Perry,  boat-builder. 

In  the  company  of  Captain  James  Parker  were 

Samuel  Currier,     Serjt,     aged  43,  Joyner 
James  Silver,  "  "    33,  Cordwainer 

Timothy  Ingalls,  Private,    "    36,  Trader 
James  Emerson,         "  "    45,  Husbandman 

In  Captain  Edmund  Mooers'  company  were 
Capt  Edmund  Mooers,  Cordwainer 
Lt,  Moses  Hazzen  aged  23  Tanner 
Serjt,  Micah  Amy  yeoman 
Clark,  Samuel  Poster     aged  18  Taylor 
Private  Daniel  Eoberds   "     56  Laborer 
"       Benj  Black  Mason 
"       Wm  Hoyt  Tanner 
**       Page  Harrimen  Carpenter 
"        Samuel  Ayers,  aged  28  Tanner 
Soon   afterward,  the  above  company  was  stationed  at  Fort  William 
Henry,f  and  from  a  Muster  Poll  dated  October  11,  1756,  we  find  in  addi- 
tion to  the  above  names,  those  of  Christopher  Connely,  Jonathan  Harris, 
Jonathan  Blaisdell,  and  John  Pressey. 

The  return  of  Captain   Stephen  Webster's  company,  at  Fort  W^illiam 
Henry,  dated  August  9,  1756,  gives  the  following  Haverhill  names:  — 
Gideon  Challis,  Serjt,  agd39,  b  in  Amesbury,  now  of  Haverhill,  carpenter 


John  Burrill,  Corp,       " 

31, 

"   Lynn,           " 

<i         (( 

Peter  Johnson  "            " 

25, 

"    Haverhill     " 

"    Suncook, 

Bradbry  Saunders  Soldr" 

19, 

<« 

"  Haverhill, 

John  Castleng,          "  " 

18, 

(<         <(             <( 

., 

Bartholomew  Pecker  "  " 

25, 

"   Boston,         " 

,i 

Joseph  Silvia            "  " 

35, 

"    Amesbury,  " 

it         <( 

Zebediah  Sergant      "  " 

36, 

H      ■              <<                                <( 

.« 

Morrell  AYicher         "  " 

28, 

*'    Haverhill,    " 

<<         It 

•  Fort  Edward  was  a  wooden  fort,  near  the  Hudson  River,  erected  in  May,  1756. 
t  Fort  William  Henry,  was  a  wooden  fort,  erected  at  Lake  George,  in  May,  1756, 


Har  29, 

" 

Oct  4 

"    20, 

" 

Nov  27 

"    29, 

<< 

Dec  4 

344  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

In  Major  Stephen  Miller's  company,  at  the  same  place  and  date,  were 
Hezekiah  Hutchins,  Lt.    aged  29,  born  in  Haverhill  now  of  Newbury. 
Thomas  Thompson,  Corp         "    24,     "      "  "         "      "  Exeter. 

Ebenr  Green,  Private,  "    18,     "      "  Ipswich        "      "  Haverhill. 

-Gideon  George     "  "    19,     "      "  Haverhill      "      " 

Josiah  Young,         "  "    17,     "      "         "  "      "    Salem. 

In  Colonel  Kingsbury's  company,  at  the  same  place  and  date,  was 
"William  Brown,  private,  born  in  Haverhill,  now  of  Newbury,  Shipwright. 

In  Captain  John  Nixon's  company,  August  28,  at  the  same  place  was 
Jno  Presson,  private,  aged  18,  born  in  Haverhill,  now  of  Lester. 

A  "  return  of  men  ordered  to  be  raised  "  in  the  town,  dated  August  23, 
1756,  shows  that  Colonel  Saltonstall  ordered  fifteen,  and  the  full  number 
had  "  gone." 

In  the  company  of  Captain  Gideon  Parker,  of  Newbury,  at  the  last 
named  fort,  (under  date  of  December  22,  1756,)  we  find 

Nathan  Baker,  Lieut,    entered  Feb  18,  Dischgd  Dec  22,  1756 
Benja  Howard,  Serjt,         " 
Moses  Howe,  Clerk  " 

Nathan  Page,  Private        " 
Edmund  Black     "  "  "     "  "        "     "         " 

Solomon  Page      •'  "  *'     "  "        "     "         " 

Moses  Ames         "  "  "     "  "        "     "         " 

Moses  Stickney   "  "  "     "  "         "     "         " 

In  Captain  Samuel  George's  company,  was  John  Frink,  Ensign,  entered 
February  18,  1756,  discharged  December  2,  1756. 

In  the  Muster  Roll  of  Captain  Timothy  Parker's  company,  "  in  the  ex- 
pedition to  Crown  Point,"f  (dated  March  2,  1757,)  we  find  the  following: 
James  Russell,  Ens,     entrd  Feb  18  to  Dec  6 
Moses  Merrill,  drumer,  "     Apl  1     *'       " 
Silas  Flood,  Private,       "       "    "     "       " 
Thomas  "Worthing  "     Mar  15  "       " 

"  A  "  Tiiylor." 

t  TicONTEitoGA  AXD  Crown  Point.  In  1731,  the  French  took  possession  of  Crown  Point;  and  in 
17o5,  they  threw  np  an  lulviinced  work  on  Ticondcroga.  Nature  and  art  joined  to  make  this  a  very 
strong  and  important  fortress.  In  the  years  1730  and  1757,  large  armies  were  kept  np  by  the  British 
colonies,  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George.  In  n.jS,  Abercrombic  passed  Lake  Genrge  with  an  army  of 
twenty  thousand  men,  to  attack  Ticonderoga.  On  July  8th,  he  attempted  to  carry  the  works  by  storm. 
The  attack  proved  unforttinate,  and  his  army  was  defeated  with  great  slaughter.  The  French  abandoned 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  they  were  taken  possession  of  by  General  Amherst,  July  5,  1759.  In 
the  beginning  of  the  American  Uevolution,  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  undertook  to  reduce  these  posts,  and  on 
the  morning  of  May  10,  1775,  he  entered  and  took  Ticonderoga,  and  the  same  day  took  Crown  Point. 
July  0,  1777,  Ticonderoga  was  abandoned  to  the  British  under  Burgoyne,  and  again  given  up  to  the  Amer- 
icans the  same  fall. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL, 


S45 


Apl  1     ' 

'  Sept  20  (dead  or  capt) 

Mar  15   ' 

"  Oct  11 

Apl  1      ' 

.<     u    24 

Mar  15  ' 

'  Dec  6 

Joshua  Peirce,  Privates  entrd  Mar  25  to  Dec  6 
Jethro  Clugif        "        "     Apl  2     "  Oct  8  (dead) 
Asa  Guile,  "        "     Mar  15  "  Dec  6 

Philbrook  Colby    "        "       "     "     " 
John  Con 

Oliver  Page  " 

Timothy  Page 
Edmund  Pillsbry  " 
Daniel  Williams    "       '•       "      "    " 
Since  the  preceding  pages  "were  written,  we  have  found  the  following 
interesting  certificate,  which,  though  in  part  a  repetition  of  names  already 
given,  we  consider  too  valuable  to  be  left  out,  or  even  abbreviated. 

"  Haverll :  Janry  2Sth  1757. 
Sr 

This  may  Certify  that  the  Persons  Belonging  to  this  Town  whose 
numes  are  as  follows  were  in  the  Service  on  the  Expedition  for  Crown  Point 
and  were  not  rated  in  the  Year  1756 — 
out  of  the  first  ComiDy    Wm  Middlctori, 

Christopr  Connelly, 
Nathl  Smith, 
Wm  Hoyt, 
Benja  Black. 


In  3d  Company 


Cap.  Edmd  Mooers, 
Lt  James  Russell, 
Lt  Nathan  Baker, 
Lt  Moses  Hazzen, 
Lt  Jno  McCurd}', 
^bediuh  Sargent, 
Ensn  Jno  Frink, 
Jno  Burrill, 
Saml  Foster, 
Bartw  Pecker, 
Jno  Prcslcey, 
Asa  Gile, 
Edmd  Black, 
Natban  Page, 
]\Ioses  Ayres, 
Abrm  Kimball, 
Saml  Middleton, 
Oliver  Page, 
James  Hide, 
Peter  Ingerfield, 
Jno  Ingerfield, 
Moses  Stijkney, 
Edmd  Pils'jury, 
Gideon  Church, 
Benja  Howard, 
Danl  W^illiama, 
44 


in  2d  company 

Maj  R  Soltonstall, 
Danl  Haseltine, 
Jona  Haseltine, 
James  Emerson, 
Jno  Bradley, 

Grecuough, 

'  Ebenr  Brown, 
Saml  Currier, 
Simon  Ayer, 

SinioD, 

Jno  Emerson  Jur, 
John  Conn,  • 

Uran, 

Moses  Merrill, 
and  Jos  Hescltinc  jur 
Saml  Hcseltine 
and  Josiah  Emerson, 
enlisted  aud  hired 
others  in  New  Hampe 
to  go  for  them 


Jos  Osillaway, 
Gideon  Challis, 
Gideon  Geoi-ge, 
Samuel  Sargent, 
Sanders  Bradbury, 
Green  Whittier, 
&  Jno  Page  was  Pressd 
and  hired  a  man  in 
New  Hampe  to  go  for  him 
In  the  whole  53 


&  the  others  that^ 
Hired  out  of  New  [■ 
Hamp  J 


Total         57 
The  Poll  Tax  for 
48  a  9s  £24,15,0 
Poll  Tax  to  the  "I 
Deputys  pay  is  [•      2,9,3 

a  Id  I  3  

£27,12,11 
£21,15.0 
2,  9,3 


546  *  mSTORT   OF   HATEHHItL. 

And  vre  arc  Informd  that  vrc  arc  to  have  an  alloTvancc  for  all  those  per- 
sons Poll  Tax  out  of  the  Province  Treasury  —  (which  we  Desiro  may  he 
paid  to  Enoch  Eurtlet  one  of  us)  for  the  P)cncfit  of  our  Town. 

To  "Harrison  Gray  Esq     >  Moses  Clements      ^    c  i    *. 

Prove  Trcacurcr  iu  Boston  j  Daniel  Johnson        )      ^  t^  ^^^ 

Cornelius  Johnson  f  tt    ^  .1  -it 
Enoch  Bartlet         J 
George  Wctherby  out  of  the  first  Company." 

For  a  well  written  account  of  the  disastrous  campaign  of  175 G,  in 
which  so  manj'^  Haverhill  men  were  engaged,  we  would  refer  the  reader  to 
Barry's  excellent  History  of  Massachusetts. 

-Before  the  clcs3  of  the  year  1756,  the  party  which  had  mismanaged 
affairs  for  over  forty  years  w-ent  out  of  power,  and  William  Titt,  the  early 
and  devoted  friend  of  America,  assumed  the  reins  which  had  fallen  from 
the  hands  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  From  this  time,  the  affairs  of  the 
war  assumed  a  new  aspect.  A  military  council  was  held  in  Boston  in  Jan- 
uary, 1757,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  attempt  the  reduction  of  Canada, 
and- of  the  four  thousand  men  levied  on  New  England,  Massachusetts  was 
to  furnish  eighteen  hundred.  These  were  all  mustered  before  the  last  of 
March,  and  ready  for  service. 

From  the  Muster  Bolls  of  these  forces,  we  learn  that  the  following  Hav- 
erhill men  were  engaged  in  the  expedition  :  — 

Jan  26,  1757,  in  Capt  Robert  Roger's  company,  John  McCurdy,  clerk. 

Feb  8th,  in  Capt  Jona  Bagley's  Comjiauy,  Peter  Johnson,  armorour. 

Feb  13,  in  Capt  Stephen  Miller's  Comp  (at  Boston)  were  Corp  Thomas 
Tompson,  Allen  Greenough,  Gideon  George  (son  of  David),  Joshua 
Young. 

Feb  16th,  in  Timothy  Euggles's  Eegiment,  Major  Richard  Saltonstall. 

Feb  17,  in  Lt  Col  James  Frye's  Company  (at  Boston)  wei-e 
Jona  Urine,  James  Emerson,  Simon  Aj-ers. 

Jonathan  Simonds,  Isaac  Foster,  Joseph  Emerson. 

Daniel  Hazclton,  Jonathan  Hazelton, 

John  Eastman,  John  Emerson, 

Below  we  give  the  name  of  every  man  enrolled  in  the  militia  in  this 
town  in  the  spring  of  1757.  The  list,  of  course,  includes  the  name  of 
every  man  in  the  town,  not  exempt  from  military  duty:  — 

"A  List  of  the  first  Company  in  Haverhill. 

Lieut  Benja  Gale,  "Wm  Greenleaf,  Oliver  Sawyer. 

Ens  Joseph  Eager,  David  .Marsh,  

Sergeants  Drummers  Daniel  Appleton, 

John  Avers,  James  Pearson,  Jacob  Ayei:, 

SamuerSheppard,  Nathan  ^.yer. 


I 


HISTORY   OF   HAVEKHILL. 


347 


TetcT  Ayer, 
Enoch  Bartlit, 
Enoch  Eager, 
Nathaniel  Eager, 
Isaac  Eradly  Junr, 
John  Baker, 
Nathl  Ealch, 
Edmund  Elack, 
William  Briant, 
Michael  Bodwell, 
John  Cogswell  Jun> 
Samuel  Clement, 
Stephen  Cross, 
Samuel  Calf, 
Isaac  Chase, 
Ezra  Cottle, 
Peter  Clement, 
John  McCasling, 
Joshua  Dustin, 
Isaac  Dow, 
Ezra  Tucker, 
Bartholome  Perkins, 
Mark  Emerson, 
Thomas  Whitaker, 
Nehemiah  Emerson, 
Samuel  Eames, 
Pilchard  Emerson, 
David  Eaton, 
Moses  Eames, 
Josiah  Fulsom, 
Eowel  Foot, 
John  Farnham, 
Joseph  Flagg, 
Benja  Foules, 
Samuel  Gale, 
Daniel  Gale, 
Ephraim  Gile, 
Asa  Gile, 
Samuel  Gile, 
John  Bointon, 
Symonds  Greenough, 


Stephen  Gullishan, 
Austin  George, 
Jonathan  George, 
Thomas  Gage, 
-John  Gile,  >.«^ 
Job  Gage, 
John  Hall, 
John  Hall  Jun, 
Nathaniel  Hall 
Charles  Haddock, 
Stephen  Harriman, 
Joel  Heariman, 
Nathl  Johnson, 
Timothy  Kezer, 
Benja  Leach, 
Dudley  Ladd, 
Henry  Lebeter, 
Moses  Marsh, 
Enoch  Mai'sh,!/' 
Nathl  Marsh. 
Silvanus  Heath, 
James  Simonds, 
Benja  Moors, 
Cornelius  Mansise, 
Ammiruhama  Moore, 
Thomas  McHard, 
Israel  Morrill, 
'vYilliara  Middleton, 
Jacob  Nicholls 
Samuel  Middieton, 
David  Newhal  Jun, 
Benja  Poor, 
Samuel  Pears, 
Edmund  Pilsbry, 
Edward  Eusscl, 
Ebenezer  Bussel, 
David  Euuuils, 
"Winslow  Eichardson, 
Nathl  Eedington, 
Daniel  Eedington, 
John  Stuard, 

"  The  Alarm  List/-* 
.the  Eev  Edward  Barnard  Timothy  White  Cler, 
Samuel  White  Esqr,        John  White  Cler, 
James  McHard  Esqr,      Capt  Edward  Moors, 


John  Sawyer, 
Jonathan  Sawyer, 
Jeremy  Stickney, 
John  Smyly, 
Solomon  Springer, 
Joshua  Springer, 
Jonathan  Simons  Jur 
John  Straw, 
Eichard  Simons, 
Isaac  Snow, 
Peter  Sanders, 
Moses  Smith, 
Samuel  Shackford, 
Thomas  West, 
Nathl  Walker, 
Thomas  Whittier, 
Timothy  White  Jur, 
John  ^Vhite, 
Joseph  Whitaker, 
Jonathan  Webster, 
Samuel  Whiting, 
Nathl  Cogswell, 
Ebenezer  Gage, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Jonathan  Shepard, 
Nathan  Simond, 
Ezekiel  Wilson, 
Jonathan  Sargant, 
Daniel  Moores, 
Samuel  Gile, 
Peter  Ingerfield, 
Eichard  Emerson, 
Samuel  Forster, 
Cutting  Marsh, 
James  Sawyer, 
William  Chase, 
-  Elisha  Moody, 
Samuel  Midleton, 
James  Calfe, 
Maxe  Haseltine. 


Lieut  Nathan  Baker, 
Ens  James  Eussell, 
Ens  John  Frink, 


°  The  Alarm  List  includes  all  between  the  ages  ot  sixteen  and  sixty  years  of  age,  who  were  exempt 
from  ordinarj-  military  duty.  Upon  extraordiaary  emeigencies.  these  weie  liable  to  be  called  out  to  do 
4uty  in  their  own  town. 


348 


HrSTORT   OF   HATERHItt, 


Pn  Benja  Clement, 
Du  David  Marsh, 
David  Aycr. 
Jonathoii  Buck, 
BcDJa  Baker, 
Moses  Clement, 
John  Cogswell, 
James  Dunkin, 
John  Eaton, 
"William  George, 
Dr.  Stephen  Huse, 


James  Leacount, 
David  Newell, 
Isaac  Osgood  Cler, 
Dr  James  Pecker, 
AVilliam  Swanton, 


Nathl  Eolfc- 
Stephen  Herimafl/ 
Lieut  John  liusseil, 
Dr  Cast, 
James  Cook, 


Nathl  Pcasly  Sergeant,  Jacob  "Willard, 

Mathcw  Soley,  Dr  John  Husc, 

John  Miillcian,  Joshua  Swyer, 

David  Farnum,  Lieut  Moses  Hazzen, 

Timothy  Clement,  Dn  David  Marsh, 


Haverhill  April  ISth  1757. 

Attest         Samuel  Appleton  Clerk."^ 
"  A  List  of  the   Second  foot  Company  in  Haverhill,  whereof   Major 
Richard  Saltonstall  Esq  is  Capt. 
First  Lieut  Nehemiah  Bradly, 

Daniel  Bradly,         Joshua  Emery  Junr, 
Second  Lieut  Benja  Eaton, 

Timothy  Emerson,   John  Emery, 


Ens  John  Mitchell, 

Sergants 
Jonathan  Emerson, 
Jonathan  Webster, 
Samuel  "Watts, 
Nathl  Dustin, 

Corporals 
Ebcnczer  Baly, 
James  Haseltinc, 
Samuel  Haseltine, 
Joseph  I'^mcrson, 

Drumers 
Moses  Bradly, 
AYiUiam  Ladd, 

Soldiers 
Eichard  Bayly, 
Amos  Balv, 
AVilliam  Baly, 
Daniel  Bradly, 
Amos  Bradly, 
Nathl  Bradly, 
George  Corlice, 
Joseph  Corlice, 
Samuel  Clcmont, 
Micah  Emerson, 
Jonathan  Emerson  Jr, 
Peter  Emerson, 
Joseph  Eaton, 


Joseph  Hanes, 
Nathan  Heaseltine, 
Joseph  Hale, 
John  Flezer, 
Ezekiel  Ladd, 
Ebenezer  Mitchell, 
Enoch  Marble, 
Samuel  Merrill, 
Joseph  Hill  Ordway, 
"William  Page, 
Nathan  Parely, 
John  Smith, 
John  Smith  Junr,  • 
Samuel  Silver, 
John  Silver  Jun, 
John  Stuart, 


Thomas  Merril, 
Samuel  C'ronnid, 
Timothy  Eaton, 
John  Swadock  Corlice, 
John  Goss, 
Benja  Ordiway, 
Daniel  Ladd  Jun, 
Toothaker  Webster  Em- 
erson, 
Amy  Euhamy  Hayns, 
Ebenezer  Baly  Jun, 
David  Bradley, 
Timothy  Emerson  Jun, 
James  Webster, 
Edward  Ordiway, 
-^  oseph  Emerson  2d, 
Jonathan  Harrice, 
Joseph  Atward, 
Thomas  Spear, 
Jacob  Woodard 


Jonathan  Sheppard  Jun,  Nathliel  Clark, 
F  tevenc  Webster  3d,        James  Atwood, 


John  Hastings, 
John  Symouds, 
David  Harrice, 
Daniel  Heath, 
AVilliam  Hutchings, 
William  Mitchell, 
AVilliam  Bradly, 
Jeremiah  Haseltine, 
Peter  Carlcton, 
James  Kimball, 


Jonathan  Dustin  Jun, 
Samuel  Bradly, 
James  Emerson  Jun, 
Jonathan  Heaseltine, 
Enoch  Johnson, 
Jonathan  Simonds, 
Samuel  Aycr, 
Peter  Aycr  Jun, 
David  Hayues, 
Jeremiah  Hutchings, 


Samuel  Lovckin, 
John  Heaseltine, 
James  Merrill, 
Joshua  Corlice, 
Asa  Lacid, 
John  Emerson  Jun, 
Humphry  Baly, 
Daniel  Griffing, 
Joseph  Heaselate, 
Josiah  Brown, 
Thomas  Whitteker, 
John  Bradly, 
Joshua  Emery, 
Josiah  Emerson, 


HISlORT   OF  HAVERHILI,. 

^Samuel  Celley,-^ 
Page  Herimon, 
Daniel  Heaseltine, 
Peter  Page, 
Moses  Webster, 
Moses  Merrill, 
James  Eaton  Jun,  -* 
Ithemore  Emerson, 
Obediah  Belknap, 
Moses  Eaton, 
Samuel  Ordiway, 
Pilchard  Kelley, 
Amous  Emersen, 
Elezer  Emerson, 

The  Alarm  List. 


349 


Jonathan  Eaton  2d, 
Abel  Page, 
Peter  Webster,* 
Enos  Webster, 
Isaac  Webster,  ^ 
Simon  Ayer, 
Samuel  Webster, 
Daniel  Ladd,— 
John  Emerson, 
John  Jaquish, 
Samuel  Whitteker, 
John  Marble, 
James  Emerson. 


Ebcnezer  Webster, 
Jonathan  Herriman, 
Amos  Page, 
David  Merrill, 


Eevd  Samuel  Batchelder  Nathaniel  Clemonts, 
Dn  William  Ayer,  Bradly  Mitchel, 

Dn  Stephen  Webster,      William  Boarmon, 
Ens  Stephen  Whitteker,  Stephen  Gage, 
Jonathan  Marsh,  John  Clemonts, 

Jeremiah  Bayly,  Thomas  Webster, 

Haverhill  April  14th  1757 

attest         Richard  Ayer  Clcr." 


"  A  List  of  the  third  foot  Company  in  Haverhill. 


Capt  Daniel  Johnson, 
Lieut  Ruben  Currier, 
Ens  Ezra  Chase, 
Sergants 
Robert  Hunkins, 
Joseph  Kelley, 
Lewis  Page, 
Ebenezer  Colby, 
Drummer 
Amos  Currier, 


Samuel  Ayer, 
Samuel  Bradbury, 
Sanders  Bradbury, 
Thomas  Bretman, 
Calib  Currier  Jun, 
Isaac  Colby, 
Theophelous  Colby, 
Ebenezer  Chase, 
Ruben  Currier  Junr, 


Samuel  Davies, 
John  Davies, 
Amos  Davies, 
Moses  Eaton, 
Nathaniel  Edwards, 
Samuel  Esterbrooks, 
Samuel  Elee, 
John  Edwards, 
Gedion  Gcoi'ge, 
David  George, 
Gedion  George  Jun, 
Samuel  George, 
William  George, 
Joseph  Grelee  Jur, 
Stephen  Gale, 
AVilliam  Guie, 
Thomas  Hunkings, 
Robert  Hastings, 
jVIaverick  Johnson, 
Seth  Johnson, 


Timothy  Johnson, 
John  Jcifers 
Daniel  Morison, 
Samuel  JMorisou, 
Henry  Morse, 
Samuel  Page, 
John  Partridge, 
AVilliam  Page, 
Samuel  Sanders, 
John  Sanders, 
Joseph  Silliway, 
Timothy  Sweat, 
Timothy  Smith, 
Benja  Sanders, 
Heny  Sargent, 
Samuel  Sergant, 
Ebenezer  Wood, 
Nathaniel  Whittier. 


(>  Peter  Webster,  Natbl  Sanders,  and  Avery  Sanders,  w^c  taken  prisoners  at  Furt  Wm.  Henry  in  1757. 


350  HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL. 

"  The  Alarm  List. 

Eevd  Benja  Parlrer,         Thomas  Cotle  Benja  Grelcc, 

Joseph  Grelee,  John  Morse,  Jacob  Sanders,   ' 

John  George,  Ebenezer  Whittier,  Joseph  Nickels, 

Haverhill  March  17,  1757 

attest        Eichard  Colby  Cler." 

From  the  above  Rolls,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  First  Company  was  com- 
posed of  residents  of  the  First  Parish  ;  the  Second,  of  those  belonging  in 
the  "West  Parish  ;  and  the  Third,  of  those  in  the  East  Parish. 

On  the  3 1  st  of  July,  Gov.  Pownall  received  information  by  express 
that  Montcalm,  with  a  large  force  of  French  and  Indians,  was  moving  to 
besiege  Fort  AVilliam  Henry.  He  immediately  hastened  to  forward  re- 
inforcements and  supplies,  but  before  they  had  reached  their  destination, 
the  gallant  commander  had  been  compelled  to  surrender.  He  did  not 
yield,  however,  until  half  his  guns  were  burst,  and  his  amunition  was 
expended.  The  Indians,  with  their  usual  ferocity,  fell  upon  his  troops 
after  they  were  disarmed ;  and,  in  the  slaughter  which  ensued,  six  hun- 
dred dispersed  among  the  woods  and  fled  to  Fort  Edward,  whither  they 
were  followed  by  their  comrades,  one  after  another. 

Immediately  upon  the  above  alarm,  a  detachment  from  each  of  the 
three  companies  in  this  town  was  ordered  to  march  to  the  relief  of  the  be- 
sieged garrison.  Below  we  give  the  returns  made  for  the  first  and  third 
companies ;  that  for  the  second  we  have  been  unable  to  find  :  — 

♦*  A  Muster  Eoll  of  a  Detachment  out  of  the  first  Fpot  Company  in 
Haverhill,  Commanded  by  Joseph  Badger  Junr,  Ensign  of  said  Company, 
out  of  Lieut  Coll  John  Osgood's  Eegiment,  that  marched  on  the  last  alarm, 
for  the  relief  of  Fort  "William  Henry,  as  far  as  "Worcester — August  ye 
16th  1757. 

Ens  Joseph  Badger  Jun  Joel  Harriman,  Elisha  Moodey, 

Privates  Thomas  "Whitaker,  AYilliam  Farnam, 

Daniel  Appelton,  Nathaniel  Ecddington,  Samuel  Eames, 

Moses  Marsh,  Jonathan  George,  Asa  Guile, 

Timothy  White  Jun,        John  Baker,  Benjamin  Harris, 

Samuel  Middclton,  Stephen  Cross,  Israel  Morrill, 

Samuel  Middelton  Jun,   Nathaniel  Johnson  Jun,  Michael  Bowden, 

"Wintrop  Bagley,  Asa  Tucker,  Moses  Ames, 

John  Knapp,  Jeremiah  Sticknee,  Benjamin  Fowler." 

Aaron  Sargent,  Edward  Eussell, 

Timothy  Kezar,  Isaac  Dow, 

"  A  Muster  Eoll  of  a  Detachment  out  of  the  Third  Foot  Company 
in    Haverhill    Commanded    by   Eeuben    Currier    Lieut    of    said   Com- 


niSTOKT    OP   HAVERHILt.  SBf 

pany  out  of  Lieut  Coll  John  Osgood's  Ecgement  that  marched  on  the  Last 
alarm  for  the  Keiief  of  Fort  AVilliam  Henry  as  far  as  Worcester,  August 
16:   1757. 

Lieut  Eeuben  Currier,     Timothy  Johnson,  Thomas  Butman, 

John  Sanders,  Asa  Currier,  Calib  Currier, 

Ebenezer  Wood,  David  Morison,  William  Page." 

Amos  Davice,  Henry  Morse, 

All  the  above,  except  Israel  Morrill,  (who  was  in  service  only  three 
days)  were  in  service  nine  days,  eight  of  which  were  occupied  in  travelling 
to  and  from  Worcester.  They  were  "impressed"  August  15th,  and 
received  two  shillings  and  eight  pence  a  day,  each. 

Since  writing  the  above,  we  have  found,  among  the  papers  relating  to 
the  Reduction  of  Canada,  the  following  roll  of  names,  which,  we  think, 
must  be  the  missing  list  of  those  detached  from  the  second  foot  company 
at  this  time  :  — 

John  Osgood,  Lt  Coll  2d  foot  Company, 
Maj  Richard  Saltonstall  Capt, 

Daniel  Bradly  1st  Lt,     James  Haseltine  Cornet,  Joseph  Haynes, 
Timothy  Emerson  2d  do  Saml  Haseltine  "     Toothaker  Webster, 

John  Mitchel  Ens,  Joseph  Emerson         "     Jonathan  Marsh, 

Jonathan  Webster  Serjt,  Henry  Bailey  "     Xathl  Clement, 

Nathl  Dustin  "     Moses  Bradly  Drum        John  Clement, 

Saml  Watts  "     Wm  Ladd  "  Bradly  Mitchell, 

Jonathan  Emerson     "     David  Haynes,  Jonathan  Harriman, 

Ammi  R  Haynes,  Rev  Saml  Batcheldor. 

Of  the  Haverhill  men  "  in  the  capitulation,"  of  August  9,  we  can  only 
find  the  following  :  — 

In  Capt  Richard  Saltonstall's  Company  : 

Richard  Saltonstall,  Capt,  entd  Feb  12,  dischgd  Nov  7,  1757 
Isaac  Chase,  Corp,  "     Mar  16,         "     Oct  23,     " 

Edmund  Black,  private,        "       "     22,         «'         "  " 

In  the  list  of  names  of  those  "not  in  the  capitulation,"  we  find  the 
following" :  — 

Jonathan  Blaisdell,  private,  entd  Mar  15,  Dischgd  Sept  29 
Philbrook  Coleby,         "  "      "     2\ ,  deserted]  m  ^Q^t 

Joshua  Perry,  "  "      "     14,  Dischgd  Dec  3 

Thomas  Stone,  Corp,  "      "     21,         "      Nov  17 

Early  in  1758,  large  preparations  were  made  for  a  vigorous  campaign. 
Three  expeditions  were  planned,  —  the  Jirst  to  besiege  Louisburg,   the 

°  The  date  of  the  list  is  December  23,  1757. 

.t  Among  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  deserters  from  the  Massachusetts  forces  in  the  year  1757. 
we  find  only  this  Haverhill  ua^e  I 


852 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.- 


second  to  scour  the  Ohio  valley,  and  the  third  to  proceed  against  Ticonder- 
oga  and  Crown  Point,  —  all  of  them  having  in  view  as  a  grand  object  and 
aim,  the  reduction  of  Canada. 

The  following  gleanings  fi-om  the  muster  rolls  of  this  year  show  that 
our  town  was  well  represented  in  the  campaign  :  — 

"EETURN  of  the  Men  inlisted  for  his  Majesty's  Service  within  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  the  Kegiment  whereof  John  Osgood 
Jun,  Esq :  is  Colonel,  to  be  put  under  the  immediate  Command  of  Hig 
Excellency  JEFFRY  AMHERST,  Esqr:  General  and  Commander  in 
Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  North  America,  for  the  Invation  of 
CANADA." 


NAMES. 


"William  Atwood 

James  Scamons ...... 

Samuell  Middleton. .. 

David  Farnum 

Benja  Fowle 

Wm  Richardson 

Ebenezer  Kimball . . .  ■ 

Obediah  Page 

Wm  Clements 

George  Hadly , 

Sampson  French .... 
Joshua  Springer.  .  . .  , 

Philbrook  Colby 

Jackson  West , 

Joshua  Heath 

William  Cook 

Sampson  French  Jur . 

Joseph  Morse 

STohn  Guile 

James  Rix 

Timothy  Johnson.  . . 
Benja  Hunkings, ... 

Caleb  Currier 

William  Page.  .  . .-. 

Michel  Page 

Joseph  Osilaway .... 
Moses  AVorthien, .... 
William  Farmer. .. . , 


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29 

<< 

29 

29 

(1 

29 

" 

2 

i< 

24 
2 

1758 

L.  George 

Hav 

erhill 

18 
18 
46 
44 
26 
21 
18 
27 
18 
18 
40 
25 
23 
17 
17 
18 
17 
21 
19 
17 
21 
18 
19 
21 
18 
39 
39 
19 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 


353 


l^ollowing  the.  albovc  ate  tlie  names  of  ten  others,  from  Bradford,  New- 
5)ury,  &c.,  but  none  from  HaverhilL  Of  the  following  names,  a  pai't  only 
^ere  Haverhill  men;  but  as  some  of  them  were,  and  we  are  unable  to 
designate  all  of  them  with  certainty,  we  copy  the  whole  list:  — 

"  Koll  of  Capt  John  Hazzen  of  Haverhill,  for  the  Reduction  of  Ticon- 
deroga  &  Crown  Point." 
John  Hazzen,  Capt,         Stephen  Prescutt, 
John  GofFe  Jun  1st  Lieut  Nathan  Colly, 
Joseph  White  2d  Lieut    Silas  Flood, 
Wm  Richardson  Ensign  Richard  Dow, 
Jabez  Hoight  Sergeant    Richard  Knight, 
Benja  Stone  "       Jeremiah  Kent, 

Mathcw  Bryant        "       John  Lovewell,    "^ 
James  Bryant  "       Daniel  Flood, 

Jona  Kemble        Corp     Parish  Richardson, 
Benj  Batchelder       "       Caleb  Marble, 
Stephen  Page  "       Jessa  Wilson, 

Stephen  Dow  "      /Wm  Whittaker, 


Aaron  Copps,  Private  v  Noah  Emery, 
Thomas  Croiford,  Joshua  Howard, 


Peter  Whitteker, ' 
John  Tarbox, 
Phillip  Emerson, 
Levi  Wyman, 
Asa  Curtis, 
Jona  Colby,     ^ 
-John  Giles, --'■''''^ 
Jona  Worster, 
Edmind  Colby, 
Abner  Vv'hcelcr, 
Asa  Worster, 
.lohn  Foster, 
Robert  Young, 
Jona  Hunt, 
Robert  Greenough, 
Jona  Stickney, 
Josiah  Heath, 
Benoui  Coburn, 
Micajah  Morrill, 
Timothy  Page, 
Benoni  Rowell, 
Nathl  Wood, 
Francis  Knowlton, 
Josejih  Lovewell. 


Bond  Little,  James  Dow, 

Joseph  Sawyer,  Jeremiah  Dow, 

David  Copps,  */  Amos  Pollard, 

Caleb  Emery,  Jona  Stevens. 

John  Gage,  Daniel  Clifford, 

Joshua  Chas3  Abner  Sawyer, 

Joshua  Gile,  Jonas  Clay, 

Joseph  Gage,  Abel  Wright, 

Robert  Cannada,  •  Wm  Heath, 

Josejih  Webster,  Henry  Benson, 

Thomas  Cannada,  Wm  Flanders, 

James  Dustou,  Enoch  Hale, 

In  addition  to  the  above,  we  find  in  Captain  William  Osgood's  company, 
Oliver  Page,  who  served  from  April  1,  to  November  15,  1758. 

But  our  limits  will  not  allow  us  to  follow  up  the  whole  history  of  this 
war ;  and  with  the  following  extracts,  showing  the  names  of  those  from 
our  town  who  took  part  in  the  struggle,  and  shared  in  the  glorious  results, 
we  must  again  turn  our  attention  homeward.  We  may,  however,  be  per- 
mitted to  say,  in  passing,  that  the  campaign  of  1758  was  a  brilliant  one. 
In  July,  Louisburg  was  taken ;  the  next  month.  Fort  Frontenac  surren- 
dered ;  and  in  November,  Fort  du  Qucsne  (now  Pittsburg)  was  wrested 
from  the  French.  The  next  j'car,  the  British  arms  were  completely  suc- 
cessful. In  July,  Niagara  and  Ticonderoga  were  taken,  and  when,  on  the 
45 


354 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERniLt 


18th  of  September,  Quebec  surrendered,  the  joy  of  the  people  seemed  to 
know  no  bounds. 

In  the  Muster  Eoll  of  the  foot  company  of  Captain  Samuel  George, 
dated  February  7,  1759,  we  find  Joseph  Silliway  entered  May  2,  dis- 
charged November  20,=-  Joseph  Springer  entered  April  3,  discharged 
November  20. 

In  the  Muster  Roll  of  the  regiment  of  John  Osgood,  Jr.,  "for  the  inva- 
sion of  Canada,"  were 

Col  Richard  Saltonstall, 
Capt  Edmund  Moorcs, 

James  Emerson,  inlisted  Apl  6,  aged  48 

Eichard  Knight  "  3& 

Mar  29, 
Apl  6, 


Timothy  Kimball 
Benja  Emery 
Nathl  Bixbee 
Joseph  Hutching  Jur, 
Daniel  Griffing 
Wilkes  West 
Timothy  Clements 
Dowf 


Mar  29, 

"     31, 

Apl  3, 

"  6, 

"  6, 

"  6, 

Captain  Edmund  Mooers'  company,  in  Colonel  Bagley's  regiment,  for 
the  Reduction  of  Canada,!  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  one  men.  The 
following  were  from  Haverhill :  — 

Edmund  Mooers  Esq,  Captain,  entered  Mar  13,  Dischd  Dec   9 


18 
23 
19 
16 
29 
19 
49 
41 
21 


Jonathan  Buck,  Lieut 

(t 

" 

Nov  20 

Peter  Carleton 

(I 

(. 

Nov  20 

Samuel  Foster,  Serjt 

K 

Apl  8, 

<( 

Timothy  White,    " 

ti 

« 

(< 

David  Famam,     '• 

H 

<< 

Oct  26 

John  Baker,          " 

H 

i< 

Nov  20 

David  Eaton,      Corporal 

" 

Apll, 

Bartholomew  Pecker,    " 

" 

"    8, 

Samuel  Middleton,       " 

(( 

(i     (( 

John  Bradley,  Drummer 

K 

"    3, 

Jonathan  Serjeant,     Private 

(( 

<<    << 

Richard  Simonds              " 

<( 

Mar  30, 

"11 

John  Steward                  " 

K 

Apl  4, 

"  3 

Ebenezer  Kimball           " 

l< 

i«    (< 

"2(> 

■^  1758.        t  ^^u'B^  name  illegible.       J  1759. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

o55 

Josliua  Perry            Private  entered 

Mar  30 

Dischd 

Nov  20 

James  Leacount 

(( 

(< 

Apl 

7 

<( 

Oct  21 

Henry  Greenkaf 

<< 

<< 

« 

8, 

to 

Nov  20 

Samuel  Stickney 

<( 

<< 

<( 

<( 

<( 

<<      << 

Moses  Little 

<< 

<( 

<< 

7, 

<< 

(<      << 

Elista  Moody 

(( 

<< 

Mar 

3, 

died 

June  24 

Benjamin  Fowle 

<< 

<( 

Apl 

10, 

to 

Nov  20 

Ezra  Cottle 

<< 

<< 

<( 

U 

(< 

"    20 

John  Swoodick  Corliss 

<< 

<< 

<< 

3 

<( 

"      4 

John  Pell 

<< 

(< 

8 

<< 

<C             <( 

Daniel  Williams 

(< 

(< 

" 

<< 

<<         (< 

Enoch  Marsh 

<< 

<( 

" 

10 

<( 

Aug   6 

Timothy  Kezer 

<( 

(< 

<( 

" 

<( 

Nov  20 

Michal  Bowden 

<( 

<( 

" 

8 

<< 

(<      << 

William  Clement 

<( 

<( 

<< 

'< 

<( 

Dec   3 

W^illiam  Colby 

<( 

<( 

<< 

12 

<< 

Oct   9 

Joseph  Hale 

<< 

<< 

<( 

13 

<< 

Nov  20 

Silvanus  Heath 

<( 

<i 

May 

1 

<< 

"    3 

George  Hadley 

« 

« 

Apl 

8 

<( 

"20 

Daniel  Appleton 

<< 

<< 

June 

1 

<< 

<<    << 

Jonathan  Urien 

<< 

May 

2 

(< 

<<   « 

Daniel  Ladd  Jun 

<( 

<< 

Apl 

4 

<< 

<(   <( 

Ebenezer  Bailey  Jun 

<( 

n 

<< 

(< 

(< 

<<        (C 

Jonathan  Harris 

<< 

<( 

14 

killed 

Aug  8 

W^ebster  Emerson 

(< 

<< 

3 

to 

Nov  20 

David  Merrill 

<( 

<< 

7 

" 

<<      << 

John  Goss 

it 

<( 

7 

<< 

<<      <( 

Peter  Emerson 

<< 

<< 

14 

(< 

<(          <c 

William  Hutchins 

<( 

(C 

3 

" 

<C              4( 

Samuel  Crowel 

<( 

<< 

14 

(( 

<<              i< 

xMicah  Amy 

<( 

i( 

10 

<< 

<<              (< 

Daniel  Corly 

<< 

(( 

13 

(( 

(<              << 

John  Foot 

(< 

11 

<( 

<(               << 

Nathaniel  Webster 

<< 

1 

<< 

((               <( 

Joseph  Mooers 

<( 

Maj 

2 

<< 

"           11 

Jonathan  Haselton 

" 

<( 

" 

<( 

"     13 

James  Emerson-' 

<( 

(( 

(( 

"     20 

Winslow  Eichardson 

i( 

<< 

<< 

<( 

(( 

(f      (< 

o  From  James  Emerson's  petition  to  the  General  Court,  shortly  afterward,  we  leam  that  in  marching 
from  Crown  Point  to  Ticonderoga,  December  20, 1760,  he  fell  through  the  ice,  lost  his  pack,  and  narrowly 
escaped  death.  He  was  so  badly  frost-bitten  that  he  was  forty  days  in  getting  home,  and  was  confined 
for  thirty  days  after  arriving  home.  He  was  "at  Cape  Breton,  and  in  th«  service  every  year  since  the 
beginning  of  the  Canada  expedition." 


35G 


HrSTORT   OF   nAVERHirt, 


In  tLe  rolls  for  1760,  we  find  the  following  from  Haverliill  r  — 
In  Capt  Henry  Young  Brown's  Company  were 

entd   Teb    14   to   Dec   30 


"     29 
>(      (( 

Mar  10 
Feb  29 


H  Young  Brown  Capt 

John  Page  Serj  "■         "     29    "      ''       8 

Wm  Farnum  " 

Wm  Colby  Pr 

Nathaniel  Moulton  " 

Daniel  Milliken      " 

Moses  Sanborn       " 

Charles  Hall 
In  the  Company  of  Samuel  Watts,  of  Haverhill, 

Samuel  Watts  Capt  ent  June  10  to  Jan  1    1761 

John  Bayley  Corp 

Francis  Dinsmore  Pr 
^^John  Gile  " 

Daniel  Hibbard      " 
In  the  Company  of  Nathl  Bailey 

Wm  Mores  ent  Apl  14 

Benonie  "VVigans      "     "      7  to  Dec  6 
In  the  Muster  Boll  of  Capt  Joseph  Smith,  of  Kowley,  from  Feb  14  t» 
Dec  9,  17G0,-' were 


18 

"  Dec  28 

28 

"     "      2 

14 

"     "      2 

27 

H        It            u 

Jsathan  Baker  Lieut 

ent 

Feb   14 

to  Dec  4 

Eobert  Peasley  Ens 

H                It 

<(         n           n 

John  Bradley  Serj 

Mar   10 

i<       4<         <<^ 

William  George  Corp 

"     31 

"    "     " 

Edmund  Black          Private 

Feb   29 

<i       (1         << 

Ezra  Cottle 

tt 

Mar  31 

H          <(             « 

David  Clemens 

it 

Apl  14 

it          <<             14 

Bcnja  Durgan, 

<< 

Mar    8 

i(           «             «. 

Benja  Davis  (dead) 

<( 

Apl  14 

"   Oct  10 

Moses  Duston 

>» 

<( 

Feb  29 

"  Dec    4 

David  Eaton 

«( 

Mario 

<<     <(      t( 

Eichard  Emerson 

<( 

(i     <( 

(<     t(      ft 

Nathaniel  Eaton 

(1 

<<     '        IC 

<(     «<      (( 

David  Famom  (dead) 

K 

Feb  29 

"  Dec  12 

Sampson  French 

X 

Apl     8 

n        ((          4 

Timothy  George 

<< 

Mar  31 

<<       (<         4 

John  Hazclton 

<< 

"     10 

<<      <i        <( 

William  Hutchins 

-  << 

<(      i( 

<(       <(         (< 

°  This  was  a  "  Batteaux  Company." 


357 

Joseph  Kimball 

Jonathan  Kimball 

Daniel  Ladd 

Henry  Maxfield 

David  Merrel 

Edward  Ordaway 

James  Pearson 

James  Rix 

Eichard  Simons 

Ezekiel  Stone 

Joshua  Trussell  "  "       "     «'        "      "      " 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Haverhill  names  in  the  Muster  Koll  of 
Captain  Edmund  Mooers'  Company,  dated  "  from  Nov  2,  1759  to  January 
7,  1761." 

Edmund  Mooers,  Capt,      entered  Nov  2,  1759,  to  Feb  1,  1761 


HISTORY 

OF 

HAVERHILL. 

Private 

ent 

Mar   10 

to 

Dec    4 

1 

Feb  29 

II      <{ 

<< 

Mar  27 

"      5 

II 

Feb   29 

II      4 

11 

Mar  13 

II      If 

T 

"     10 

K             l( 

II 

"     10 

11             <f 

11 

Feb  29 

II             II 

<< 

Feb  29 

Jan  10 

11 

Mar  10 

II 

Dec    4 

William  Greenleaf,  Lieut 
Daniel  Griffin 
Timothy  Johnson 
Samuel  Middleton 
William  Mwood 
William  Clements, 
William  Cook 
James  Cook 
Benja  Emory 
Phillip  Emerson 
Benja  Fowls 
Sampson  French 
Daniel  Greenleaf 
Joseph  Hutchins 
George  Hadley 
Joshua  Heath 
Benja  Hunkina 
Eben  Kimball 
Jos  Orsilliway 
William  Page 
Michael  Page 
Winslow  Richardson 
James  Scammon 
Jackson  West 
Philbrook  Colby 


Jan  12 
"  2 
"    12 


"   Jan  17 
II     II      5 

II     II    12 


12 


17 
12 


358  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

In  the  return  of  enlistments  for  1760,  we  find  Josiah  Ingraham,  Samuel 
Steward,  Timothy  Kimball,  John  Jakish,  James  AVebster.  The  above 
enlisted  between  March  Gth  and  April  9th,  1760. 

In  the  Muster  EoU  of  Captain  Thomas  Swett's  company,  March  19th, 
1761,  we  find 

Henry  Marshall,  entered  June  14,  Dischd  Dec  8. 
In  that  of  Captain  Aaron  Fay's  company :  — 

John  White,  entered  Apl  25,  Dischgd  June  14. 
In  that  of  Captain  David  White's  company :  — 

Solomon  Grage,  entered  May  9,  Dischgd  Nov  24. 
In  Captain  Nathaniel  Bailey's  company,  were 

Joshua  Perrey  Serjt  (dead)  from  Mar  10  to  Sept  15 
Abel  Hadley  Corp  "     Apl  14  "  Dec     6 

Joseph  Atwood  Private  "     Mar  10  "    "       " 

Jona  Barker         "  "    '  "    24  ",  " 

In  the  fall  of  1760,  the  Collector  of  this  town  was  allowed  the  rates  of 
the  following  persons,  who  "  were  gone  into  his  Majesties  Sarvice." 

Joseph  Oselway,  Joseph  Springer,  William  Page, 

Timothy  Johnson,  David  Chalice,  Mickel  Page, 

Benjamin  Hunkings,       G-ideon  Chalice,  Elias  Johnson, 

In  the  "  Pay  Roll  of  Capt  Mooers'  Company  from  Apl  8,  1761,  to  Jan 
1,  1762,"  we  find 


Edmund  Mooers,  Capt, 

from  Apl   18 

to 

Jan   1 

Nathan  Baker  Lieut 

<< 

<(      (( 

<( 

Dec   7 

John  White,  Ensign 

<<      <( 

(( 

Nov  17 

William  Atwood  Serjt 

<< 

July    1 

<( 

Dec    7 

Charles  Hall,  Drummer 

June  29 

<( 

"      6 

Edmund  Black,     Private 

<( 

9 

(( 

"      7 

William  Cook 

(( 

"      12 

(( 

<<      (( 

Thomas  Corser           " 

<( 

June  13 

<< 

It      << 

Samuel  Corser            " 

" 

July     9 

<( 

<(      <( 

Joseph  Emerson         " 

"      15 

(( 

Nov  17 

James  Emerson          " 

." 

May  29 

(( 

<i     ii 

W'ebster  Emerson      " 

June  23 

<( 

Dec    7 

Nathaniel  Eaton        " 

July  19 

<< 

<(       (( 

George  Hadley            " 

<< 

May  12 

(< 

Nov  17 

Zechh  Humcrford       " 

<( 

July    1 

<' 

Dec    7 

Negro  Jack  (Servt 

Edmd  Mooers)        " 

(< 

♦'      21 

i( 

<<     (< 

Jonathan  Simonds      " 

<( 

1 

(< 

<(     <( 

HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


859 


David  Wells        Private      from     June  26     to  Dec  7 
Nathaniel  Ash  "  "       Aug  22     deserted. 

In  the  Pay  Poll  of  Captain  Henry  Young  Brown' s'-  company  for  April, 
1761,  to  February,  1762,  were  the  following:  — 

Hy  Yg  Brown,   Capt,    from  Apl  18,   1761  to  Feby  7,   1762 


James  Scammon,  Serjt 
John  Bradley  " 

Jacob  Brown  Corp 
Wm  Clement 
Saml  Middleton  " 
Ezra  Gatchell  Drumer 
Samuel  Annis     Private 
Phinehas  Ash         " 
Benj  Dow  " 

Jno  Moody  Gilman." 
Job  Gage  " 

Nathaniel  Gilman  " 
William  Guye  " 
Asa  Hanniford  " 
David  Heath  " 

David  Kimball  " 
Timothy  Kimball  " 
Daniel  Levett  " 

John  McKissich  " 
Peter  Middleton  " 
Hezh  Marsh  " 

David  Moody  " 
Henry  Maxfield  " 
Elipha  Maxfield  " 
Oliver  Page  " 

Francis  Perry  " 
Wm  Wilks  Perry  " 
John  Eowe  " 

Eeuben  Sergeant  " 
Simn  Smith  " 

Eichd  Simons  " 
Frans  Whittier      " 


May  4 
Apl   29 
May  1 

"       4 

"     28 

"     18 

1 

Apl  23 

May   4 

"     1 

"     7 

"     6 

"     1 

"  29 

"  22 

"     4 

"  11 

"  29 

:'    1 

"  16 

June   2 

May   6 

"  11 

"     4 

"     7 

Apl   29 

May  29 
Apl  24 
May  11 

"  16 


"  Jany  6 

"  Dec  13 

"  Jan  11 

"  "   6 

"  "   6 

"  "       6 


10 
6 


Dec 
Jan 


"  Nov  24 
"  Jan  6 


13 
6 


Dec  13 


o  Captain  Brown  served  through  the  whole  war,  and  with  such  acceptance,  that  in  1770,  the  General 
Court  granted  him  eleven  thousand  acres  of  land  on  Saco  River,  —  where,  we  believe,  he  settled,  and  his 
descendants  still  reside. 


May    7 

u       w        X 

"       3 

"     "   18 

<<       <( 

"     "   23 

Mar  19 

"  Jan    1 

"     17 

"  Nov  18 

May   7 

1— 1 

360  HISTOET  OI"  HAVERHILt,. 

Jackson  West        "        from  May  4     1761  to  Dec    13      1672 
Benja  AVeed  "  "       "      ♦'         "       "       "     "       '  " 

Nathl  West  "  "       "11       "       "     Jan   7         " 

Nathl  Weed  "  "       "        7       "       "     Dec  13         " 

In  the  Pay  Roll  of  Captain  Moses  Parker's  Company  (Chelmsford)  were 
Levi  Cottle     Private  from  May  12  to  Jany  10 
Jesse  Turrell       "  "     Mar  19  "   Nov    1 

Moses  Sanborn    "  "      May   3  "      "       " 

In  the  Pay  lioll  of  Henry  Young  Brown's''  Company  from  March  4, 
1762,  to  November  30,  1762,  we  find 

Moses  Grcenough,  Serjt,  from  March  17  to  Nov  18 
Jacob  Brown  •  "  "  "  "  "  •'  " 
Samuel  Annis  Private  " 
Eichard  Colby         "  " 

Wm  Colby  "  " 

Wm  Cook  "  ,' 

Isaac  Colby  "  " 

Moses  Dusten         "  " 

In  the  Pay  Roll  of  Captain  John  Nixon's  Company,  from  July  1,  1762, 
to  January  7,  1763,  were 

John  White,  Ensign,      from  July  l*to  Nov  29 
James  Emerson  private     "       "     "  "     "    23 
,      Joseph  Emerson       "  "       "     "  "     "    " 

Samuel  Middleton  "  "       "     "  "     "    " 

From  the  foregoing  lists  of  names,  it  will  be  seen  that  Haverhill  fur- 
nished its  full  proportion  of  soldiers  during  the  whole  of  this  war.  AVe 
regret  that  we  cannot  give  more  definite  information  in  regard  to  the  names 
and  number  of  those  killed,  wounded,  or  captured,  but  the  meagreness  of 
the  records  as  to  individual  histories,  and  the  time  which  has  elapsed  since 
the  occurrences  took  place,  have  put  it  beyond  our  power  to  do  so.  We 
have  no  doubt  that  other  persons  from  this  town,  besides  those  whose 
names  we  have  given,  were  in  the  service  ;  but,  as  the  place  of  residence 
or  enlistment  is  not  always  given  in  the  rolls,  and  as  it  frequently  hap- 
pened that  persons  of  the  same  name,  but  from  diff"erent  towns,  were  found 
in  those  lists  where  the  residence  was  given,  we  have  found  it  impossible 
to  obtain  a  more  perfect  list.  As  a  specimen  of  the  imperfection  of  the 
records,  we  may  cite  the  fact,  that  although  Dr.  James  Brickett  of  this 

o  Middle  names  nre  very  seldom  met  with  previous  to  1730,  and  from  that  time  they  increased  slowly 
until  about  1780,  when  they  were  consiOered  "fashionable."  Captain  Brown  was  one  of  the  first  Haver- 
hill men  we  find  thus  honored. 


HISTORY   OF   HAYERHILl.  861 

town  was  in  Colonel  Frye's  regiment,  as  surgeon's  mate,  from  March  30, 
1759,  to  July  30,  1760,  yet  we  do  not  find  bis  name  in  any  of  the  rolls, 
and  were  it  not  for  his  petition  in  1761,  for  his  pay,  we  should  hardly 
have  known  that  he  was  in  the  service  at  all. 
46 


563  nisTORY  OP  nAVERniLL. 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 

THE  REVOLUTION. 1765  TO  1783. 


Although  the  war  with  France  had  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of  the 
latter  from  all  their  possessions  in  the  northern  part  of  America,  it  had 
been  carried  on  at  a  vast  expense,  and  had  added  largely  to  the  national 
debt  of  England.  To  relieve  it  from  future  embarrassments  of  this  sort, 
the  scheme  was  suggested  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America.  The  first  act 
in  this  direction  was  the  revival  of  the  sugar  act,  in  1764.  This  placed  a 
duty  on  sugar,  molasses,  coffee,  wines,  &c.,  of  foreign  production,  and 
required  that  the  proceeds  of  the  tax  should  be  paid  into  the  treasury  of 
England. 

An  act  laying  duties  on  some  of  these  articles  had  existed  since  1733,  ■ 
but  had  never  been  rigidly  enforced.  But  now  instructions  were  given  to 
the  officers  of  the  customs  to  enforce  the  law  rigidly.  This  action  led  to  a 
discussion  of  the  right  of  parliament  to  tax  the  colonies.  James  Otis 
wrote  a  pamphlet,  in  which  he  denied  the  right ;  and  the  House  of  Eep- 
resentatives  of  Massachusetts  took  the  same  side  of  the  question.  Boston 
instructed  her  representatives  to  use  their  exertions  to  procure  a  repeal  of 
the  act.  The  discussion  of  this  question  developed  such  bold  views  of 
independency  as  to  alarm  the  British  ministry,  and  the  measures  they 
adopted  only  tended  to  widen  the  breach. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  the  "  Stamp  Act"  was  passed,  to  go  into  effect 
on  the  first  of  the  November  following.  This  act  required  the  people  of 
the  American  Colonies,  in  all  their  legal  and  mercantile  transactions,  to 
use  papers  stamped  with  the  Koyal  Seal.  It  was  spiritedly  opposed,  how- 
ever, by  the  Colonies,  especially  in  Boston,  where  the  inhabitants  collected 
and  assaulted  the  house  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchinson,  who  was  a 
warm  friend  of  the  act.  In  other  places,  the  bells  were  tolled,  and  effigies 
of  the  stamp-officers  were  burnt.  So  strong  was  the  excitement,  that 
every  stamp-officer  throughout  the  country,  unable  to  resist  the  public 
opinion,  resigned  his  commission,  and  when  the  time  arrived  for  the  act  to 
go  into  operation,  there  were  neither  stamped  papers  to  be  found,  nor  offi« 
cers  to  execute  the  act. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  363 

The  feeling  in  this  town  may  be  judged  by  the  following  proceedings  of 
a  meeting  specially  warned  a  few  days  before  the  act  was  to  go  into  opera- 
tion :  — 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  October  14th,  1765,  called  "  To  see  what 
Instructions  the  Town  will  give  to  their  Eepresentative  Eclating  to  the 
stamp  act  &  Excise  act ;  or  Concerning  anything  else  as  they  shall  Judge 
jDroper,"  &c.,  "the  following  Eesolves  and  Instructions  were  considered 
and  voted :  Whereas  some  matters  of  great  Importance  to  this"  Town  & 
province  In  general  are  likely  to  Come  under  Consideration  at  the  next 
sitting  of  our  great  and  general  Court ;  it  is  therefore  thought  proper  at 
this  Critical  Juncture  to  draw  up  and  give  our  representative  Coll  Salton- 
stall  some  special  Instructions  &  resolves  &  to  lodge  a  Copy  of  them  In 
our  Cleark's  office : 

As  the  time  prefixed  by  act  of  parliment  is  neare  when  these  much  des- 
puted  &  oppressive  Stamped  papers  were  required;  when  our  navigation. 
Courts  of  Justice,  &c  may  not  be  carrycd  on  without  them  ;  &  the  offend- 
ers against  said  act  be  subjected  to  a  Court  of  admiralty ;  unless  it  be 
repealed  of  which  we  have  no  certain  account,  it  is  resolved  that  we  Es- 
teem it  our  Indspencable  duty  to  pay  a  due  regard  to  all  the  Legall 
Injunctions  of  our  King  &  parliment ;  &  to  duly  resent  all  arbitrary  Im- 
positions ;  &  to  declare  that  we  think  the  Stamp  act  to  be  unconstitutional ; 
which  with  the  Extensive  power  lately  granted  to  Courts  of  admiralty  are 
great  Infriugments  upon  our  rights  and  privilcdgcs ;  &  that  they  wei*e  un- 
justly obtained  by  reason  of  wrong  Information  ;  and  recommend  it  to  our 
.  Eepresentetive  to  Exert  himself  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  for  the  Eecov- 
ery  or  preservation  of  our  Just  liberties  hopeing  that  what  has  &  may  be 
done  by  the  several  Colonies  In  America  will  convince  those  who  preside 
at  the  head  of  affairs  in  our  mother  Country  that  the  Stamp  act  &  such 
Exertions  of  power  would  not  only  ruin  their  Colonys  but  greatly  affect 
and  distress  trade  &  the  manufactories  in  England  ;  &  Influence  them  the 
Guardians  of  libertie  to  restraine  the  power  of  Courts  of  admiralty  to  pro- 
per bounds  ;  &  to  promote  &  procure  the  repeale  of  said  act  as  best  for  the 
nation  in  general ;  and  there  having  been  of  late  several  rioatous  assem-' 
blies  within  this  province  that  committed  great  violence  on  the  persons  & 
Estates  of  Sundry  persons  who  were  suffered  to  destroy  &  pillage  houses, 
&c,  which  require  large  Damages  to  the  unhappy  sufferers ;  it  is  resolved 
that  we  beare  Testimony  against  all  such  proceedings  and  Eeccommend  it 
to  our  Eepresentetive  that  an  act  or  law  of  the  Province  be  made  require- 
ing  that  all  the  like  Damages  by  any  such  rioutous  assemblies  then  or 
hereafter  shall  be  satisfied  &  paid  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  England  by  the 


364  HiSTOBY  or  haverhill. 

Town  whare  permitted  to  be  done  &  not  by  the  province  in  general ;  It  is 
also  Kesolved  that  our  llcprescntetive  use  his  Influence  that  there  be  no 
Excise  on  Tea  Coffie  &c  for  the  future ;  Resolved  that  he  use  his  Influence 
that  Excise  be  taken  off"  from  the  private  Consumption  of  Liquers ;  and 
that  it  "be  not  more  then  four  pence  on  the  Gallon  to  Licensed  persons 
and  that  he  use  his  Influence  for  taking  of  the  oath  Respecting  other  Grov- 
ernments  money  or  bills  of  the  other  Governments." 

There  could  be  no  mistaking  the  spirit  and  meaning  of  the  American 
people  in  this  matter,  and  the  British  government  hastened  to  repeal  the 
obnoxious  act. 

In  July,  1766,  Governor  "Wentworth,  of  New  Hampshire,  was  appointed 
by  the  King  "  Surveyor  General  of  all  his  Majesty's  woods  in  North 
America,"  for  the  purpose  of  putting  into  execution  the  acts  of  parliament 
concerning  the  preservation  of  "  the  King's  woods  from  trespass  &  waste." 
By  these  acts,  all  white  pine  trees  from  fifteen  to  thirty-six  inches  in 
diameter,  were  reserved  for  the  royal  navy,  and  any  owner  of  land,  before 
he  commenced  cutting,  was  under  the  necessity  of  employing  a  deputy 
surveyor  to  mark  the  trees  upon  his  land,  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  king, 
and  if  he  neglected  to  have  his  land  thus  surveyed,  either  fronl  inability 
to  pay  for  such  survey,  or  other  cause,  and  proceeded  to  cut  his  timber, 
the  same  was  forfeited  to  the  king !  In  this  way,  whole  mill-yards  of 
lumber,  got  out  by  the  settlers  for  building  their  houses,  and  barns,  were 
often  forfeited.  Seizures  were  made  in  all  parts  of  the  Province,  wherever 
the  pine  abounded,  and  mills  had  been  erected.  Samuel  Blodget,  of  Goff's- 
town,  was  appointed,  in  February,  1773,  deputy  surveyor  for  thirty-one 
towns  in  the  province  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the  towns  of  Haverhill, 
Andover,  Dracut,  Chelmsford,  and  Ipswich,  in  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay. 

The  seizures  and  proceedings  under  this  law  of  parliament,  tended 
greatly  to  aggravate  the  people  wherever  such  proceedings  were  had,  and 
fostered  the  deep-seated  feeling  of  discontent. 

AVhile  the  colonies  were  resting  from  the  agitation  into  which  they  had 
been  thrown  by  the  past  acts  of  the  British  parliament,  that  body  was  pre- 
paring new  causes  of  excitement.  England  could  not  yet  relinquish  her 
scheme  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America,  and  besides  passing  an  act  laying 
duties  on  glass,  painter's  colors,  tea,  and  paper,  she  passed  another,  assert- 
ing a  right  "  to  make  laws  of  sufficient  force  and  validity  to  bind  the 
colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever,"  and  established  a  board  of  commissioners 
for  the  management  of  the  customs  in  America. 


HISTORY   O'E  HAVERHILL.  365 

The  passage  of  these  acts  occasioned  at  first  no  violent  outbreaks,  like 
those  which  followed  the  stamp  act,  but  rather  a  firm  determination  of  the 
people  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  the  dutiable  articles,  and  to  encourage, 
by  every  means,  domestic  manufactures  of  every  kind.  But  the  strict 
execution  of  the  revenue  act,  at  length  produced  new  mobs  and  riots  in  the 
seaport  towns,  which  led  the  government  to  call  to  its  support  a  naval  and 
military  force. 

At  this  juncture,  Samuel  Adams  drew  up  a  remonstrance  against  the 
revenue  act,  which  was  read  in  the  House  of  Kepresentatives,  and  after 
being  debated  several  days ;  "  Seven  times  revised  ;  every  word  weighed ; 
every  sentence  considered  ;  "  it  was  adopted  to  be  sent  to  the  agent  at 
Court,  and  to  be  published  to  the  world  as  expressing  the  unchangable 
opinion  of  Massachusetts.  A  proposition  was  then  made  and  adopted,  to 
lay  these  proceedings  before  the  other  colonies,  that,  "  if  they  thought  fit, 
they  might  join  them,"  and  a  masterly  circular,  also  draughted  by  Adams, 
was  accepted.  The  latter  circular  reached  England  in ,  April,  (1768)  and 
was  at  once  denounced  as  of  a  "  most  dangerous  and  factious  tendency," 
and  the  General  Court  was  ordered  to  rescind  their  resolutions,  upon  pain 
of  dissolution  by  the  Governor.  The  message  of  the  Governor,  conveying 
this  order,  was  read  in  the  House  once,  and  ordered  to  a  second  reading  in 
the  afternoon,  when  the  clarion  voice  of  Otis  rang  through  the  hall  in  a 
masterly  speech  of  two  hours  in  length,  setting  forth  his  objections  to 
a  compliance  with  the  rec[uisition. 

For  a  full  week  the  affi.iir  was  in  suspense.  At  length,  the  Governor 
demanded  a  definite  answer.  The  House  asked  a  recess,  to  consult  their 
constituents  :  —  it  was  refused.  Upon  this,  the  question  was  taken  vii-a 
voce  ;  and  out  of  one  hundred  and  nine  votes  cast,  only  seventeen  were  in 
the  afiirmative  !  In  accordance  with  his  instructions,  the  Governor  there- 
upon dissolved  the  Court,  and  thus  Massachusetts  was  without  a  legisla- 
ture. 

Soon  after,  (September  1st)  a  town  meeting  was  called  in  this  town, 
"to  see  if  the  town  approves  of  the  proceedings  of  the  late  House  of 
Representatives  in  not  Eescinding;  "  and  on  its  being  put  to  vote,  "  The 
thanks  of  the  town  were  voted  to  the  Gentlemen  of  the  house  of  Repre- 
sentatives for  their  firmness  in  defending  the  liberties  of  the  people." 

On  the  8th  of  September,  information  was  received  that  a  body  of  troops 
had  been  ordered  to  Boston,  and,  almost  immediately,  a  town  meeting,  the 
great  engine  of  those  days,  was  summoned  in  Boston.  This  meeting 
recommended  that  a  convention  of  committees  from  all  the  towns  in  the 


366  HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL. 

province  should  be  held  at  Fancuil  Hall,  to  concert  and  advise  such  meas- 
ures as  the  public  peace  and  safety  required.  This  proposition  met  a 
hearty  respouse  from  the  principal  towns  in  the  province. 

In  this  town,  at  a  meeting  specially  warned  for  that  purpose,  (Septem- 
ber 20)  "  Samuel  Bachellor  was  chosen  as  a  Committee  Man  to  Joyu  in  a 
Convention' with  a  Committee  of  this  province  held  in  the  Town  of  Boston 
on  the  twenty  second  day  of  September  Instant ;  to  consult  advise  and 
act;  as  his  majesties  sarvice  and  the  peace  and  safety  of  his  subjects  in 
this  province  may  Eequire." 

"  As  a  principal  Instruction  to  Mr  Samuel  Bach eller,  voted  that  the 
king's  troops  should  not  be  hindered  their  landing  by  force  of  arms  ; 

"  Further  voted  that  Mr  Bacheller  be  Directed  in  Every  Constitutional 
way  &  manner  Consistent  with  our  Loyalty  to  our  Gracious  Sovereign  ;  to 
oppose  &  prevent  the  Levying  or  Collecting  of  money  from  us  not  granted 
by  our  selves  or  our  Legal  Eepresentatives." 

The  result  of  the  convention  was  a  calm  enumeration  of  grievances, 
strong  professions  of  loyalty,  and  a  discountenancing  of  all  tumultous  ex- 
pressions of  the  feelings. 

On  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  two  regiments  arrived  in  Boston,  and 
landed  about  one  thousand  men  without  opposition.  But  both  the  General 
Court  and  the  town  of  Boston  refused  to  furnish  the  troops  with  quarters 
or  supplies,  although  the  Oovcrnor  repeatedly  applied  to  them  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

The  continuance  of  the  troops  in  Boston  was  a  constant  source  of  vexa- 
tion to  the  people,  as  difficulties  were  often  occurring  between  the 
inhabitants  and  the  soldiers. 

The  merchants  of  Boston,  after  vainly  endeavoring  to  have  the  duties 
on  goods  removed,  renewed  an  obligation  formerly  made,  to  import  no 
more  goods,  unless  the  revenue  law  should  be  repealed,  and  recommended 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  province  should  not  purchase  goods  from  those 
who  violated  the  agreement. 

The  collision  between  the  British  troops  and  the  inhabitants  of  Boston, 
on  the  5th  of  March,  1770,  was  the  signal  for  renewed  manifestations  of 
determined  resistance  to  the  odious  laws ;  and  a  meeting  of  this  town  was 
soon  after  called,  to  consider  what  course  should  be  pursued  by  the  inhabi- 
tants in  the  critical  emergency.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  whole 
record  of  the  meeting :  — 

"  At  a  Lcgall  Town  Meeting  In  Haverhill  on  April  9  :  1770  warned  by 
the  Constable  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  received  from  the  Selectmen  for  his 
BO  doing  &c : 


BISTORT   OF   HATERHILL.  367 

Istly  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  something  respecting  the  importers 
or  the  Importing  British  Goods  Contrary  to  the  agreement  of  murchcnts 
In  General  or  with  respect  to  the  late  resolve  about  them : 

2clly  To  see  if  tht)  Town  will  vote  something  with  respect  to  those  who 
shall  or  may  purchest  such  Goods  or  promote  the  bringing  them  Into  this 
Town  or  what  they  will  otherwise  Eesolve  : 

3dly  To  see  if  the  Town  will  Chuse  a  Committee  to  see  that  all  Salu- 
tary Eesovles  and  agreements  about  such  Goods  be  Duly  observed  and  to 
give  notice  and  Expose  all  such  persons  who  shall  violate  them." 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Walker  was  chosen  Moderator. 

"Voted,  That  we  will  by  all  LawfuU  ways  &  means  Exert  ourselves 
and  Expose  to  shame  &  Contempt  all  persons  who  shall  offer  to  make  sale 
of  British  Goods  Imported  Conterary  to  the  agreement  of  marchents  or 
that  shall  purchase  such  Goods  In  this  Town  or  be  aiding  or  assisting  to 
bring  them  Into  it,  till  a  General  Importation  of  such  Goods  shall  take 
place  and  that  all  persons  who  shall  violate  or  Counter  act  this  vote  and 
resolve  shall  be  I'cndered  Incapable  of  being  Chosen  to  any  of&ce  of  proffit 
or  Hoaouer  in  tliis  Town. 

Voted,  That  Messrs  Thomas  West,  Deac  John  Aycr,  Capt  William 
Greenleaf,  Nathaniel  Peaslec  Sargent  Esq,  Nathaniel  Walker,  John  Young, 
and  James  Carr,  be  a  Committee  to  Inspect  and  see  that  all  salutary  re- 
solves and  agreements  with  respect  to  such  Goods  be  Duly  obsarvcd  and  to 
Give  Notice  &  Expose  all  who  shall  violate  them  ;  that  their  names  m;iy 
be  remembered  with  Infamy  ;  and  to  have  the  Custety  and  keeping  of  all 
such  goods  stored  dureing  said  Term. 

Voted  the  thanks  of  this  Town  to  the  truly  patriotic  marchants  who 
have  acted  with  firm  resolutions  for  preventing  the  Importation  of  British 
goods  for  the  good  of  their  Country  tho  much  to  their  private  loss  and  to 
the  Town  of  Boston  and  the  several  Towns  In  this  province  &  Else  whare 
which  have  by  their  spirited  resolves  prevented  the  sale  of  British  Goods 
lately  Imported  In  the  principle  Towns  &  places  in  the  Colonies. 

Voted  that  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  shall  be  published  in  one  or 
more  of  the  public  news  papers. 

The  Moderator  dismissed  the  meeting." 

Such  thorough  and  determined  opposition  to  the  odious  laws,  induced 
parliament  to  modify  them,  as  far  as  it  could  without  relinquishing  its  right 
to  legislate  over  the  colonies.  In  this  view,  they  rescinded  the  duties  upon 
all  articles  except  tea. 

■     The  General  Court,  which  had  heretofore  met  in  Boston,  was,  by  "  a 
signification  of  the  King's  pleasure,"  convened  at  Cambridge,  on  the  loth 


S68  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

of  March,  1770.  This  \c^  to  a  long  controversy  between  the  Governor 
and  the  Legislature,  the  latter  protesting  against  the  removal,  and  Avell- 
nigh  resolving  not  to  proceed  to  the  transaction  of  business  uifless  they 
were  removed  to  the  ancient  place  of  sitting — "at  the  town  house  in 
Boston." 

Such  was  the  situation  of  affairs  in  September,  when  this  town  sent  the 
following  letter  of  instructions  to  its  Eepresentativc :  — ■ 

"  Instructions  given  to  Mr  Bachellor,  Eepresentative 

Sr. 

Understanding  that  in  times  past  you  have  voted  against  the  General 
Assembly's  proceeding  to  business  as  they  are  not  allowed  to  meet  in  the 
Town  of  Boston  we  your  Constituents  think  it  our  Duty  to  give  our  opinion 
relative  to  that  Important  matter  ;  &  Important  it  is  considering  the  pre- 
sent state  of  our  Interlal  polity ;  the  expiration  of  the  laws  for  regulating 
fees;  Choice  of -Jury  men;  restraining  Excessive  usury  ;  are  some  of  the 
matters  that  need  Imeadiate  redress.  The  operation  at  this  time  of  the  law 
for  Limitation  of  actions  whereby  much  of  our  property  lies  wholly  at  the 
mercy  of  Debtors  is  a  grievance  that  almost  every  person  In  the  province 
is  affected  with  ;  and  finally  an  Exorbitant  Tax  laid  on  the  province  this 
year  ;  will  nearly  render  the  misery  of  those  of  our  fellow  subjects  who 
are  now  struggling  with  poverty  Compleat ;  these  things  &  many  others 
might  be  mentioned  ;  we  think  are  more  than  a  ballance  for  any  little  In- 
convenientcy  that  may  arise  by  means  of  the  General  Court  setting  out  of 
Boston  ;  wee  know  that  some  years  past  it  was  opinion  of  many  that  the 
Court  setting  In  Boston  was  an  Inconveniencie ;  and  the  General  Coiirt  ■ 
refusing  still  to  Do  Business  will  be  detrimental  only  to  the  province  ;  not 
to  those  by  whose  Influence  it  was  removed  ;  we  therefore  now  Exercising 
our  Constitusanel  right  advise  and  Intruet  you  to  give  your  vote  &  use 
your  whole  Influance  that  the  general  Court  should  at  their  next  sessions 
act  upon  the  Business  of  the  province ;  &  afford  us  all  Due  release  from  the 
Grievences  above  mentioned  as  well  as  any  others  that  may  be :  this  we 
'  xpect  from  you  as  our  Eepresentative  &  wish  you  success  in  your 
endeavours.-' 

0  Mr  Samuel  Bachellor  EejDresentative  for  the  Town  of  Haverhill," 

Slowly,  but  surely,  the  people  of  the  colonies  were  led,  or  rather  driven, 
toward  open  revolt.  The  embarrassments  of  the  East  India  Company 
hastened  the  final  struggle.     Through  mismanagement,  and  the  continued 

o  The  meeting  at  Trhich  these  instractions  were  agreed  upon,  was  held  September  20, 1770. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVEEHllI..  369 

^eFusal  of  America  to  import  their  teas,  —  whicli  were  thus  thrown  "back 
tipon  them  in  great  quantities,  —  they  were  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy, 
and  applied  to  parliament  for  relief. 

A  loan  was  granted  them,  accompanied  by  a  bill  empowering  them  to 
export  teas  direct  from  their  own  warehouses,  upon  their  own  account,  and 
granting  them  a  drawback  of  the  whole  duty  payable  in  England  on  such 
teas  as  were  exported  to  the  British  plantations  in  America.  The  colonial 
tax  of  three  pence  on  the  pound  was  still  to  be  paid ;  nor  would  Lord 
North  listen  to  the  proposal  that  this  should  be  abandoned.  America  was 
not  to  bs  relieved  from  taxation.  The  king  was  determined  "  to  try  the 
question  in  America," — -and  he  did  trt/  it,  but  did  not  decide  it. 

Cargoes  of  the  tea  were  sent  to  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Boston, 
At  the  two  former  places,  the  consignees  resigned  their  trust;  but  in 
Boston  they  declined  doing  so,  whereupon  the  inhabitants,  in  public  meet- 
ing, voted,  "  that  the  tea  shall  not  be  landed,  that  no  duty  shall  be  paid, 
and  that  it  shall  be  sent  back  in  the  same  bottom."  Seven  thousand  per- 
sons were  present  at  the  meeting,  and  yet  the  vote  was  unanimous !  The 
owner  of  one  of  the  vessels  containing  the  tea  had  already  promised  that 
it  should  not  be  landed,  but  should  be  returned,  but  had  been  refused  a 
clearance.  He  was  instructed  "  to  protest  against  the  custom  house,  and 
apply  to  the  governor  for  his  .pass-"  But  the  Governor  had  stolen  to  his 
residence  at  Milton,  and  before  the  owner  returned,  darkness  had  settled 
upon  the  town.  Within  the  dimly  lighted  walls  of  the  "Old  South," 
upon  this  cold  December  eve,  the  audience  awaited  his  return.  At  a  quar- 
ter before  six  he  made  his  appearance,  and  reported  that  the  Governor* 
had  refused  him  a  pass.  *'  We  can  do  no  more  to  save  the  country,"  said 
Samuel  Adams ;  and  a  momentary  silence  ensued.  The  next  instant  a 
shout  was  heard  at  the  door  ;  the  war-whoop  sounded  ;  and  forty  or  fifty 
men,  disguised  as  Indians,  hurried  along  to  the  wharf,  posted  guards, 
boarded  the  ships,  and  in  three  hours'  time  three  hundred  and  forty-two 
-chests  of  tea  had  been  broken  and  thrown  overboard.  So  great  was  the 
stillness  that  the  blows  of  the  hatchets,  as  the  chests  were  split  open,  was 
distinctly  heard,  and  when  the  deed  was  done,  every  one  retired  and  the 
town  wore  its  accustomed  quiet. 

The  die  was  now  cast.  It  was  impossible  to  recede.  When,  upon  the 
news  reaching  England,  it  was  proposed  to  pass  conciliatory  measures, 
Mansfield  exclaimed,  "  The  sword  is  drawn,  and  you  must  throw  away  the 
scabbard  ;  "  and  besides  voting,  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  to  forty-nine, 
against  the  repeal  of  the  tax  on  tea,  a  bill  was  carried  for  "  the  better 

o  Hutchinson. 

47 


370  HISTORY   OF   HAVERniLt. 

regulating  the  government  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay," 
■which  abrogated  so  much  of  the  charter  as  gave  to  the  legislature  the 
election  of  the  council ;  abolished  town  meetings,  except  for  the  choice  of 
town  officers,  or  on  the  special  permission  of  the  governor  ;  conferred  on 
the  executive  the  appointment  and  removal  of  sheriffs  at  pleasure  ;  and  in- 
trusted to  the  sheriffs  the  returning  of  juries  ;  —  a  bill  "  for  the  impartial 
administration  of  justice,"  &c.,  which  transferred  the  place  of  trial  of 
magistrates,  revenue  officers,  or  soldiers  indicted  for  murder,  or  other  capi- 
tal offence,  to  Nova-Scotia  or  Great  Britain  ;  — and  a  bill  for  legalizing 
the  quartering  of  troops  in  Boston.  Governor  Hutchinson  was  re-called, 
and  Thomas  Gage  appointed  in  his  stead,  and  four  regiments  were  ordered 
to  enforce  submission.  l5y  his  instructions,  the  governor  was  to  close  the 
port  of  Boston, 

General  Gage  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  17th  of  May,  (1774)  and  on  the 
appointed  day,  (June  1st)  as  the  clock  struck  twelve,  the  port  was  closed, 
and  the  courts  were  suspended,  amid  the  solemn  tolling  of  bells.  The  day 
was  improved,  not  only  in  Massachusetts,  but  even  in  Virginia,  and  other 
colonies,  in  fasting  and  prayer. 

Satisfied  that  the  time  had  come  when  a  union  of  the  colonies  was  ab- 
solutely necessary,  the  House  of  Eepresentatives,  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred 
and  seventeen  to  twelve,  decided  that  "  a  committee  should  be  appointed 
to  meet,  as  soon  as  may  be,  the  committees  that  are  or  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  several  colonies  on  this  continent,  to  consult  together  upon  the  present 
state  of  the  colonies."  The  committee  was  chosen,  and  funds  provided 
for  their  expenses.  This  was  on  the  17th  of  June.  On  the  28th  of  July, 
notwithstanding  the  new  law  to  the  contrary,  a  town  meeting  was  held  in 
this  town,  the  proceedings  of  which  we  think  justify  an  insertion  of  the 
full  record  in  this  place. 

"  At  a  legal  Town  meeting  held  in  Haverhill  on  July  28th  1774,  warned 
by  the  Constable  by  virtue  of  a  "Warrant  Eeceived  from  the  Selectmen  for 
his  so  doing  &c 

1st  For  those  to  whom  the  Town  is  indebted,  to  bring  in  their  Claims 
in  order  to  be  allowed 

2dly  To  see  what  Money  the  Town  will  Vote  to  Eaise  to  defray  Town 
Charges  the  present  Year 

3dly  To  Recieve  the  Eeport  of  the  Committee  chosen  to  Eeckon  with  the 
Town  Treasurer 

4thly  In  answer  to  two  Petitions  from  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town, 
To  see  if  the  Town  will  Vote  that  they  will  not  Buy  or  purchase  any 
Goo  is  or  Merchandise  imported  from  Great  Brittan,  from  and  after  the 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  371 

Time  agreed  upon  by  the  Colonies  in  general,  or  the  General  Congress  to 
be  held  at  Philadelphia  and  not  to  have  any  Commercial  Intercourse  with 
them  that  will  not  come  into  the  nonimportation  agreament-:—  and  to  Chuse 
a  committee  of  Inspection,  to  inspect  and  find  out  those  Men  or  Women 
who  shall  expose  to  Sale,  Tea,  or  any  new  imported  Goods,  contrary  to  the 
general  agreement,  and  expose  their  Names  to  the  Publick :  that  they  may 
avoid  them ;  and  to  act  further  on  the  affair  as  the  Town  shall  Judge 
proper 

5thly  To  Chuse  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  to  Correspond  or  con- 
sult with  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  &  other  Towns  in  this 
Province  relating  to  the  distressed  Situation  the  Province  in  general,  & 
the  Town  of  Boston  in  particular  is  brought  into  by  the  late  Acts  of  the 
British  Parliment  —  to  consult  (if  possible)  of  Some  Measures  of  Redress 
—  and  also  to  Draw  up  a  Solemn  Agreement  for  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Town  to  Sign  (if  they  Judge  it  proper)  that  they  will  not  buy  or  purchase 
any  Goods  or  Merchandise  of  any  Person,  which  shall  be  imported  con- 
trary to  the  general  Agreement  of  the  Colonies  in  General  Congress  —  if 
the  Town  likes  not  that  already  drawn  and  also  to  act  further  on  the  whole 
Affair  as  the  Town  shall  Judge  proper 

6thly  To  see  if  the  Town  will  Vote  to  Draw  Three  Pounds  Nineteen 
Shillings  and  Ten  Pence  out  of  the  Town  Treasury,  for  the  use  and  bene- 
fit of  the  Committee  to  meet  at  the  general  Congress,  in  behalf  of  the 
Province  —  and  Chuse  a  proper  Person  to  di*aw  said  Money  out  of 
the  Treasury,  by  order  from  the  Selectmen,  for  the  Purpose  above  said, 
and  be  accountable  to  the  Town 

7thly  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  to  accept  of  some  Person  to  serve 
as  Constable  in  the  Eoom  of  Mr  Eichard  Ayer,  if  he  desires  it 

8thly  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  to  allow  Mr  John  Sawyer  liberty  to 
erect  a  Scale  for  weighing  of  Hay  in  some  convenient  place  in  this  Town. 

Mr  Isaac  Eedington  was  chosen  Moderator  for  said  Meeting. 

Voted,  agreeable  to  the  2d  Article,  To  Eaise  One  hundred  and  Fifty 
Pounds  to  defray  Town  Charges  the  present  year. 

Voted,  the  4th  article  in  the  affirmative  —  also  Voted  that  Messrs  Sam- 
uel Appleton,  Samuel  Souter,  Thomas  West,  Samuel  Merrill,  Nathl  Rolf, 
Thomas  Cogswell,  Doc  AVilliam  Bachellor,  John  Sawyer,  and  Nathaniel 
Walker  Junior,  be  a  Committee  of  Inspection 

5th  article  voted  in  the  affirmative  —  also  the  following  Resolves 

Whereas  The  Importation,  Sale,  or  Consumption  of  East  India  Teas,  is 
evidently  counteracting  the  peaceable  Measures  which  have  been  pursued, 
and  are  now  pursuing,  by  the  province  in  general,  for  the  Relief  of  the 


372  HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILI> 

Town  of  Boston,  tlie  Restoration  and  Continuance  of  our  Charter  EigLts^ 
—  and  whereas  it  is  highly  probable  the  approaching  Congress  of  the 
Deputjs  from  the  respective  Colonies,  will  come  into  a  Determination  that 
.a  general  Plan"  for  a  nonimportation  and  nonexportation  of  Merchandize 
to  and  from  Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  will  be  most  effectual  means  for 
attaining  this  desirable  End ;  and  whereas  it  is  necessary  and  becoming 
that  every  community  should  communicate  their  Sentiments  and  Resolu- 
tions to  their  Brethren  at  this  alarming  Crisis  of  Our  public  Affairs  — 
Therefore 

1.  Resolved,  That  we  will  not  import,  purchase,  vend  or  consume  any 
East  India  Tea,  until  the  Duty  imposed  upon  Importation  into  the  Colo- 
nies shall  be  taken  off ;  &  the  port  of  Boston  opened. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  will  not  purchase  any  kind  of  Merchandize  of 
those  persons,  who  shall  (by  importing,  purchasing  or  vending  Said  Tea) 
act  contrary  to  the  sense  of  the  above  Resolutions. 

3.  Resolved,  That  we  will  abide  by  any  Determination  of  the  approach- 
ing Congress  which  shall  be  rational  &  generally  adopted  ;  in  particular, 
if  a  nonimportation  and  nonexportation  of  Merchandize  to  and  from  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  and  a  nonconsumation  Agreement,  shall  be  their 
Determination,  we  will  both  collectively  and  individually  abide  by  the 
Same. 

4.  Resolved,  That  if  a  nonimportation  and  nonexportation  of  Merchan- 
dize to  and  from  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  shall  be  agreed  upon  and 
generally  adopted  and  any  person  should  be  so  lost  to  every  feeling  of 
Humanity  and  Regard  to  posterity,  as  to  counteract  such  Agreement :  We 
will  not  purchase  any  kind  of  ]\Ierchandize  of  them ;  and  will  use  our 
influence  to  deter  others  from  doing  the  same. 

5.  Resolved,  That  there  shall  be  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  this 
Town  to  correspond  with  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  other  Towns  in 
this  province,  and  that  this  Committee  shall  consist  of  Five  or  more 
persons. 

G.  Resolved,  That  Samuel  White  Esq,  Mr  Isaac  Redington,  Mr  Joseph 
Haynes,  Mr  Richard  Ayer,  Mr  Jonathan  Webster  Junior,  Mr  Daniel  Dcn- 
nison  Rogers,  &  Mr  Timothy  Eaton,  be  a  Committee  for  the  above  purpose, 
any  Four  of  whom  when  met  together  to  proceed  on  business. 

7.  Resolved,  That  there  shall  be  a  Committee  of  Inspection  ;  to  Inspect 
into  the  Conduct  and  inform  of  those  persons  who  shall  counteract  the 
above  Resolutions. 


HISTORY   OP  HATERHILL.  373 

8.  Resolved,  That  A.  B.  &  C.  as  Eecorded  under  the  6th  Eesolve  be  a 
Committee  for  this  purpose  of  Inspection  or  Correspondence. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  be  desired  to  trans- 
mit a  Copy  of  these  Ecsolutions  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
the  Town  of  Boston. 

6th  article  in  the  "Warning  Voted  in  the  affirmative,  Nemine  Contradi- 
ciente  also  voted  that  Mr  Jonathan  Webster  Jun  Draw  out  said  money  & 
be  accountable  to  the  Town. 

By  Vote  this  Meeting  is  Adjourned  to  the  15th  day  of  September  next 
1774  to  this  Place  at  3  of  the  Clock  afternoon." 

Though  there  were  then  three  companies  of  Militia  in  the  town,  the 
patriotic  citizens  determined  to  organize  a  fourth.  The  latter  was  formed 
as  an  ''  independent  "  company,  and  it  being  the  first  one  in  the  town,  and 
organized  at  a  time  when  serious  work  was  expected,  and  counted  on,  we 
feel  justified  in  giving  a  somewhat  extended  notice  of  it. 

Wc  copy  the  following  from  the  original  paper :  — 

"  Haverhill  Sept,  5th.  1774. 

"\Ye  the  Subscribers,  sensible  of  the  importance  of  a  well  regulated 
Military  Discipline,  do  hereby  covenant  and  engage,  to  form  ourselves  in  to 
an  Artillery  Company  at  Haverhill  according  to  the  following  Articles,  — 

First.  That  there  shall  be  four  officers  (viz)  a  Capt.,  Lieut,  Ensign  and 
Sergeant,  who  is  to  act  as  Clerk,  To  be  chosen  by  a  majority  of  the  Com- 
pany when  met  together, 

2d.  That  we  will  meet  together  (on  the  first  and  third  Mondays  of 
September,  October  and  November  following,  and  on  the  first  and  third 
Mondays  of  the  six  Summer  months  annually  til  the  Company  shall  agree 
to  dissolve  the  same)  for  the  exercise  of  Arms  and  Evolutions,  And  that 
the  role  shall  be  called  two  hours  before  Sunset,  and  the  Company  shall  be 
dismissed  at  Sun  set  N.  B.  If  it  be  fowl  weather  the  Day  appointed,  the 
Company  shall  meet  the  next  fair  Day  — 

3dly.  Any  one  neglecting  Due  attendance  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of 
eight  Pence,  for  the  use  of  the  Company ;  unless  on  a  reasonable  Plea, 
excused  by  the  Company, 

4thly.  That  no  new  member  be  admitted  without  the  vote  of  the 
Company, 

5thly.  That  each  member  shall  be  Equiped  with  Arms,  Accoutriments 
and  Dress,  according  to  Vote  of  Company, 

6thly.  That  each  member  shall  be  supply 'd  with  one  Pound  of  Powder 
and  Twenty  Balls ;  to  be  reviewed  twice  a  year ;  upon  the  Days  of  chusing 


374 


HISTORY  OF  HAVERHILL. 


OflGicers,  to  commence  tlie  first  Monday  in  October,  from  that  time,  the  first 
Monday  in  May  and  August  annually, 


James  Brickett, 
William  Greenleaf, 
Nathaniel  Marsh, 
Phineas  Carleton, 
Oliver  Pcahody, 
Joshua  B.  Osgood, 
Thomas  Cogswell, 
Israel  Bartlet, 
Jonathan  Barker, 
Isaac . 


James  Duncap  junr, 
John  Cook, 
John  Wingate, 
Bailey  Bartlett, 
Daniel  Greenleaf, 
Paul  Thomson, 
Eben.  Greenough, 
James  Harrod, 
Samuel  Greenleaf, 
Moses  Clements  junr, 
Timothy  Eaton  junr, 
D  W,  D  N  Kogers, 


Edward  Barnard, 
Benj.  Mooersjunr., 
"William  Greenough, 
Daniel  Kenrich, 
David  Marsh  junr, 
Samuel  Duncan, 
Enoch  Marsh, 
Thomas  West, 
William  Lamson, 
John  Sawyer," 


Daniel  Appleton, 
Abraham  Swett, 

The  first  meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  held  the  same  day  the  agree- 
ment is  dated,  when  James  Brickett  was  chosen  Captain,  and  Israel 
Bartlett  Clerk,  of  the  company.  They  voted  to  meet  twice  each  week  for 
drill,  —  one  hour  before  sunset.  October  3d,  the  organization  was  com- 
pleted, by  the  choice  of  Doctor  James  Brickett,  Captain  ;  Israel  Bartlett, 
Lieutenant ;  Joshua  B.  Osgood,  Ensign ;  and  Edward  Barnard,  Clerk  and 
Sargeant.  November  12th,  it  was  "  Voted,  that  this  company  look  upon 
themselves  to  be  an  Independent  Corps ;  also  upon  their  Officers  to  be 
equal  in  Bank  and  Command  to  Field  Officers,  of  any  Eegiment  in  this 
County,  and  subject  to  the  Command  of  no  officer,  but  such  as  the  Field 
Officers  of  the  several  Kegiments  are  subject  to."  November  21st,  the 
company  "  voted  to  use  the  exercise  as  ordered  by  His  Majesty  in  the  year 
17G4-."  Several  of  the  members  immediately  sent  to  England  for  a  copy 
of  the  "  Norfolk  Militia  Book,"  which  arrived  in  due  time.  The  work  cost 
them  £G.15.  The  names  of  those  who  thus  manifested  their  zeal  in  the 
pursuit  of  correct  military  knowledge,  were  "  Bailey  Bartlett,  Israel  Bart- 
lett, Thos  Cogswell,  Nathl  Marsh,  Doctr  Brickett,  Nathl  Walker." 

The  following  extracts  from  the  records  of  the  company  are  worth  pre- 
serving, (November  21,  1774,) :  — 

"  Voted,  to  meet  Mondays,  at  6  o'clk  in  the  evening,  pi-ccisely,  for  the 
above  purpose.  Voted,  to  pay  a  fine  of  6d  for  non-appearance.  Voted, 
that  we  meet  once  a  week  (Mondays)  as  Volunteers.  Voted,  that  the 
Clerk  provide  candles  for  the  use  of  the  Company  out  of  the  fines.  Voted, 
that  N  Saltonstall,  D  Marsh,  J  McHard,  &  John  Sawyer  be  of  this 
Company." 

"Dec  5  1774.  Met  at  Jlr  Osgood's  Still  house.  Voted,  that  the  Offi- 
cers of  this  Company  shall  not  assist  in  choosing  the  Field  Officers  of  the 
Regiment." 


Distort  op  hateehill.  S75 

"Jan  1775.  Met  at  Mr  West's  Distill  House.  Voted,  ttat  any  Mem- 
"ber  who  shall  leave  the  Company  before  he  is  discharged  by  the  Command- 
ing Officer,  shall  pay  a  fine  of  4d. 

"  Feb.  Met  at  Mr  West's  Distill  House.  Voted,  that  we  hire  Mr 
George  Marsdin  for  4  days  at  12s  a  day,  &  that  he  be  paid  out  of  the  finca. 

"  March  21,  1775.  Met  at  Capt  Greenleaf 's.  Voted,  that  Nathan 
Blodget  and  Heman  Ladd  be  admitted  as  members  of  this  Company. 
Voted,  that  we  Dress  in  a  Uniform  consisting  of  a  Blue  Coat,  turned  up 
with  Buff,  and  yellow  plain  Buttons,  the  Coit  cut  half  way  the  thigh ; 
and  the  Pockets  a  Slope.  Voted,  Also,  that  we  have  Buff,  or  Naiikeen 
Waistcoat  &  Breeches,  and  White  Stockings  with  half  Boots  or  Gaiters. 
Also  that  the  Hats  be  cocked  alike.  And  that  each  one  have  a  bright  gun, 
Bayonet,  &  Steel  Eamrod.  Voted  that  the  Company  be  equipd  in  this 
'  Uniform  by  the  first  Monday  in  May."--' 

"May  1st.  Made  choice  of  Edw  Barnard  as  Clerk.  Voted,  that  Wil- 
liam Greenleaf  be  Capt  of  this  Company  —  that  Israel  Bartlett  be  Lieut. 
Voted,  that  N  Marsh  be  Ensign  of  this  Company.  Voted,  that  the  Clerk 
act  as  Sargeant." 

"  May  18th.  Met  on  the  Parade.  Voted,  that  we  meet  on  Mondays  at 
sunrise  for  Exercise  of  Arms." 

"  May  24th.      Voted,  to  meet  Sun  an  hour  high  for  the  future." 

The  above  is  the  last  vote  entered  in  the  record  book  as  that  of  the 
Artillery  company.  The  first  entry  upon  the  next  page  is  "  Becords  of 
the  first  Company  in  Haverhill."  This  is  followed  by  the  records  of  that 
company,  and  we  find  no  subsequent  allusion  to  the  artillery  company. 
In  the  records  of  the  first  company,  we  find  the  names  of  most  of  the  pre- 
vious members  of  the  artillery  company.  These  facts,  with  the  absence  of 
record  or  reliable  information  to  the  contrary,  lead  us  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  heavy  drafts  and  constant  activity  and  readiness  required  of  the 
militia,  (to  which,  of  course,  every  member  of  the  artillery  also  belonged, 
by  law,)  led  to  the  necessity  of  a  disbandment  of  the  latter.  Whether  it 
was  afterward  resuscitated,  or  not,  we  cannot  say.f 

On  the  15th  of  September,  (1774)  the  town  again  met,  agreeably  to  the 
previous  adjournment.     The  first  vote  passed,  was  to  lay  an  additional 

*  Though  organized  under  the  name  of  an  Artillery  Company,  they  never  had  any  artillery,  but  were 
strictly  a  Company  of  Light  Infantry. 

t  In  1783,  there  were  "four  companies  in  Haverhill."  These  four  companies  were  divided  into  "two 
Bands,"  viz.:  the  Training,  or  "Train  Band,"  and  the  "Alarm  List."  An  allusion  to  "both  bands,"  in 
the  records  of  1776,  was  probably  the  occasion  of  the  statement  by  Mirick,  that  there  were  then  but  two 
companies  in  the  town.'  He  was  evidently  mistaken,  as  there  had  been  for  many  years  three  companiea 
of  militia  in  the  town. 


S76  HISTORY  Ot  HAVERHILt,. 

town  tax  of  one  hundred  pounds  for  the  present  year.  They  nfext  '*  voted 
to  buy  800  lbs  powder  with  Balls  and  Flints  answerable,  as  the  Towns 
Stock."  Then  it  was  "  voted  that  the  Town  Trcasux'er  hire  money  to  pro- 
cure GOO  lbs  of  powder  towards  the  Town's  Stock ; "  and,  that  nothing 
should  be  wanting  in  the  time  of  need,  a  committee  was  chosen  "  to  ex- 
amine the  stock  of  jpwder  in  the  powder  house."  Having  thus  unequivo- 
cally committed  the  town  to  the  cause  of  American  liberty,  the  meeting 
adjourned  to  the  10th  of  October. 

The  proceedings  at  the  adjournment  were  brief,  but  significant.  The 
following  was  the  only  business  done,  or  vote  passed ;  — 

"  By  Vote  the  Constables  are  to  pay  no  more  Money  into  the  Province 
Treasury  until  further  Orders  from  the  Town  —  but  that  They  pay  it  im- 
mediately to  the  Town  Treasurer;  and  take  his  Security, for  the  Same 
without  Interest." 

While  the  almost  universal  sentiment  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  was 
that  indicated  by  their  proceedings  at  these  meetings,  there  were  a  few 
among  them  who  did  not  sympathize  with  them.  They  were  "  Loyalists," 
—  those  who  Udhered  to  the  cause  of  their  sovereign,  —  and  deprecated 
the  revolutionary  measures  so  vigorously  carried  on  by  the  "Patriots;" 
and  while  they  doubted  their  success,  they  hoped  (and  some  of  them 
labored  also)  for  their  defeat.  Among  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
of  these  loyalists  in  this  town,  were  Colonel  Richard  Saltonstall  and  Ecv. 
Moses  Badger,  (brother-in-law  of  the  above).  Colonel  Saltonstall  was  a 
man  who  had  always  commanded  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  towns- 
men, and  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  At  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
two  years,  he  was  commissioned  as  Colonel,  and  was  in  active  service 
through  the  whole  of  the  French  "War.  But  he  was  now  a  loyalist,  and, 
as  a  consequence,  there  could  be  but  little  sympathy  between  him  and  the 
large  majority  of  the  people  of  the  town.  This  wide  difi'erence  of  opinion, 
upon  what  was  then  a  matter  of  the  most  vital  importance,  as  may  readily 
be  supposed,  gradually  led  to  a  feeling  of  coldness  toward  him,  and  finally 
to  that  of  distrust,  and  uneasiness  at  his  presence.  Sometime  not  long 
after  the  July  meeting  above  noticed,  an  incident  occurred  which  is  thus 
recorded  by  Mirick  :  — 

"  The  principles  of  Col.  Eichard  Saltonstall,  who  was  a  Tory,  were 
very  repugnant  to  the  Whig  party,  which  composed  a  majority  of  the  voters. 
A  party  from  the  West  Parish,  and  Salem,  New-Hampshire,  collected 
before  his  house,  armed  with  clubs  and  other  instruments,  to  mob  him  ; 
but  he  made  them  rather  ashamed  of  their  conduct.  He  came  to  the  door, 
and  with  much  dignity,  told  them  his  reasons  for  pursuing  a  different 


HISTORY   OP   HAVEEHILt.  877 

course  from  tliat  whicli  they  bad  adopted.  He  ordered  refreshments  for 
tliem,  and  requested  them  to  go  to  the  tavern  and  call  for  entertainment 
at  his  expense.  They  accepted  of  his  invitation,  and  huzzaed  to  his 
praise.  He  soon  after  went  to  England,  to  escape  the  resentment  of  the 
Whigs,  where  he  was  well  received  by  his  connexions." 

This  account  is,  in  substance,  taken  from  the  "  Sketch  of  Haverhill," 
a  paper  prepared  and  read  before  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  in 
1816,  by  Leverett  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  and  is,  we  think,  a  partial  account  of 
the  affair. 

It  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  of  Timothy  Eaton,  who  was  the  leader  of 
the  party  that  called  on  Colonel  Saltonstall,  that  the  bold  and  unpatriotic 
words  and  actions  of  the  latter,  had  become  so  obnoxious  to  the  public 
opinion  of  the  town,  that  a  large  party  was  made  up  to  call  on  him,  and 
notify  him  that  such  was  the  case.  They  went,  and  Mr.  Eaton,  leaving 
his  company  a  short  distance  from  the  house,  called  the  Colonel  to  the 
door,  and  informed  him  of  his  errand.  Upon  this,  the  Colonel  "drew 
himself  up  "  and  exclaimed,  "  Is  that  any  of  your  business  ?  "  Eaton 
quickly  replied,  "  I'll  let  you  know  that  it  is  my  business,"  and  was  about 
retiring  to  his  companions,  when  the  Colonel,  finding  that  the  affair  was 
like  to  terminate  seriously,  dropped  his  lofty  air,  held  a  parley,  promised 
to  give  them  no  more  cause  for  offence,  and  invited  them  all  to  refresh- 
ments at  his  expense. 

After  hearing  several  versions  of  this  affair,  and  an  examination  of  the 
town  records,  (which  seem  to  have  been  altogether  overlooked  by  Mirick) 
we  have  concluded  that  the  facts  were  probably  something  like  these :  — 

Colonel  Saltonstall  had,  for  years,  and,  indeed,  from  the  beginning  of 
the  troubles  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  latter,  "When,  in  17G8,  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  were 
ordered  to  rescind  the  obnoxious  resolutions  already  refei:red  to.  Colonel 
Saltonstall  was  a  "  rescinder  ;  "  and  he  was  not  a  man  to  disguise  his  sen- 
timents, or  remain  quiet  and  silent  when  such  a  contest  was  going  on. 
Hence  he  became  known  as  a  "  Tory  "  —  an  enemy  to  the  patriot  cause ; 
"  an  enemy  to  his  country."  Timothy  Eaton  was  a  zealous  patriot,  and 
one  of  the  leading  ones  in  the  town.  He  had  just  been  chosen  to  the  sec- 
ond place  on  the  "  Committee  of  Inspection,"  and  was  also  one  of  those 
chosen  to  "  show  each  man  his  proportion  "  of  the  one  hundred  pounds 
voted  for  the  relief  of  Boston.  He  was  also  one  of  the  town's  "  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence."  It  is,  therefore,  quite  reasonable  to  suppose, 
that  he  called  on  Colonel  Saltonstall  o^iciaUy,  taking  with  him  a  sufficient 
posse  to  prove  to  the  Colonel  that  it  was  not  a  matter  to  be  trifled  with. 
48 


878  HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL. 

The  recent  action  of  the  town,  and  this  ominous  visit  convinced  the  latter 
that  it  was  no  longer  safe  or  consistent  for  him  to  remain  in  the  town, 
and  he  decided  to  leave.  That  the  company  were  "treated"  at  his  cx- 
ponsc,  is  equally  creditable  to  both  parties.  It  was  an  c.irncst  that  they 
parted  as  personal  friends,  though  divided  as  to  the  all-absorbing  question 
before  the  colonies. 

In  further  proof  that  neither  rioters  nor  a  "  moh  "  managed  the  affairs 
of  the  patriots,  in  the  times  of  which  we  write,  we  quote  the  following, 
from  the  original  paper  now  in  the  archives  of  the  State :  -. — 

"  The  Committee  of  Corrispondence  &c  for  Haverhill  In  Complyance 
■with  the  orders  &  directions  of  this  Great  &  General  Cort,  took  posession 
of  the  House  and  abut  an  half  acre  of  land  in  sd  Haverhill  belonging  to 
Mr  Moses  Badger  late  fled  from  Boston  with  the  Ministeral  fleet  and  leased 
the  same  for  the  Term  of  one  year,  to  Mr  Isaac  Eedington  of  Haverhill 
for  Seven  Pound  to  be  Paid  at  the  years  end. 

Also  took  posession  of  the  Personal  Estate  of  Coll  Eichard  Saltonstall 
of  Haverhill  who  fled  as  aforesd,  (after  having  carefully  Examined  Ec- 
specting  his  Eeal  Estate  and  in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  according 
to  Law  Justice  &  Equity  he  had  not  any  as  the  House  &  land  he  lately 
occupied  was  Mortgaged  for  the  full  Value  thereof) 

Made  an  Inventory  of  the  Same  which  is  as  Eolloweth  viz : 

(Here  follows,  ia  the  original  paper,  a  minute  inventory  of  Colonel 
Saltonstall's  personal  estate.) 

Haverhill  June  4th  177G 

by  order  of  the  Committee 

Isaac  Eedington  Chairman. 
To  the  Honble  James  Warren  Esq 
Speaker  of  the  Honble  House  of 
Eepresentitivca    Massachusetts 
Bay." 

Co'.onel  Saltonstall  left  town  soon  after,  and  ere  long  embarked  for 
England.  The  King  granted  him  a  pension,  and  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days  in  that  country. 

While  these  proceedings  were  being  had  in  this  town,  the  other  towns 
in  the  colony,  and  in  the  other  colonies,  were  by  no  means  idle,  or  indif- 
fercLt.  At  a  meeting  of  the  committees  of  correspondence  of  those  towns 
which  hr.d  such  committees,  held  at  Faneuil  Hall,  August  26th  and  27th, 
it  was  rcsj.ved  that  a  Provincial  Congress  was  necessary,  to  counteract 
the  systems  of  despotism.  The  next  step  in  the  progress  of  the  cause,  was 
the  holding  of  county  conventions  of  delegates  from  each  town.     That 


ntSTORT  OP  SAVEHHIIL.  879 

^f  Esses  was  coHTened  at  Ipswich,  on  the  6th  and  7tli  of  September, 
1774.  The  delegates  from  Haverhill  were  Samuel  "White,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Jonathan  Webster,  Mi-.  Isaac  Eedington,  Mr.  Joseph  Haynes,  After 
passing  a  series  of  reiolutions,  the  convention  dissolved. 

In  the  meantime,  (September  uth)  the  Coxtixextal  Coxguess  assem- 
bled at  Philadelphia,  where  the  glowing  eloquence  of  Patrick  Henry  recited 
the  wrongs  which  the  colonists  had  suffered,  and  for  Avhich  redress  was 
imperiously  demanded.  After  a  careful  examination  of  the  subject,  and 
an  interchange  of  thoughts,  sentiments,  and  opinions,  the  Congress  unani- 
mously resolved  "  that  from  &  after  the  first  day  of  December  next,  there 
be  no  importation  into  British  America,  from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland,  of 
any  goods,  wares,  or  merchandise  whatever,  or  from  any  other  place  of  any 
such  goods,  wares,  or  merchandises,  as  shall  have  been  exported  from 
Great  Britain  or  Ireland  ;  and  that  no  such  goods,  &c  imported  after  the 
said  first  day  of  December  next  be  used  or  purchased." 

To  return  again  to  our  own  province.  Writs  had  been  issued  convening 
tbe  General  Court  at  Salem,"  on  the  5th  of  October  ;  but  before  the  time 
arrived,  a  proclamation  from  the  Governor  dissolved  the  assembly.  For 
this  step,  the  patriots  were  prepared  ;  and,  pursuant  to-  the  course  which 
kad  already  been  agreed  upon,  after  meeting  at  Salem  on  the  appointed 
day,  they  resolved  themselves  into  a  Provixcial  Congress.  The  dele- 
gates to  the  Congress  from  this  town  were  Samuel  White,  Esq.,  and  Mr. 
Joseph  Haynes.f  After  organizing,  the  Congress  adjourned  to  Concord, 
and,  still  later,  to  Cambridge.  J 

This  body  took  the  government  of  the  province  into  their  own  hands, 
and  made  vigorous  preparations  for  the  approaching  contest.  Towns  were 
recommended  to  provide  arms  and  ammunition,  and  to  enlist  and  equip 
Tninute-men,  who  should  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  "  on  the 
shortest  notice,"  and  in  the  meantime  "  to  use  tbeir  utmost  diligence  to 
perfect  themselves  in  military  skill." 

This  town  had  already  anticipated  the  Congress  in  the  first  recommenda- 
tion, and  it  now  lost  no  time  in  carrying  out  the  others. 

°  Whither  it  had  been  previously  removed  by  instructions  to  the  governor. 

t  The  delegates  from  this  town  to  the  second  and  the  third  Provincial  Congress,  were  Nathaniel  Peas- 
lee  Sargeaut,  Esq.,  and  Jonathan  Webster,  Jr. 

I  The  First  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Snlem,  October  7,  1774-,  and  ndjonrned  the  same  day. 
Convened  at  Concord,  October  llth,  and  adjourned  the  14th.  Convened  at  Cambridge,  October  17th,  and 
adjourned  the  29th.     Convened  at  Cambridge,  November  23d,  and  dissolved  December  10th. 

The  Second  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Cambridge,  Februarj-  1st,  177-5,  and  adjourned  the  16th. 
Convened  at  Concord,  March  22d,  and  adjourned  April  loth.  Convened  at  Concord,  April  22d,  and  imme- 
diately adjourned  to  Watcrtown,  where  it  again  convened  the  same  day,  and  dissolved  May  29th. 

The  Third  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Watertown,  May  31st,  1773,  and  dissolved  July  19th  of 
the  same  year. 


380  HISTORY   OF  nAVKRnilli. 

As  soon  as  their  dckgatcs  to  the  rrovincial  Congress  rctumccl  homc/ 
and  reported  the  doings  of  that  body,  a  town  meeting  was  immediately 
warned,  for  January  3d,  1775,  to  consider  their  recommendations.  Among 
the  matters  specified  in  tlic  warrant  for  this  meeting  were  the  following :  — • 

"  To  agree  on  some  measures  for  the  carrying  into  execution  the  Recom- 
mendation of  the  grand  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses ;  and  all 
those  matters  and  things  which  Respect  us  :     =•'     ^^     "     '■-' 

"  To  sec  what  Encouragement  the  Town  will  give  for  the  inlisting  one 
Quarter  part  of  the  Military  : 

"  To  see  what  Money  the  Town  will  give  the  Poor  unhappy  Sufferers  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  occasioned  by  the  oppressive  Port  Bill : 

"  To  see  what  number  of  Arms  the  Town  will  vote  to  purchase  for  ita 
own  use : 

"  To  sec  if  the  Town  will  chuse  one  or  more  meet  Persons  to  attend  the 
Provincial  Congress  in  February  next  or  sooner  according  to  the  Direction 
of  the  late  Congress." 

Jonatlian  AYebster,  Jr.,  Samuel  White,  Esq.,  Samuel  MeiTill,  Nathaniel 
P.  Sargcant,  and  Doctor  James  Brickett  w'ere  chosen  to  consider  the  first 
matter  above  mentioned  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting. 

It  being  "  put  to  vote  to  sec  if  the  town  would  give  anything  to  the 
Minite  Men,"  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative,  and  Isaac  Redington,  Dan- 
iel Dcnaison  Rogers,  Deacon  Joseph  Kelly,  and  Deacon  John  Aycr,  were 
added  to  the  above  committee,  to  whom  the  whole  matter  was  referred. 

It  was  then  "  voted  to  give  unto  the  Poor  of  Boston  one  hundred  pounds. 
Voted  that  the  said  hundreit pounds  be  Raised  by  a  Rate  or  an  equal  pro- 
portion —  but  none  are  to  J^tifiompelled  to  pay  "  ! 

The  following  persons  were-tjhoscn  committees  "  to  shoic  each  man  his 
proportion":  —  For  the  West  Parish,  Timothy  Eaton,  Stephen  Webster, 
and  Samuel  Merrill ;  for  the  Old  Parish,  Nathaniel  Bradley,  Moses  Clem- 
ent, and  Captain  William  Greenleaf;  for  the  East  Parish,  John  Ela, 
Ephraim  Eliot,  and  Captain  Daniel  Johnson  ;  for  the  North  Parish,  Dea- 
con Benjamin  Clements,  and  Isaac  Snow. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  12th  of  the  same  month,  at  which  time 
Nathaniel  Peaslee  Sargeant,  and  Jonathan  Webster,  Jr.,  were  chosen  dele- 
gates to  the  Provincial  Congress.  The  town  "voted  to  stand  by,  and 
firmly  adhere  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress;  "  and  also  "  to 
sign  a  covenant  similar  to  the  Association  agreed  upon  by  the  Continental 
Congress ;  "  and  Nathaniel  Peaslee  Sargeant,  Esq.,  Joseph  Hayncs,  and 
Jonathan  Webster  Jr.,  were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  draw  a  Covenant  for 
the  people  to  sign," 

Fifty  pounds  were  voted  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  for  its  use. 


HISTORY   OF  HAVERHILL.  381 

The  vote  In  relation  to  the  "  Poor  of  Boston  "  was  at  this  meeting  re- 
considered, and  it  was  determined  to  raise  money  for  them  by  voluntary 
subscription.  Edward  Ordway  was  added  to  the  committee  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  the  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the  30th  of  the  same  month. 

January  30th,  the  town  met  according  to  adjournment.  At  this  meet- 
ing, the  vote  "  respecting  the  peoples  signing  a  Covenant,"  was  re-consid- 
ered, and  it  was  then  unanimously  voted  "  to  adhere  strictly  to  &  firmly 
to  abide  by  the  association  of  the  Continental  Congress."     It  was  then 

"  Voted  that  there  be  a  Committee  consisting  of  15  Persons  (which  are 
called  the  Committee  of  Inspection)  to  Inspect  &  Duly  observe  that 
the  association  of  the  Continental  Congress  is  put  into  Execution.  The 
Committee  are  as  followeth  :  —  Messrs  Samuel  Merrill,  Timothy  Eaton, 
Doctr  "William  Bachellor,  Richard  Aycr,  Isaac  Eedington,  Thomas  West, 
Doctor  James  Brickett,  Thomas  Cogswell,  Enoch  Marsh,  James  Sawyer,  John 
Ela,  Dea  Ezra  Chase,  Dca  Ebenezer  Colby,  Isaac  Snow,  Edward  Ordway." 

The  committee  chosen  to  consider  the  proposition  relating  to  raising 
"  Minite  Men,"  made  the  following  report :  — 

"  We  have  carefully  examined  Our  Numbers  and  find  we  ought  to  Eaise 
Sixty  three  Men  including  three  Commission  officers  to  make  up  one  Quar- 
ter part.  We  Eecommend  it  to  the  Town  to  appoint  three  Commission 
officers  to  inlist,  discipline,  and  upon  occasion  when  called  for  in  defence 
of  the  Province  to  march  the  same.  AYc  further  Eecommend  it  that  the 
Minite  Men  be  duly  disciplined  in  Squads  three  half  days  in  a  Week,  three 
hours  in  eaeh  half  day,  and  that  they  be  allowed  for  each  half  day,  eight 
pence  till  ye  middle  of  March  next,  and  one  shilling  for  each  half  day 
afterwards,  until  they  are  called  out  to  actual  service  from  home,  or  dis- 
banded. That  when  they  are  called  to  leave  home  on  actual  service  they 
shall  Eeceive  ye  same  wages  &  subsistence  as  Soldiers  received  the  last  ■ 
war.  That  if  they  are  called  upon  »&  do  actually  march  from  home  in  de- 
fence of  the  Province  they  shall  be  intitled  to  recieve  three  dollars  each 
as  a  Bounty,  either  from  the  Town  or  Province.  Further  that  the  three 
chief  officers  recieve  for  each  half  Day  two  Shillings  Each  till  ye  middle 
of  March  next,  &  after  that  time  three  shillings  each  half  Day  till  called 
upon  to  march  from  home,  or  are  disbanded — when  called  upon  to  march 
to  recieve  such  pay  as  shall  be  ordered  by  the  Province.  All  inlistments 
to  be  for  the  Space  of  one  year  from  this  time,  unless  sooner  disbanded  by 
the  Town  or  Province. 

N.  B.  The  words  to  march  the  same — meaneth  Sixty  Three  men  in- 
cluding Three  officers,  being  one  Quarter  part  of  the  Soldiers  in  Town." 
(Signed)         Jonathan  Webster,  per  order." 

The  report  and  its  recommendations  were  adopted. 


S82 


niSTORT  Oi  nATEfttlltt. 


After  a  long  and  tedious  search  for  the  names  of  these  minute-incn,  We 
have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  list  of  them,  which  we  give  below.  The 
paper  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  and  several  other  exceedingly  valu- 
able documents  relating  to  that  period,  were  found  among  the  town's  old 
papers,  and  proved  to  be  part  of  a  parcel  of  loose  papers  found  in  an 
old  bag  which  had  been  kicked  about  the  assessors'  room  for  years.  They 
were  finally  carefully  placed  with  the  town's  other  papers,  by  R.  G.  "Walker) 
Esq.,  and  thus  luckily  preserved :  — 

"  A  Eol  of  the  Minit  Men  in  Capt  James  Sawyer's  Company  &  tho 
Number  of  days  Each  man  Trained  according  to  the  Yoat  of  the  Town  of 
Haverhill  in  March  and  Apirel  1775  " 


Days 


Days 


James  Sawyer  Capt 

5 

Samuel  gips  Mitchel 

Timothy  Johnson  Lieut 

5 

Joshua  Emory 

6 

Nathaniel  Eaton  Lieut   *»* 

5 

Jerimiah  Stickney 

5 

Mitchel  Whiticher  Sargt 

6 

Joseph  Webster 

5 

Moses  Heselton  Sargt 

5 

Isaiah  Eaton     """^^ 

5 

Wm  Eolf  Sargt 

5 

Ebenezer  Grifen 

4 

Charles  Davis  Sargt 

5 

Samuel  Emerson 

5 

Enock  Eaton  Coprel        -^ 

4 

John  Silver 

Chas  Sarjant  Coprel 

3 

Seth  Wymon 

4 

John  Bery  Coprel 

6 

Daniel  Lord 

5 

Euben  Sargent 

3 

Nathan  Peabody 

5 

Asa  Currer 

5 

James  Whitickcr 

4 

Thomus  Tiylor 

5 

Samuel  Sanders         , 

3 

Daniel  Colby 

3 

Henerey  Springer 

1 

John  Dow 

6 

Ebenezer  AVebster 

John  Eaton          „,.^ 

4 

Johnthan  Dusten 

4 

Joseph  Emorson 

5 

Daniel  Grifen 

3 

Simon  Pieck 

4 

Moses  Emorson  Juner 

4 

Lewis  George 

5 

John  gipson 

3 

AVm  Davis 

2 

Nathan  Ayre 

4- 

Mosse  Emorson 

5 

James  Townsand 

4 

Job  gage 

4 

Stephen  Eunels 

4 

Peter  Emorson 

3 

John  Tiylor 

3 

Samuel  George 

James  Wilson 

John  Cheney 

1 

Daniel  Eemock 

3 

Nathaniel  Cahaney 

Stephen  Jackson 

3 

Samuel  Ealy 

2 

Joshua  Moors 

1 

AVm  Sawyer 

4 

Philip  Bagley 

4 

James  Smiley 

5 

Humpree  Nicols 

4 

Joel  Harrimen 

5 

Dudley  Dusten 

3 

James  Snow 

5 

Johnthan  Lowger 

4 

Mark  Emorson 

atteset 

John  Sanders 

4 

Mitchel  Wittier  Serjant 

HISTORY-  0?   HAVERHILI,. 


883 


At  the  annual  meeting,  Marcli  14,  thirty  dollars  were  voted  to  procure 
a  military  instructor  to  "  instruct  the  Militia  in  the  Art  Military  "  in  the 
town.  One  week  later,  it  was  voted  that  the  minute-men  should  train  one 
whole  day  in  each  week,  instead  of  three  half  days  as  previously  voted. 
They  were  to  be  trained  by  "  Mr  George  Marsden,  whom  we  have  hired," 
and  to  receive  two  shillings  each  for  that  day.  AYe  have  now  before  us  a 
return  of  the  minute-men  of  this  town,  that  "  met  at  Andovcr  for  Exsise  " 
on  Thursday,  the  13th  of  April.  Forty-six  men  of  Captain  Sawyer's 
company  were,  present.  Little  did  they  probably  think  that  this  was  their 
last  opportunity  for  preparatory  "  training,"  but  so  it  proved.  Before 
another  week  had  passed,  the  fearful  struggle  had  commenced. 

AYe  need  not  repeat  the  story  of  the  morning  of  the  immortal  Nineteenth 
of  April,  1775.  The  soil  of  Lexington  and  Concord  was  baptized  with 
the  blood  of  American  Patriots,  and  the  whole  country  was  aroused.  The 
news  probably  reached  this  town  soon  after  noon  of  the  same  day,  and 
the  minute-men  immediately  left  for  the  scene  of  action.  Before  night, 
one  hundred  and  Jive  Haverhill  men  were  ^' gone  to  ye  Army."  This  was 
almost  one-half  of  the  entire  militia  force  of  the  town.  Surely  wc  can  do 
no  less  than  to  place  the  names  of  these  noble  patriots  on  our  pages. 

The  first  of  the  following  lists,  is  a  roll  of  the  "  Minite  Men"  who 
marched  upon  the  alarm. 

"  Cambridge  April  2G  1775 
"  A  List  of  the  men  who  Eecieved  their  Part  of  the  Billiting  or  Bounty 
Money  from  ye  Town  of  Haverhill  " 
Capt  James  Sawyer,        Danl  Colby, 
Lt  Tim'y  Johnson,  Saml  Sanders, 

Lt  Xathl  Eaton,  Saml  Ela, 

Sargt  Heseltine  Moses,   John  Gibson, 

John  Dow, 

James  Townsn, 

Saml  Emerson, 

Joseph  AYcbster, 

Jonathn  Longer, 

Danl  Lord, 

Wm  Sawyer, 

Asa  Currier, 

James  Snow, 

Nathn  Ayer, 

John  Eaton, 

Mitchal  Whitier, 

Wm  Davis, 


John  Barry, 
Simn  Pike, 
Moses  Emerson, 
Jonathn  Duston,  -^ 
Lewis  George, 
Job  Gage 
Isaiah  Eaton, 
Joseph  Emerson, 
John  Sanders, 
Stephen  Jackson, 
James  Smyley, 
Joshua  Emery, 
Daniel  Chiney, 


Humphy  Nichols, 
Thos  Tyler, 
Josiah  Fcsenden, 
Joel  Herrimn, 
Nathan  Peabody, 
Phillip  Bagley, 
Charles  Davis, 
James  AYilson, 
Chase  Sargeant, 
James  Whitaker, 
Seth  AYyman, 
Ebenr  Griffin, 
Peter  Emerson, 
Piuben  Sargt, 
Danl  Griffin, 
James  Kimball, 
Enoch  Eaton, 


Each    of   these  men,    (except  Peter  Emerson,   who  received  5s, 
Enoch  Eaton,  who  received  6s)  received  nine  shillings  Bounty  money. 


and 
It 


was  paid  them  by  Colonel  Brickett,  and  the  original  list  of  the  company 


384: 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL 


is  in  hig  hand-writing.  June  26,  1776,  the  House  of  Eeprescntativcs 
"  Resolved,  That  there  be  allowed  &  paid  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  of 
this  Colony,  to  the  Selectmen  of  Haverhill,  the  sum  of  Fifty  seven  pounds 
four  shillings  and  six  pence  in  full  of  their  account  of  provisons  supplied 
the  Army,  at  the  time  of  Lexington  fight,  on  the  19th  of  April  1775." 

"  A  Muster  Roll  of  the  Company  under  the  Command  of  Capt  Daniel 
Hills  in  Colo  Johnsons  Eegt  of  Militia  which  marched  on  ye  alarm  April 
19th  1775,  from  ye  Town  of  Haverhill  to  Cambridge  under  the  Command 
of  Lt  Saml  Clements." 


Persons  names 


No.    inilej 
lontit  home 


1st  Lt  Saml  Clements, 

2  Lt  Ebener  Gage,. . . 

Serjt  Jno  Downing, . . 

Serjt  Jas  Ayer, 

Serjt  Saml  Middleton, 

John  Gage, 

Timothy  George 

David  Peasly, 

Moses  Witcomb, 

Enoch  Cordwill, 

Moses  Herriman, .... 

Nathl  Bodge, 

James  Walker,'-' 

James  Kimball, 

^^^  Jacob  Green, 

'^^^\  *•    Nehh  Emerson 

\  ^n  J^^xQ.  Cooke, 

*^-  ^'*'    Ebenr  Ballard, 

Wm  Wingate 

Cotton  Kimball, .  . , .  . 

Edward  Shaw, 

Philln  Colby 

Jno  Serjant, 

Jno  Perley, 


70 


Amt  nt 
1(1  8  mile 


No.  days 

each    man 

was  in 

bervicc 


OS  10 


Wages  due  to  each  Total  of  Travel 
man  &  Wagci 


£0.17.2 
0.17.6 
0.10.3 
0.10  3 
0.8.7 
0.10. 
0.7.1 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.10. 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.7.1 
0.5.8 


£1.3— 
1.3.4 
0.16.1 
0.16.1 
0.14.5 
0.15.10 
0.12.11 
0.15.10 
0.11.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.15.10 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.15.10 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.15.10 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.12.11 
0.11.6 


141     I     £11.1.5     1 

Saml  Clements  Lt 

a  true  copy 


£  18.1.5 


G  Tailer 


o  James  Walker  was  of  Uie  si.xth  generation  since  the  settlement  of  the  town.  Dnrins  the  war,  he 
was  an  ensign  in  a  company  raisi-il  h"ro.  and  afterward  comniMudcd  a  detachment  of  men  wh.)  had  cliiir^'O 
of  the  biials  belDngiii?  tyolic  of  the  divisions  wh'ch  crossed  the  Delaware,  on  the  night  previous  to  the 
memorable  battle  of  Trenton,  Deccml)fr  2.)th,  177C.  Krom  1S18.  until  his  death.  Mr.  Walker  received  a 
peuaion  of  twenty  dollars  a  month.    He  died  February  8th,  1846,  in  the  ninety-eighth  year  of  his  age. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 


385 


*'  A  Muster  Eoll  of  the  Company  under  ye  Command  of  Capt  Ebenezer 
Colby  in  Colo  Jolinsons  Eegt  of  Militia  well  marchd  on  ye  alarm  April 
19th  1775  from  ye  Town  of  Haverhill  to  Cambridge." 


Persons  names 


No     miles     Amt  at 
;out&homeld  8  mil 


Capt  Ebenr  Colby, I     70 

Jos  Greeley  Sergt, . . . 

Josiah  Brown  do 

John  Gutridge, 

John  Page, 

Barnard  Sargent, .... 

Jacob  Ealey, 

Samuel  Page  Jr, 

Edmd  Brown, 

Jona  Ealy, 

Ephm  Chase, 

Leonard  Chase, 

Jona  Huntings, 

Saml  Bradbry, 

Phinea  Xichols, 

Erancis  Carr, 

Eichd  Currier, 

Erancis  Morrill, 

David  Mors, 

Jos  Eobinson 

Abner  Kimball, 

Jos  Hardy, 

Ezra  Chase, 

Nehh  Ordaway, 

David  George, 

Saml  Aj'er  Junr 

Saml  Page, 

Wm  Bradbry, 

Benja  Ordaway, 


5s  10 


No  days 

each   man 

was  ill 

service 


Wages  due  to  each  T' tal  of  Travel 
man  &  Wages 


£0.17.^ 
0.10.3 
0.8.7 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 

.   0.8. 6 
0.5.8 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.5.8 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.5.8 
0.5.8 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.8.6 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 
0.2,10 
0.2.10 
0.2.10 


£1.2.11J 
0.16.1 
0.U.5 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.11.6 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.11.6 
0.11.6 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.14.4 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 
0,8.8 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 
0.8.8 


Ebenr  Colby  Capt  £18.12.3^ 

a  true  copy        G  Tailer 
Essex  Ss  Haverhill  Jany  9th  1776 

Then  Capt  Ebenr  Colby  within  named,  appeared  &  made  Oath  to  ye 
truth  of  ye  within  accott  by  him  subscribed 

Before  Me         Saml  Phillips  Jus  Peace 
Examined  and  compared  with  the  Original 
EdwdEawson)  ^        ... 
James  Dix      |  Committee. 

49 


386  HISTOET  OP   HAVERHILL. 

In  addition  to  the  three  companies  here  given,  we  must  add  the  name  of 
"  Col  James  Brickett,"  (afterward  General)  who  probably  hastened  to 
Cambridge  on  the  first  alarm,  as  we  find  he  was  there  on  the  26  th,  and 
subsequently. 

The  following  letter,  from  our  delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 
dated  the  next  day  after  the  battle  at  Lexington,  is  additional  evidence 
that  these  men  marched  immediately  on  the  alarm :  — 

"Haverhill  April  20th  1775. 
Sr 

The  late  dreadful  Fire  in  this  town"  —  The  great  Number  of  our 
People  gone  to  ye  Army  —  The  great  Numbers  from  ye  other  GoA^ernment 
that  pass  &  repass  thrd  this  town,  &  ye  disturbances  in  it,  renders  it  ab- 
solutely necessary,  as  we  apprehend,  that  we  attend  at  home  to  preserve 
Order  &  quiet  — 

Therefore  Sr,  we  hope  you  will  excuse  our  nonattendance  this  Session  — 
wishing  that  he  that  giveth  wisdom  liberally,  would  enlighten  your  Paths, 
we  subscribe,  Sr 

your  Humble  Servts 

Nathll  Peaslee  Sargeant 
Jonat  Webster." 
The  letter  is  directed  to 

"  The  President  of  ye  Provincial 
Congress, 

now  Sitting. 
Ford  by  Isaac  Merrill  Esqr." 
The  letter  was  received,  and  read,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  2r)th,  and  the 
following  answer  was  returned  to  the  Town  Clerk  of  Haverhill :  — 

"  Sir :  The  Congress  have  this  day  received  a  letter  from  Nathaniel 
Peaslee  Sargeant  Esq,  and  Jonathan  AYebster  Esq,  acquainting  them  that 
the  late  dreadful  fire  in  Haverhill,  together  with  some  public  disturbances 
in  said  town,  make  it  necessary  that  they  should  be  at  home  at  this  time. 
The  Congress  apprehend  that  the  important  business  of  the  colonies  re- 
quires that  every  town  should  be  now  represented ;  and  therefore  desire 
that  if  neither  of  those  gentlemen  can  attend,  others  should  be  elected  in 
their  room,  that  the  wisdom  of  the  whole  colony  may  be  collected  at  our 
hour  of  need." 

o  On  Sundiiy,  16th  of  April,  a  destructive  fire  brolte  out  in  Main  Street,  and  nil  the  west  side  of  it 
from  what  is  now  Court  Street  to  the  comer,  was  burnt.  Seventeen  buildings  were  destroyed,  includinjr, 
a  large  brick  tavern,  owned  by  Mr.  John  White,  the  store  of  Deacon  Josepli  Dodge,  the  store  of  James 
Duncan,  Esq.,  a  house  occupied  by  Mrs.  Alley,  and  a  distillery.  The  earth  was  parched  with  a  drought, 
and  everything  was  combustible.  The  meeting-house  was  frequently  on  fire,  and  there  being  but  one 
engine,  it  was  difflcolt  to  subdue  the  raging  element. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  387 

At  tlie  Oldening  of  the  third  Congress,  at  Watertown,  May  31st,  Mr. 
Webster  was  present,  and  took  an  active  part  throughout  the  session.  "VVe 
notice  that  he  was  almost  daily  appointed  on  important  committees. 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement,  anxiety,  and  distress,  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town,  consequent  upon  the  news  from  Lexington  and  Concord,  and 
the  departure  of  so  many  men  for  the  war,  now  actually  begun,  there 
occurred  an  event  which  added  ten-fold  to  the  distress  of  those  left  behind. 
Those  who  witnessed  it,  can  never  foi'get  its  scenes,  and  those  who  did  not, 
can  have  but  a  faint  idea  from  any  description.  We  allude  to  what  has 
been  sometimes  called  "  the  Ipswich  fright,"  and  which  happened  some- 
thing in  this  wise  :  — 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day,  after  the  Lexington  fight,  a  man 
named  John  Tracy,  of  Marblehead,  came  riding  into  town,  bare-headed, 
and  in  the  most  excited  manner  cried  out  that  the  British  were  marching 
toward  the  town,  and  would  be  here  by  the  next  morning,  — ^  that  they 
were  "  cutting  and  slashing  all  before  them."  The  news'spread  like  wild- 
fire, and  being  generally  credited,  it  produced  a  complete  and  most 
distressing  panic.  As  a  large  part  of  the  militia  of  the  town  were  gone  to 
the  scene  of  action,  the  terror  and  alarm,  particularly  among  the  women 
and  children,  exceeded  the  power  of  language  to  describe.  Preparations 
were  immediately  made,  by  all  who  could  command  any  means  of  trans- 
portation, to  remove  at  once  into  the  back  country ;  and  many  who  had 
neither  horse  nor  oxen  of  their  own,  hastily  collected  a  bundle  of  such 
necessaries  as  they  could  carry,  and  started  on  foot.  The  scene  on  the 
village  common  that  night  can  scarce  be  imagined.  Guards  had  been 
posted  at  a  distance  to  give  the  alarm  if  the  enemy  should  appear,  and, 
with  horses  saddled,  and  ox-carts  loaded,  and  the  oxen  yoked,  the  afi"righted 
inhabitants  repaired  to  the  grounds  around  the  meeting-house,  and  the 
"  old  town  pump,"  and  anxiously  waited  for  daylight,  to  take  up  the  line 
of  march.  Those  who  lived  near  by,  put  their  children  to  bed  undressed, 
and  many  who  lived  in  more  distant  parts  of  the  village,  brought  their 
children  to  the  houses  of  those  near  the  meeting-house.  And  so  the  night 
wore  slowly  away.  With  the  morning,  messengers  were  dispatched  to  learn 
more  of  the  dreaded  enemy.  But  no  reliable  information  could  be  obtained, 
either  of  them,  or  as  to  the  truth  of  the  first  report,  and  gradually  the  in- 
habitants became  convinced  that  it  was  a  false  alarm,  and  one  after 
another  returned  to  their  own  dwellings  with  lighter  hearts  than  they  had 
left  them  only  a  few  hours  before." 

"  In  the  East  Parish,  large  numbers  of  the  affrighted  inhabitants  flocked  to  the  "hemlocks,"  on  the 
east  side  of  Kenoza  Lake,  where  they  remained  concealed  during  the  night. 


388 


HISTORY   OF  HAVERHILL. 


The  origin  of  the  alarm  is  still  involved  in  ohscurity.  By  some  it  has 
been  supposed  to  have  been  a  regularly  concocted  scheme  to  alarm  and 
distress  the  inhabitants,  and  it  is  remarkable  that  the  same  story,  in  sub- 
stance, was  simultaneousli/  told,  from  Ipswich  to  Coos.  In  every  place 
the  "  regulars  "  were  but  a  few  miles  behind  the  messenger.  How,  or  by 
whom,  or  with  what  motives,  the  report  was  first  started,  no  one  could  ever 
tell.  It  lasted  but  one  night,  and  in  the  morning  all  who  were  informed 
that  the  rumor  was  without  foundation, 

♦'  Returned  safe  home,  right  glad  to  save 

Their  property  from  pillage ; 
And  all  agreed  to  blame  the  man, 
AVho  first  alarmed  the  village." 

Two  days  after  the  Lexington  fight,  the  Committee  of  Safety  resolved 
that  eight  thousand  men  should  be  immediately  inlisted  out  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts forces  for  seven  months,  unless  sooner  discharged.  Two  days 
later,  the  Provincial  Congress,  which  had  been  hastily  summoned  to  con- 
vene, resolved  Ihat  it  was  necessary  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men 
should  be  immediately  raised,  of  which  Massachusetts  should  furnish 
thirteen  thousand,  five  hundred.  These  were  afterward  known  as  the 
"  eight  months  service  men." 

A  careful  examination  of  the  rolls,  shows  that  at  least  ninety-four  Hav- 
erhill men  enlisted  in  this  service.  Below,  we  give  their  names,  with  the 
company  and  regiment  to  which  each  was  attached :  -— 

In  Captain  James  Sawyer's  company,  in  Colonel  James  Frye's  regiment, 
were 
James  Sawyer,  Captain  Francis  Dinsmore  Priv't  Simeon  Pike'-       Private 


Timoth}^  Johnson.  Lieut  Joseph  Emerson 
Nathaniel  Eaton,       "     Joseph  Emerson  Jr 
Nathan  A3'er,  Corporal   Peter  Emerson 
Asa  Currier  "       Moses  Emerson 

Eeuben  Sargent       "       James  Emerson 
Benjah  Clement  Fifer      Joshua  Emery 
John  Tyler  Drummer      Samuel  Ele 
Moses  Hesseltine,  Serjt  Isaiah  Eaton 
James  llix,  "    John  Eaton-' 

Seth  Wyman,  "    Daniel  GriflBn 

Phillip  Bailey,  Private   Lewis  George 


Nathl  Chiney 
Jonathan  Dustan 
William  Davis 
Charles  Davis 
John  Dow 
Dudley  Duston 


Ebenezer  Griffin 
Lemuel  Gage 
Job  Gage 
James  Kimball 
Joshua  Moors 
James  Pike  Jr 


Joseph  Page 
Nathan  Peabody 
Steven  Euniels 
AYm  Sawyer 
Edward  Sawyer 
Lemuel  Sanders 
John  Sanders 
James  Snow 
Chase  Sargent 
Henry  Springerf 
Thomas  Tyler 
James  Towusend 
"William  AVhittier 
James  Whittier 
Caleb  Young 

(Total  52) 


o  Killed  at  Banker  Hill,  June  17th,  1775.        f  Enlisted  in  another  company. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  S89 

In  Captain  Moses  McFarland's  company,  in  Colonel  John  Nixon's  regi- 
ment, 

Moses  McFarland,  Capt  Cornelius  Mansise,  Priv  James  Pecker,      Private 
Bartholom'w  Pecker, Cor  Natlil  McParland        "  James  Smiley  " 

Mark  Emerson,  Fifer      Phillip  Nelson  "  Hugh  Smiley  " 

John  Alley,    Private       David  Powers  "  William  Smiley         *' 

■William  Cook     "  David  Peaslie  "  (Total  14) 

In  Captain  Micajah  Gleason's  company,  in  Colonel  Nixon's  regiment, 
"VVingate  Bradley,  Fifer  Lemuel  Bradley,  Private  Samuel  Piand,  Private 
James  Kimball,  Lieut     Nathaniel  Kimball    "  (Total  5) 

In  Captain Gilman's  company,  in  Colonel  Nixon's  regiment, 

David  Bryant,  Corporal  William  Case,      PrivateMoses  Emerson,    Private 
Jonathan  Nelson       "     Christopher  Clement    "  Oliver  Page  " 

William  Lamont, Ensign  Daniel  Dow  "  (Total  8) 

In  Captain Butler's  company,  in  Colonel  Nixon's  regiment, 

John  White,  Qr  Master  Matthew  Jennerson  Sergt 

(Total  2) 

In  Captain  John  Davis's  company,  in  Colonel  Frye's  regiment, 

Peter  Carlton,  Private'-'  Ebeliezer  Carlton,  Serjtf 

(Total  2) 

In  Captain Wells'  company,  in  Colonel  Wliitcomb's  regiment, 

Jacob  Castle,  Private  John  Crout,  Private 

(Total  2) 

In  Captain Francis'  company,  in  Colonel  Mansfield's  regiment, 

Nathaniel  Duston,  Private 

In  Captain Cogswell's  company,  in  Colonel  Gerrish's  regiment, 

Daniel  Eeamick,  Corp     David  Nickels,  Private    John  Whicher,  Private 
Eichard  Hesseltine  Priv  Jonathan  Peaslee       "  (Total  5) 

In  Captain Poplin's  company,  in  Colonel  Gridley's  regiment, 

Samuel  Heath,  Private 

In  Captain Moore's  company,  in  Colonel  Nixon's  regiment, 

Jacob  Whittier,  Private. 
The  above  regiments  were  all  stationed  at  Cambridge,  —  excepting  that 
of  Colonel  Gerrish,  which  was  stationed  at  Maiden  and  Chelsea.  The 
Haverhill  men,  with  the  two  exceptions  noted,  were  all  (probably)  enrolled 
previous  to  May  19,  1775,  at  which  time  nearly  all  the  above  named  offi- 
cers were  commissioned.!  The  time  of  enlistment  was  until  the  followina 
January. 

°  Did  not  enlist  until  July  13th,  and  served  two  months  and  twenty-two  days. 
t  Enlisted  February  14th,  and  served  six  months  and  twenty-one  days. 

J   The  returns  were  sent  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  June  10th.    Colonel  James  Brickctt  received  his 
commission  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  Colonel  James  Frye's  Essex  Eegimeut,  May  20th. 


390  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL* 

It  is  worthy  of  mention,  that  although  but  thirteen  thousand,  five  hun- 
dred  men  were  called  for,  fifteen  thousand  voluntarily  enlisted  before  the 
middle  of  June. 

The  town  of  Harpswell  having  applied  to  the  Provincial  Congress  for  a 
supply  of  powder,  (which  was  very  scarce  in  the  whole  colony)  that  body 
requested  (May  7)  the  selectmen  of  Haverhill  to  let  them  have  one  half- 
barrel,  promising  that  it  should  be  replaced  as  soon  as  it  could  be  had. 
The  supply  of  powder  continuing  to  be  very  scanty,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  ascertain  how  much  each  town  had,  and  report  how  much  could 
be  safely  spared  for  the  public  service.  They  reported  that  in  forty  towns, 
a  total  of  sixty-seven  and  three-fourths  bai'rels  could  be  spared.  Of  this 
amount,  Haverhill  furnished  two  barrels.  Only  ten  towns  in  the  whole 
colony  were  able  to  spare  an  equal  amount  each. 

May  13th  the  Congress  ordered  post-riders  to  be  immediately  established 
between  Cambridge  and  the  principal  towns  in  the  province,  and  estab- 
lished post-offices  in  such  towns.  Simeon  Greenough  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Haverhill. 

On  the  loth  day  of  June,  the  Committee  of  Safety,  after  long  delibera- 
tion, decided  to  occupy  Bunker  Hill,  in  Charlestown,  and  passed  a  secret 
vote  to  that  effect.  The  next  day,  orders  were  issued  to  Colonel  William 
Prescott,  Colonel  Bridge,  and  the  Commandant  of  Colonel  Frye's'--  regiment, 
to  be  prepared  for  an  expedition,  with  all  their  men  fit  for  service,  and 
one  day's  provision.  The  same  order  issued  for  one  hundred  and  twenty 
of  General  Putnam's  regiment,  and  Captain  Gridley's  company  of  artillery 
with  two  field-pieces. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  the  16th,  Colonel  Prescott  was  ordered  with 
these  troops  to  proceed  immediately  to  Charlestown,  take  possession  of 
Bunker  Hill,  and  erect  the  necessary  fortifications  to  defend  it.  Profound 
secrecy  was  to  be  observed.  The  troops  were  silently  assembled  on  Cam- 
bridge Common,  where  a  solemn  prayer  was  offered  up  by  Eev.  President 
Langdon,  of  Harvard  College.  At  dark,  the  detachment  left  the  camp, 
and  proceeded  to  Charlestown.  Colonel  Prescott  led  the  way,  dressed  in 
a  simple  calico  frock,  with  two  sergeants,  having  dark-lanterns  open  only 
to  the  rear,  about  six  paces  in  front  of  the  troops.     Profound  mystery 

o  Colonel  Frye  was  at  the  time  ill  of  the  gout,  and,  moreover,  president  of  a  court  martial.  His  regi- 
ment was,  therefore,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Brickett.  Colonel  Prescott,  under 
date  "  Camp  at  Cambridge  Aug  25,  1775,"  writes  to  John  Adams,  at  that  time  a  Delegate  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress :  — 

"On  the  10th  June,  in  the  evening,  I  received  ciders  to  march  to  Breed's  Hill  in  Charlestown,  with  a 
par^  of  about  one  thousand  men,  consisting  of  three  hundred  of  my  own  regiment,  Colonel  Bridge  and 
LioimJIfriCkett,  with  a  detachment  of  theirs,  and  two  hundred  Connecticut  forces  commanded  by  Captain 
Knoulton." — Frolhingfiam' s  Sitye  of  Boston,  395. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  391 

hung  over  the  object  of  the  expedition  until  they  crossed  Charlestown 
neck  and  found  wagons  loaded  with  intrenching  tools,  fascines,  gabions, 
and  empty  hogsheads. 

But  we  cannot  continue  tTius  minute.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  tall, 
granite  shaft  on  "  Bunker's  Height,"  has  been  erected  to  commemorate  the 
events  of  that  night  and  the  day  following  — 

"The  Glorious  Seventeenth  of  June." 

In  that  first  battle  of  the  Revolution,  Haverhill  was  largely  represented. 
In  the  detachment  that  marched  to  occupy  the  hill,  on  the  evening  of  the 
16th,  were  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brickett,  one;  in  Captain  Davis's  company, 
one  ;  in  Captain  Sawyer's  company,  fifty-two  —  Total  fifty-four.  The 
whole  number  of  the  detachment  was  not  above  one  thousand  men,  —  thus 
giving  this  town  one  man  in  every  twenty.  Of  those  actually  engaged  in 
the  battle,  the  most  careful  and  reliable  accounts  give  us  the  following : — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Brickett,  one  ;  in  Captain  Sawyer's  company,  fifty- 
two  ;  in  Captain  Moses  McFarland's  company,  fourteen  ;  in  Captain  Glea- 
son's  company,"  five ;  in  Captain  Davis's  company,  one  ;  in  Captain  Mooer's 
company,  one  —  total,  seventy-four.  =■•= 

The  number  of  Americans  engaged  in  the  battle,  fluctuated  largely,  and 
the  crude  state  of  the  army  organization  at  that  time,  render  it  impossible 
to  say  with  precision  how  many  men  took  part  in  the  action ;  but  after  a 
long  and  patient  examination,  we  give  the  above  as  very  nearly  the  true 
number  of  Haverhill  men  who  took  part  in  the  glorious  struggle  on  that 
day.  • 

Of  the  one  hundred  and  fifteen  killed,  two  were  from  this  town  —  John 
Eaton  and  Simeon  Pike  —  both  in  Captain  Sawyer's  company.  This  com- 
pany evidently  performed  hard  service  on  this  occasion,  as  we  find  in  the 
official  list  of  those  "  who  lost  guns,  &c.,  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill," 
the  names  of  twenty-one  from  this  town,  —  most  of  whom  wore  attached  to 
this  company. f     They  are  as  follows  :  — 

Timothy  Johnson,  AVilliam  Sawyer,  Charles  Davis, 

Nathaniel  Eaton,  John  Jepson,  Joseph  Emerson, 

Nathan  Aycr,  '   "William  "VYhittier,  Joseph  Emerson  Jr, 

*  David  How  and  Samuel  Blodget,  both  of  whom  afterward  became  prominent  citizens  of  this  town, 
were  also  in  the  battle.  Blodget  was  one  of  those  who  succeeded  in  arresting  the  retreat  of  the  New 
Hampshire  troops. 

Colonel  Scammon,  of  Saco, — who  commanded  a  large  regiment  from  Maine,  on  that  day,  — was  at  one 
time  previous  a  resident  of  Haverhill.  He  was  not,  however,  actually  in  the  battle,  although  "ordered  to 
go  where  the  fighting  was !  " 

°  We  also  find  in  the  Province  Treasurer's  book  for  1776,  —  under  the  head  of  "  Sundry  pnyments 
made  for  Losses  sustained  at  the  Battles  of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill,  paid  in  1776," — the  following; 
*'  June.  Paid  James  Brickett  &  others  £382,  6.1."  We  presume  this  was  paid  him  for  the  persona 
above  named. 


392 


niSTORT   OF   HAVERHILI. 


Moses  EmerSon,  Daniel  Griffin,  John  Tyler, 

James  Pike,  James  Townscnd,  Stephen  llunniels, 

John  Dow,  Joshua  Moors,  Reuben  Sargent, 

Seth  Wyman,  John  Cockle,  ^   Phillip  Baglcy. 

Of  the  three  hundred  and  five  Americans  wounded  in  the  battle,  we  can, 
with  certainty,  name  only  one  ^from  this  town,  —  Colonel  Brickett.  He 
was  standing  by  the  side  of  General  Putnam,  in  the  early  part  of  the  ac- 
tion when  a  cannon-ball  struck  the  plank  upon  which  they  stood,  knocking 
them  both  down.  Colonel  Brickett  was  wounded  in  the  foot,  and  the 
shock  was  so  great  as  to  cause  a  "  rupture,"  from  which  he  suffered  to 
the  end  of  his  life." 

Colonel  Swett,  in  his  account  of  the  battle,  says  that  General  "Warren, 
as  he  went  on  the  hill,  to  fight  as  a  volunteer,  obtained  his  arms  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Brickett,  "  who  came  off  with  the  first  wounded." 

The  tune  of  the  Americans,  at  Bunker  Hill,  was  "  Yankee  Doodle." 
It  was  the  first  time  of  its  use  by  them,  but  ever  after  it  was  their 
favorite,  and  has  become  our  most  popular  national  air.f 


"  James  Frye's  regiment,  from  Esses,  was  commissioned  May  20.  The  latest  return  is  dated  May  26. 
James  Brickett  was  lieutenant-colonel;  Thomas  Poor,  major;  Daniel  Hardy,  adjutant;  Thomas  Kitt- 
redge,  surgeon.  Colonel  Frye  did  not  go  to  Breed's  Hill  with  his  regiment  on  the  evening  of  June  IG,  on 
accountof  indisposition;  hut  was  in  the  battle,  behaved  with  spirit,  and  was  active  in  urging  on  rein- 
forcements. Lieutenant-Colonel  Brickett,  a  physician,  was  wounded  early  in  the  action,  and,  with  other 
Burgeons,  repaired  to  the  north  side  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  remained  in  attendance  on  the  wounded."— 
Froihinghain' s  Seige  of  Boston. 

t  Tankee  Doodle.  —  To  every  Yankee,  be  he  hoy  or  man,  who  can  whistle,  hum,  or  sing,  the  tune  of 
Tanhee Doodle  is  familiar;  but  the  burlesque  song  which  in  old  time  so  often  accompanied  it,  is  fast  pas- 
sing into  oblivion,  and  we  cannot  resist  the  temptation  to  give  it  a  place  in  these  pages.  The  story  runs, 
that  the  song  was  composed  by  a  British  officer  of  the  Revolution,  with  a  view  to  ridicule  the  American^t 
who,  by  way  of  derision,  were  styled  Yankees.  The  song  has  had  many  commentators  and  collators,  and 
undergone  many  additions  and  alterations.  The  following  version  gives  it  as  sung  at  least  seventy  years 
ago,  and  is  probably  as  near  the  original  as  we  can  now  expect  to  secure  it : 


"  Father  and  I  went  down  to  camp, 
.Mong  with  Captain  Goodwin, 

Where  we  see  the  men  and  boys 
As  thick  as  Musty -puddin. 

There  was  Captain  Washington 
Upon  a  slapping  stallion 

A  giving  orders  to  his  men  — 
I  guess  there  was  a  million. 

And  then  the  feathers  on  his  hat, 
They  looked  so  tarnal  fina, 

I  wanted  pockily  to  get 
To  give  to  my  Jemima. 

And  there  they  had  a  swampin  gun, 

As  large  as  log  of  maple, 
On  a  deuced  little  cart  — 

A  load  for  father's  cattle ; 

And  every  time  they  fired  it  off, 
It  took  a  horn  of  powder, 

It  made  a  noise  like  father's  gun, 
Only  a  nation  louder. 

I  went  US  near  to  it  myself 
As  Jacob's  underpinnin, 


And  father  went  as  near  again  — 
I  thought  the  deuce  was  in  him. 

And  there  I  see  a  little  keg, 
Its  heads  were  made  of  leather  — 

They  knocked  upon't  with  little  sticks 
To  call  the  folks  together. 

And  there  they'd  ffe  axoay  like  fun. 
And  play  on  cornstalk  fiddles 

And  some  had  ribbons  red  as  blood, 
All  wound  about  their  middles. 

The  troopers,  too,  would  gallop  up 
And  fire  right  in  our  faces  ; 

They  scar'cd  me  almost  half  to  death 
To  see  them  run  such  races. 

Old  uncle  Sam.  come  there  to  change 
Some  pancakes  and  some  onions. 

For  lasses-cakes,  to  carry  home 
To  give  his  wife  and  young  ones. 

But  I  can't  tell  you  half  I  see 
They  kept  up  such  a  smother; 

So  I  took  my  hat  off  —  made  a  bow. 
And  scamper'd  home  to  mother." 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 


393 


At  a  town  meeting,  held  Septemlber  19th,  it  was 

"  Voted  to  dismiss  the  old  Committees  of  Correspondence ;  and  of  Safety, 
and  Inspection  ;  and  to  Chuse  a  new  one  in  their  Eoom." 

"  Voted  that  a  Committee  of  Seven  Men  be  chosen  to  Serve  as  a  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence,  Safety  and  Inspection  ;  and  are  as  followeth  Viz : 
Dea  Jonathan  Shephard,  Mr  Isaac  Eedington,  Capt  Kichard  Ayer,  Lieut 
Samuel  Merrill,  Mr  Ephraim  Elliot,  Lieut  Isaac  Snow,  &  Mr  Thomas  West." 

At  a  meeting  held  December  11th,  the  town  granted  permissson  for 
Nathaniel  Marsh  and  Isaac  Bartlett  to  establish  a  manufactory  of  saltpetre, 
and  voted  them  fifty  pounds,  for  their  encouragement.  But  owing  to  the 
unsettled  state  of  the  times,  it  was  discontinued. 

Erom  the  records  of  the  First  Company  in  this  town,  we  copy  the  follow- 
ing list  of  the  names  of  those  who  were  drafted  from  that  company  for  the 
continental  service  in  1775  and  1776:  — 


Thomas  Cogswell,  Capt  Stephen  Jackson, 
Samuel  Kimball,  1st  Lt  David  Harris, 
William  Lemont,  2d  Lt  Jonathan  Harris, 
Samuel  AValker,  Ensign  Nehemiah  Emerson, 
John  White,  Qr  Master  Jonathan  Dustin,  jr, 


John  Dow, 
James  Pecker, 
Theodore  Tyler, 
Joseph  Whiting, 
John  Eaton, 
Stephen  Dustin, 
Jonathan  Sargent, 
Moses  Harriman, 
Nathan  Ayer, 
James  Townsend, 
Joseph  Johnson, 


Samuel  Middleton, 
Samuel  Middleton,  jr, 
William  Baker, 
John  Stickney, 
John  Tyler, 
Job  G-age, 
David  Perley, 
John  Downing, 
Nathaniel  Kimball, 
Samuel  Woodman, 


Samuel  Buck, 
Daniel  Tyler, 
William  Greenleaf, 
David  Moores, 
Stephen  Eunnels, 
William  Gage, 
Daniel  Eemich, 
Moses  Keezar, 
Samuel  Lecount, 
Joshua  Moores, 
Joseph  Wakefield, 
James  Eix, 
John  Whittier, 
Bart  Pecker, 
John  Alley, 
Philip  Bagley,    privates. 


Ephraim  Dodge, 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those.who  served  six  weeks  at  Eoxbary.     They 
were  commanded  by  Captain  Eaton,  and  marched  in  December,  1775 :  — 
Obadiah  Ayer,  John  Whiting,  Moses  Whittier, 

Daniel  Hill,  jr,  Nehemiah  Emerson,  jr,    Samuel  Greenleaf, 

Moses  Willcomb,  Peter  Middleton, 

Amos  Clement,  Ebenezer  Ballard, 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  "  who  hired  for  two  months  in  February 
.1776,  at  forty  shillings  L.  M.  pr  man."  Samuel  Appleton,  John  Cogs- 
well,  jr.,  Isaac  Eedington,  John  Green,  Theodore  Tyler,  Amos  Gile, 
William  Wingate.  David  Marsh,  Enoch  Marsh,  and  Nathaniel  Marsh, 
were  classed,  and  hired  one  man ;  James  Duncan,  Samuel  Dimcan,  and 
Jonathan  Barker,  were  classed,  and  hired  one  man;  Israel  Bartlett 
and  Phineas  Carlton,  were  classed,  and  hired  one  man. 
50 


y 


3^94  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHItt. 

It  is  impossilile,  at  tliis  time,  to  give  the  names  of  all  who  served  in  the 
army  of  the  devolution,  from  this  town,  or  even  to  give  the  time,  and 
place,  and  length  of  service,  of  all  those  whose  names  are  still  preservcd- 
It  frequently  happened  that,  when  an  order  came  to  draft  soldiers,  two, 
throe,  and  four  men  were  classed,  and  were  obliged  to  hire  one  man  to 
serve- in  their  room.  This  was  done  so  as  to  make  each  man  bear  an  equal 
portion  of  the  burtheti. 

At  the  annual  meeting.  March  19,  1776,  the  same  persons  that  were 
elected  in  September,  were  re-chosen  a  "  Committee  of  Correspondence^ 
Safety,  and  Inspection." 

April  2;!d,  a  meeting  was  held  and  1  liomas  West,  Esq.,  was  chosen  a 
delegate  to  a  county  c'ouventiou  to  be  held  at  Ipswich,  "  to  consider  of 
some  method  by  which  they  may  obtain  an  equal  representation,  by  every 
man's  having  a  like  voice  in  the  election  of  the  legislative  body  of  this 
Colony." 

On  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  a  meeting  was  called,  and  Captain  John 
Mullikcn,  and  Captain  Cornelius  Mansise,  were  chosen  "  a  committee  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  Committees  of  Newbury,  Newburyport,  and  Ames- 
bury,  May  2d,  at  the  Town  House  in  Newburyport,  to  fix  on  a  plan  of  a 
Fort  to  be  built  on  Plumb  Island." 

At  a  meeting,  wai-ned  for  the  purpose,  June  25,  1776,  the  town 

"  Voted,  That  if  the  Honorable  Congress  for  the  Safety  of  the  United 
Colonies  should  Declare  them  Independant  of  the  kingdom  of  Great 
Britain,  this  Town  do  engage  tvith  their  Lives  and  Fortunes  to  support 
them  in  the  Measure." 

"  Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  is  hereby  impowered  to  hire  money 
for  to  purchase  Arms  &c  for  the  use  of  the  Poor  in  this  Town."-' 

June  29th,  the  towns  of  Haverhill  and  Newbury  applied  to  the  General 
Assembly  for  arms  and  ammunition,  "  on  account  of  their  exposed  situa- 
tion."    The  Assembly  decided  that  they  were  "  unable  to  furnish  them."f 

On  the  same  date  last  mentioned,  (June  29,  1776.)  an  order  arrived  to 
raise  forty-three  men  in  this  town.  The  quota  of  the  First  Company  was 
eleven.  They  were  destined  for  Ticonderoga,  and  marched  July  23d. 
Their  government  pay  was  nine  pounds  per  month.  The  following  were 
furnished  by  the  above  company: — James  Brickett,   Brig.  Gen. ;  Doct 

o  They  purchiiscd  twenty-five  "Fiic  iirms,"  nt  a  cost  of  seventy-five  shillings  each.  The  money  wa» 
■borrowi-d  for  the  purpose,  of  Niithaniel  Marsh. 

t  Siveriil  British  vessels  had  already  been  taken  by  privateers  and  brought  into  Newburyport;  and  but 
a  few  days  before,  a  Newburyport  privateer,  (the  Yankee  Hero)  after  a  sharp  engagement,  had  stiuck  to 
a  lii'itish  frigate. 


HISTORY    OV    HAVERHILL.  895 

Jolm  Wiagate,  Ens  Abraham  Sweat,  James  Eix,  Nathan  Ayer,  Benja 
Moores,  jr,  John  Grige,  Peter  Middleton,  Dudley  Duston,  Joshua  Mooers, 
James  Clements,  and  Doct  Pecker. 

Eix  was  hired  by  Isaac  Redington  and  Enoch  Marsh  ;  Ayer,  by  Deacon 
John  Ayer;  Benj  Mooers,  Jr.,  by  Benj.  Mooers  and  Samuel  Souther; 
Grage  by  D.iniel  D.  E:>gers  and  Phineas  Cirleton  ;  Middlcton,  by  John 
Sawyer  and  Joseph  Dodge  ;  Duston.  by  Nathl.  Marsh  and  Israel  Bartlett ; 
Joshua  Mooers,  by  Isaac  Osgood  ;  Clements,  by  John  White ;  and  Pecker, 
by  James  Duncan. 

On  the  -ith  of  July,  the  members  of  the  Continental  Congress  affixed 
their  names  to  the  Diclarathii  of  Tndipiniincz,  and  the  last  hope  of 
reconciliation  with  the  mother  country  expired.  But,  as  we  have  seen,  this 
town  was  prepared  to  do  its  part  in  the  contest,  and  cheerfully  and 
promptly  furnished  "men  and  material"  whenever  called  upon.  They 
had  early  put  their  hands  to  the  plough,  and  during  the  whole  of  the  long 
and  bloody  struggle,  we  do  not  find  the  least  sign  or  symptom  of  an 
inclination  to  look  bach. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  order  was  received  from  Colonel  AVhittier-'  to  draft 
every  twenty-fifth  man,  destined  for  Ticonderoga.  John  Bailey,  Thomas 
Hopkins,  and  Nathaniel  Bodge,  were  drafted  from  the  first  compan}'-,  and 
marched  on  the  17th  of  August.  On  the  2oth  of  the  same  month,  every 
twenty-fifth  man  was  raised,  and  marched  for  Dorchester.  On  the  22d  of 
September,  an  order  was  received  to  raise  every  fifth  man  in  tlie  town, 
under  fifty  years  of  age,  destined  for  New  York.  The  quota  of  the  First 
Company  was  twelve,  and  it  was  so  classed  that  three  men  were  to  furnish 
one  soldier  each,  and  twenty-two  were  to  furnish  nine.  In  December, 
another  was  received,  to  raise  every  fifth  man  in  the  town,  to  march  to 
New  Jersey.  The  quota  of  the  First  Company  was  again  twelve  ;  three  of 
whom  marched,  .and  the  others  employed  substitutes. 

o  The  following  letter,  from  Colonel  Whittier,  will  be  read  witli  interest.  Though  excused  from 
marching  to  the  field,  he  appears  to  have  continued  in  charge  of  the  home  regiment :  — 

"  To  the  Honorable  James  Warren  Esqr  Speaker. — To  be  communicated  to  the   Honorable  House   of 
Representatives  at  Watertown. 
Gentlemen,  — 

I  have  very  lately  heard  that  I  am  appointed  to  the  command  of  a  Regiment  for  the  Canada 
Expedition.  I  most  sincerely  it  hcarlily  thank  the  Honoble  Court,  for  their  repeated  Honors  done  me  — 
and  should  gladly  hive  accepted  the  appointment  —  were  it  not,  that  my  Health  ot  late,  has  so  far  tailed 
me.  that  at  present,  I  find  myself  nn.tble  to  perform  a  Jcmriioy  of  Twenty  Miles  without  much  difficulty 
&  delay, — notwithstanding  my  willingness  to  assist  in  this  (as  I  appreJKiul)  just  &  rightcuus  Cause  — 
yet  the  great  it  constant  care  of  a  Rf;:-ment,  ife  the  Fat'gues  of  such  a  long  Jnurney.  render  it  impossible 
formr  to-accept  the  Invitation,  with  honor  to  niyst-lf,  &  any  Adv.antage  to  the  rnivmic. —  tlKreture  I 
trust,  that  the  Hunoralib'  Court  will  justify  me,  in  declining  to  acci'pt,  at  present,  of  such  an  appuinlmcnt. 

Gentlemen,  That  yon  m  ly  hive  all  that  wisdimi  which  is  proffitable  to  direct,  — &  that  the  .-Vni.  riran 
Arms  may  be  crowned  with  Victory  i  Success,  is  the  Ardtut  I'rayer  of  Your  most  humble  A  iil)i(liiut 
Servant  "  JOHN  WHiTTiEK. 

Haverhill,  July  1st,  1776." 


396 


niSTORT    OF    HAVERHILL. 


From  the  index  to  the  Muster  Eolls  of  Colonel  Nixon's  regiment,  in 
177G, — -which  rolls  arc  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Antiquarian  Society, 
of  Worcester,  Mass.,  —  we  copy  the  following  names  of  those  who  were  from 
this  town.     The  whole  number  is  63  :  — 

Joseph  Ayer,  Sergt,  in  Capt  Gilman's  Company. 

The  following  were  all  in  the  Company  of  Captain  Moses  McFarland, 
also  of  this  town. 


Joseph  Wood,  1st  Jjicut  Peter  Cushing, 


Dudley  Tyler,  2d 
Josiah  Jones,  Sergt 
Moses  Porter,    " 
Jona  Serjeant,   " 
Eliph  Cole,    Corp 
John  Jipson,     " 
David  Peaslee,  " 
Wm  Baker,  Drummer, 
John  Tjder,  Tifer 
Benj  Burnham,  Servant 
William  Ayer,  Private 
Jesse  Bradly, 
Abiel  Boynton, 
James  Bradbry, 
Saml  Baker, 
Christr  Bartlett, 
Fortune  Burneaux, 
George  Craigc, 
Wm  Cook 


Noah  Church, 
James  Durgen, 
Moses  Downing, 
Moses  Dennis, 
Beubcn  Donalds, 
Joseph  Elkins, 
Ebenezer  Eastman, 
Alphexis  Ecrren, 
Samuel  Eulsom, 
Cato  Frost.  ^'"^ 
Grant  Duncan, 
Joseph  Johuson, 
Cato  Kittredge,'-' 
Benj  Long, 
Thos  McWhitc, 
Hugh  McDurmid, 
Joseph  Morse, 
Samuel  Marble, 
Benj  Pettengill, 


Charles  Pierce, 
Daniel  Ecmick, 
Wm  Serjeant, 
Wm  Smith, 
John  Smith, 
Jeremiah  Stickney, 
Josiah  Stevens, 
James  Smiley, 
Paul  Sawyer, 
Benj  a  Straw, 
Daniel  Tyler, 
Theodore  Tyler, 
Thomas  Tyler, 
Francis  Toll, 
John  Taggart, 
Jona  Woodman, 
Samuel  Woodman, 
Jesse  AVatts, 
John  Wallace, 
Joshua  Willett. 


Stephen  Clark, 

While  our  town  was  thus  freely  sending  its  sons  to  the  field  of  strife,-  it 
was  not  neglectful  of  those  other  measures  that  required  consideration,  as 
a  part  of  the  great  plan  of  American  Independence",  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
following  copy  of  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting,  October  14,  177G  :  — 

"1st  To  see  if  the  Town  will  Vote  to  give  their  consent  that  the  present 
House  of  Eepresentatives  of  this  State  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New 
England — Together  with  the  Counsel,  if  they  consent  in  One  Body  with 
the  House  and  by  equal  Voice  should  consult ;  agree  on ;  and  Enact  such 
a  Constitution  and  Form  of  Government  for  this  State  as  the  said  House  of 
Eepresentatives  and  Counsel  as  aforesaid,  on  the  fullest  and  most  mature 
Deliberation  shall  judge  will  most  conduce  to  the  Safety,  Peace,  and 
Happiness  of  this  State,  in  all  after  Successions  and  Generations: 

*  Those  to  which  a  "  is  prefixed  wore  probably  "  colored  persons,"  of  whom  there  was  a  large  number 
in  the  array.  The  first  blood  drawn  in  the  Revolution,  was  that  of  a  negro  —  Orispiis  Attacks  —  at  the 
Boston  Miissr.cre,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1770. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


S97 


2dly  and  if  Voted — Then  — 

To  see  if  the  Town  will  Vote  and  direct  that  the  same  he  made  pnblick 
for  the  inspection,  and  perusal  of  the  Inhabitants ;  before  the  Ratification 
thereof  by  the  Assembly." 

Upon  both  of  these  propositions  the  town  voted  affirmatively. 

The  Continental  Congress  having  called  for  88  battalions  "  to  serve 
during  the  war,  or  for  three  years,"  fifteen  of  which  were  apportioned  to 
Massachusetts,  a  resolve  passed  the  Assembly  Janugiry  26,  1777,  making 
a  requisition  on  the  towns  for  "every  seventh  man  of  sixteen  years  old 
and  upward,  without  any  exceptions,  save  the  people  called  Quakers." 

The  whole  number  who  enlisted  in  this  town,  under  this  requisition,  was 
sixty  four.  The  following  table,  prepared  from  the  "  Eegular  Army  List," 
gives  the  name,  time  of  service,  &c.,  of  each  man  :  — 


Names 


Bounty 
Reed 


Regiment,|Tinie   ofj  Time  of 
Service  I  Enlistm'nt 


Edmund  Baker, i  $20 

Timothy  Betle, ...... 

Samuel  Buck 

Jacob  Buck, 

Tortune  Burnix, 

Eliphalet  Buck, 

William  Baker, 

Ebenr  Ballard, 

"William  Case, ........ ' 


Joseph  Curriaur, 

Asa  Currier, , 

James  Clements, , 

James  Clements  Jr.  . . 

John  Dow, 

Moses  Downing 

Charles  Davis, 

William  Davis , 

John  Davis, , 

Edward  Deacon, 

John  Gross, 

Samuel  Gage, 

Job  Gage, 

AVilliam  Grecnleaf,.  .  , 
William  Hermon,..  .  . . 
William  Harriman  Jr, 
William  Harriman, . . 


20 


50 


d.  de.id  Name  of  Com- 
8.  de-  manders  or  Cap- 
serted  tains 


mo.  d 

9th 

14-0 

DW- 

9-18 
35-0 

3yrs 
D  W 

47-0 

<< 

48-0 

<( 

<' 

11-7 

<( 

13 

12-25 

<< 

16 

43-9 

<< 

6th 
9 

12-24 
46-6 

3yrs 
D  W 

<( 

11-24 

(( 

11 

11 

33-0 
5-20 

3yrs 

9 

(1 

35-0 
36-0 

(( 

(< 

45-6 

D  W 

<< 

36-0 
0-0 

3yrs 

(1 

10 

36-0 

<( 

2d 

12-0 

D  W 

nth 

18-16 

3yrs 

(( 

35-4 

13th 

6-15 

D  W 

9 
.    9 

4-17 
46-3 

3yrs 
D  W 

<( 

4-17 

3yrs 

Dix 

Blanchard 

i2dCo 


s     Cogswells 

Page 

jLt  Inf 
d     Holden 

Carr 
d     Colos  Co 
Invalid  Greenleaf 
d     I  " 

2d  Co 


Carr 


4th  Co 

Bradford 

Greenleaf 


d 

iDvalid '  * 

Page 
d     2d  Co 


*'  During  the  war. 


898 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


Name 


i  I  {d.  dead  Names    of  Com- 

Regiment  Time    of    Time  of  '  s.  do-   manders  or  Cap- 
;  Service    Eulistm'nt  serted  i  tains 


Perley  Haynes, 

John  Hutchins, 

John  Hutchins, 

John  Jepson, 

John  Johnson 

Abner  Kimball, 

Moses  Keezer, 

Moses  Lacount, 

Jonathan  Longer, 

John  Lowgee, 

John  (or  Jona)  Moore. 

Nathaniel  Moody 

Benja  Moody, 

Samuel  Middleton,. .  .  . 
.  Humphrey  Moody,. . . . 

"Moses  Mo  )res, 

Daniel  Parker, 

Daniel  Page, 

Benjamin  Pressey, .... 

Nathan  Peabody, 

"William  Pecker, 

Oliver  Page, 

David  Peasley 

Joseph  Eichards, 

James  Bix, 

Jacob  Piow, 

Samuel  Remick 

Elias  Rowell, 

Samuel  Renes, 

William  Smith, 

Samuel  Staples, 

John  Straw  Jun, 

John  Straw, 

John  Thomas 

John  Thomas, , 

John  Willson, 

•  Nicolus  Wilcome 

James  Pecker, 


50 


20 


9 

11 

13 

.      9 

11 

9 
11 

6 

9 
11 

4 
/9 

^< 

4 

8 

9 

9 

11 


13 
5 
9 


9 
13 

9 

<< 

13 


9 
(Hazens  Begt) 


mo.  d 
3G-0 
34-17 
15-16 

6-29 
34-7 
36-0 
34-19 

3-4 
36-0 
19-27 

0-0 
36-0 
36-0 
34-16 
36-0 
36-12 
31-0 
36-0 
34-20 
35-10 
36-0 

9-10 

0-2 
45-11 
35-4 
46-21 
14-20' 
12-20, 
35-131 
43-211 
12-0  I 
36-0 
17-11 

0-1 
48-0 

0-1 
37-14 
30-23 


3  yrs 


D  W 

3  yrs 


3  yrs 
D  W 
3  yrs 

n 

D  W 

3  yrs 


D  W 

3  yrs 
D  W 

3  yrs 

D  W 

3  yrs 


D  AV 

3  yrs 
D  W 


Blanchard 

I'riBor.er  Grcculeaf 

d      Smart 

d     Blanchard 

inva'id  Grreenleaf 

Carr 

Invalid  Greenleaf 

d     Daniels 

Blanchard 
d     Greenleaf 
Pope 
2d  Co 
2d  Co 


'Page 

Wiley 

Blanchard 

Invalid  Wesson 
Greenleaf 


s     Page 

Col  Co 

Blanchard 

!2d  Co 
d     I  "  " 
dead  Blanchard 

Smart 

iBlanchard 
d 

Page 
d     I    " 
s     Blanchard 

2d  Co 
s     iBlanchard 

Carr 

Hushes 


In  the  above  list  we  find  the  names  of  five  who  deserted.  As  we  must 
make  a  corresponding  discount  from  our  town's  patriotic  account,  it  is  no 
small  satisfaction  to  give  their  names.     Here  they  are :  —  Eliphalet  Buck, 


BISTOKY   OF  HAVERHILL.  S99 

John  Davis,  David  Peasley,  John  Thomas,  John  Wilson !  As  Buck  first 
served  almost  a  year,  perhaps  we  should  have  placed  his  name  last  on  the 
list,  instead  of  the  first. 

At  the  annual  meeting  (1777)  "  Brig  Gen  James  Brickett,  Capt  Timothy 
Eaton,  Dea  Ezra  Chase,  Lt  Isaac  Snow,  Capt  John  Mulliken,  Capt  Samuel 
Merrill,  and  Samuel  Ayer,"  were  chosen  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
and  Safety  for  the  year. 

In  April,  eleven  men  were  drafted  from  this  town,  for  two  months 
service  at  Bristol,  K.  I.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  their  Pay  Eoll :  — 

"  Pay  Roll  for  Capt  Johnson's--'  Company  in  Coll  Titcoms  Ecgrat  of 
Militia  from  the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  State  of  Ehodisland  for 
two  months  Service  from  their  arrival  in  Providans  in  said  State  with 
addition  of  Days  travil  from  their  several  homes  to  the  place  of  Distination 
and  Return  home  to  the  several  towns  where  they  came  "  &c. 

Bristol,  June  27,  1777. 

Service. 

James  Crowel,  Lieut.  2mo  lOd  arrivd  Apl  27.  Dischd  June  27  1777 

Benjamin  Ordaway  Sergt.  "  "  "  '•  "  '< 

Caleb  Cushen,  "  "  "  '• 

John  Alley,  Pr.  "  "  "  "  "         " 

James  Kimball,         "  "  "  "  "  "         «< 

Joshuay  Kimball,      "  "  "  "  •*  *<         •• 

Daniel  Adams,  "  "  "  "  •«  "         <« 

William  Sergant,       "  "  "  "  '<  "         <• 

Daniel  Mitchal,  "  •*  "  "  "  '«         " 

Joseph  Ayers,  "  "  "  "  •«  "         '< 

Jonathan  Hayns,       "  "  "  "  "  «<         <« 

May  21,  1777,  a  meeting  was  held,  principally  "  To  see  if  the  Town 
will  Vote  to  instruct  their  Representatives  to  form  a  new  Constitution  of 
Government  in  Conjunction  with  the  Counsel  —  and  when  so  formed  to  be 
laid  before  the  Town  for  their  Inspection  and  Approbation  or  Disapproba- 
tion, or  alteration  before  it  be  Enacted." 

2dly  "  To  Chuse  a  Committee  to  see  that  the  Regulating  Act  shall  be 
carried  into  Execution,  agreeable  to  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly." 

Upon  the  first  article  the  town  voted  "not  to  instruct;"  and  upon  the 
second,  voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three,  to  see  the  Act  carried  into 
execution.  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  June  2d,  "  Brig  Gen  James 
Brickett,  Capt  James  Sawyer,  and  Dea  Jonathan  Shepard,"  were  chosen 
such  committee. 


o  Captain  Samuel  Johnson,  of  Andover. 


400  HISTORY    OP    HAVERniLL. 

In  July,  another  draft  was  made,  for  men  to  reinforce  the  northern  army 
till  January  1st,  1778.     The  First  Company  furnished  eleven. 

In  September,  a  volunteer  detachment  turned  out  to  reinforce  the 
northern  army.  Through  the  kindness  of  John  Bartlett,  Esq.,  a  son  of 
Lieutenant  Israel  Bartlett,  we  are  enabled  to  give  the  names  of  these 
volunteers,  and  also  a  copy  of  the  Joui-nal  kept  by  the  latter,  during  the 
time :  — 

"  Sept.  1777.  Eecd  an  invitation  for  half  this  Ecgt  to  turn  out  as  vol- 
unteers to  reinforce  the  Northern  Army  for  30  days  after  their  arrival  at 
head  quarters :  the  following  turned  out  of  this  company  : 

Capt.  Xathl  Marsh,         Closes  Emerson,  Thomas  Hanes, 

Lieut.  Israel  Bartlett,      Ebcnczr  Greenough,  Cotton  Kimball, 

James  Ayres,  John  Gage,  Dudley  Ladd  Jr, 

Benj.  Moors  Jr,  r  Jacob  George,  Saml  Souther, 

Nathan  Ayers,      <^.  ^i^  -^^David  Green.  John  Souther, 

Jonn  Baker,  >-         James  Haseltine,  Jeremh  Stiokney, 

Edmund  Chase,  Saml  "Walker,  Ebenezr  Duston. 

Benj.  Baker  reed  half  a  hire  from  David  Marsh.  Ebenezer  Porter  paid 
by  Charles  Haddock.  Joshua  Moors  paid  by  Ebenezer  Wood.  Jonn  Har- 
ris paid  by  Phineas  Carlton  and  Enoch  Marsh.  Mark  "Withan  by  Simon 
Mansies.  John  Clark  reed  8  Dollars  of  J.  Eeddington.  Enoch  Caldwell 
paid  20  Dollars.  James  Pell  paid  20  Dollars.  Marched  -ith.  Oct.  1777. 
"Was  absent  5  weeks,  hire  £0.0.0.  Gen.  Bricket  turned  out  at  the  same 
time." 

' '  Journal 
of  a  march  in  the  year  1777,  when  the  British  Army  Surrendered  to  Gen- 
eral Gates ;  kept  by  Israel  Bartlett. 

Oct.  i  Marched,  put  up  at  Osgood's  in  Andover. 

5  Marched  and  put  up  at  Bedford. 

6  Breakfasted  at  Concord  ;  Dined  at  Stow  ;  poor  house,  but  fine  peo- 

ple —  Put  up  at  Bolton,  good  house  — 

7  Breakfasted  at  Lancaster  —  Dined  at  Holton  —  Put  up  at  Eutland 

at  one  Bartlet's,  a  very  good  farm. 

8  Breakfasted  at  Oakham — Passed  through  Newbraintrce  and  dined 

at  Hardwick  —  Put  up  at  Hinse's  in  Greenwich  — 

9  Breakfasted  at  Amherst  —  passed  through  Hadley  and  put  up  at 

Northampton. 

10  Dined  at  Chesterfield  —  Stop'd  and  baited  at  Partridgeficld  —  Put 

up  at  Worthington  — 

11  Put  up  at  Pittsfield  — 


HISTOET   OF   HAVERHILL.  401 

12  Marched  to  Hancock  —  Stopd  &  viewed  tte  spring  &  dined  atPhil- 

lipstown,  put  up  at  ditto  — 

13  Settled  all  accounts  in  Company — Arrived  at  the  New  City  of 

Albany  &  passed  over  the  North  Eivcr,  and  put  up  at  Half 
Moon  — 

14  Marched  and  arrived  at  the  Old  Camp  at  Stillwater. 

15  Marched  and  arrived  at  Head  Quarters  at  12  O'Clock.     Encamped 

in  the  Woods —  Good  House  &  Grand  fire. 

1 6  A  fine  morning,  opens  with  expectations  of  seeing  Mr.  Burgoyne  & 

all  his  troops  in  our  possession  this  day — 10  O'clock,  we  were 
alarmed  and  ordered  to  turn  out,  for  that  Gen.  Burgoyne  had 
refused  to  sign  the  capitulation,  and  hostilities  would  Com- 
mence in  one  hour.  Defered  till  1 2  O'clock  —  Sunset;  news 
again,  that  the  articles  arc  signed  —  General  orders,  that  men  lay 
on  their  arms,  for  the  Gcnerijl  suspects  treachery. 

17  Parade  at  10  O'clock  to  receive  Gen.  Burgoyne,  who  accordingly 

arrived  at  12  O'clock,  and  the  troops  folloAved  at  three  O'Clock. 
we  are  ordered  to  draw  three  days  provision,  and  march  in  order 
to  take  charge  of  the  prisoners,  who  are  to  march  to  Boston. 

18  Marched  to  Stillwater —  This  day  very  fatiguing.     Encamped  this 

night 

19  Marched  this  day  at  1  O'Clock  8  miles  and  encamped  in  the  woods. 

20  Marched  this  morning  &  gained  10  miles,  which  brought  us  to  the 

front  of  the  army  at  a  place  called  St.  Croix. 

21  Marched  18  miles  to  Williamstown,  through  a  severe  snow  storm, 

put  up  at  a  very  good  house  — 
;22  Halted  all  day  at  Williamstown  to  draw  provisions  — 

23  Marched  at  10  O'Clock  towards  Lanesborough  —  The  army  in  two 

divisions ;  we  in  the  rear  of  the  first  division. 

24  Marched  7  miles  to  Pittsfiekl  and  halted  at  good  quarters  — 

25  Saturday.  We  marched  to  Worthington  20  miles,  through  exceed- 

ingly bad  mountains  and  deep  jnud  —  We  marched  late,  but  got 
good  quarters  — 

26  Sunday  we  rested  —  The  people  very  religious.     We  are  to  march 

tomorrow  to  Northampton, 

27  Monday.  We  marched  to  Northampton  to  day,  18  miles,  through 

th'e  rain  &  mud,  very  fatguining.     Arrived   at  2   O'Clock  — 
Three  men  left  came  up  to  day  and  tell  us  that  the  people,  we 
thought  religious,  deny  our  paying  reckoning. 
51 


402  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

28  Tuesday.     We  rested  at  Hampton  all  day  on  account  of  a  very 

severe  storm  of  rain  and  snow. 

29  Wednsday.     "We  are  ordered  to  advance  in  front.     IVe  marched 

and  crossed  the  river  at  10  o'clock,  and  advanced  four  miles  from 
Hadley  :  place  called  Amherst. 

30  Thursday.     We  marched  thro'  Belcher  and  Ware  and  put  up  at 

Weston,  about  20  miles  from  Amherst. 

31  Friday     We  marched  1^  mile  and  halted  in  front  of  the  British 

Army — Breakfasted  &  marched  to  the  furthest  part  of  Brookfield 
1 1  miles  from  our  last  quarters.  Were  forced  to  march  4  or  5 
miles  further  than  we  intended,  for  want  of  quarters. 
Xov.  1  Saturday — We  marched  1^^  mile  to  Spencer  &  halted  all  the  rest  of 
day  to  draw  provisions ;  the  commisary  being  absent,  could  not 
draw 

2  We   drew  one  day's  provision   and  marched  thro'   Leicester  and 

halted  at  Worcester,  14  miles  from  our  last  quarters. 

3  Monday.     We  mai-ched  to  Northborough  and  halted  10  miles  from 

our  last  quarters. 

4  Tuesday — Marched  from  Northborough  to  Marlborough,  8  miles  and 

halted — we  are  mustered  and  obliged  to  march,  occasioned  by 
the  Artillery's  advancing  beyond  the  lines  set — we  marched  5 
miles  and  halted  at  Sudbury. 

5  Wedny.     Marched  to  Watertown,  5  miles  from  Cambridge, 

6  Thursday  we  marched  to  prospect  hill  in  Charlestown,  through  rain 

and  mud,  the  worst  day's  march  we  have  had;   we  expected  ta 
continue  till  rested,  and  draw  provisions,  as  we  had  none  since 
we  left  Brookfield :  but  on  our  return  from  Prospect  Hill  a  Maj, 
of  Brigade  overtook  us  and  dismissed  us,   with  the  General's 
thanks;  but  the  provision  would  have  done  us  more  good,  as 
little  could  be  procured  at  Cambridge." 
The  closing  paragraph  of  the  Journal  affords  us  an  opportunity  to  say 
that  General  Brickett,  who  commanded  the  escort  of  the  prisoners,  seriously 
embarrassed  himself  by  advancing  large  sums  of  money  from  his  private 
purse,   and  contracting  obligations  to  furnish  necessary  provisions  and 
accommodations  for  the  troops,  during  this  long  and  tedious  march,     ^or 
all  this,  he  nei^er  received  one  penny  !     Massachusetts  claimed  that  it  be- 
longed to  the  United  States  government  to  reimburse  him  ;  and  Congress 
was  pleased  to  refuse  to  allow  him  the  claim,  on  the  ground  that  General 
Brickett  was  not  an  United  States  officer,  but  under  commission  from 
Massachusetts  I    Between  the  two,  the  General's  just  claim  fell  to  the 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  403 

ground,  and  to  this  day  tas  never  been  paid.  When  Congress  afterward 
pensioned  the  soldiers  of  the  Ecvolutiou,  General  Brickett  was  urged  to 
seoure  one  for  himself,  as  he  could  readily  do  so,  but  he  indignantly 
refused  to  accept  a  pension,  while  his  higher  claim  was  ignored  by  the 
government. 

The  following,  copied  from  the  original  in  the  State  Archives,  arc  well 
worth  a  place  in  our  pages :  — 

"  To  the  Honorable  General  Court  Xow  sitting  in  Boston. 

The  petition  of  B.  G.  James  Brickctt  Humbly  Sheweth,  That 
whereas  in  obedience  to  a  Eesolve  of  the  Genl  Court  in  the  year  1777,  for 
Eeinforcing  the  Korthern  Army,  then  under  the  command  of  General 
Gates,  I  marched  with  a  number  of  Men,  and  joined  said  army,  soon  after 
which  the  articles  of  Convention  between  Mr  General  Gates  and  Gen 
Burgoyn  were  Exchanged,  after  which  by  the  General's  Direction,  I  re- 
cieved  orders  to  take  ye  command  of  the  Escort  for  Gen  Burgoyn's  troops 
from  Saratoga  to  Boston,  which  Business  was  compleated  as  Expeditious  as 
possible,  for  which  Services  I  have  not  Eecieved  any  Eecompense.  Not- 
withstanding the  aplication  made  to  Generals  Heath  &  Glover — who  I 
considered  as  the  proper  persons  to  apply  to  • —  wherefore  this  is  to  beg  you 
would  consider  of  the  affair  &  Grant  such  compensation,  as  you  in  your 
wisdom  shall  think  proper  for  said  services,  &  the  Necessary  Extra  Ex- 
penses I  was  at —  and  your  petitioner  as  in  Duty  Bound  will  ever  pray 
Dated  Haverhill  .  James  Brickett 

March  27th  1780 

"I  do  hereby  Certify;  That  Brigadier  General  James  Brickctt,  was 
appointed  to  ye  Command  of  about  five  Hundred  Militia,  Detached  from 
General  Gates  army,  to  Guard  a  Division  of  ye  Convention  Troops,  from 
Saratoga  to  Cambridge,  in  Octobr  1777  —  which  Charge  he  executed  with 
Judgment  and  Prudence  Jno.  Glover 

B  General 
Marblehead  29  Apl  1780 

"  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
In  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  May  — 1780 

On  the  Petition  of  Brigr  James  Brickett 
Kesolved  that  Brigr  James  Brickett  be  allowed  for  his  Services  in  Eein- 
forcing the  Northern  Army  under  the  Command  of  Major  Genii  Gates  ; 
that  he  be  permitted  to  make  up  a  Eolle  as  Brigr  and  Exhibit  the  some  to 
the  Committee  on  Eolles  for  allowance ;  &  the  Trear  is  hereby  ordered 
to  charge  the  same  to  the  Continent." 


404  HISTORY    OF    nATERHILL. 

General  Brickett  afterward  wrote  that  he  would  make  up  his  Rolls  as' 
soon  as  he  received  returns  of  "  parts  of  one  or  two  Eegiments."  This  is 
as  far  as  we  can  trace  the  matter.  For  reasons  above  given,  he  finally 
failed  to  receive  his  well-earned  wages. 

But  to  return  to  our  town.     October  6,  1777,  a  meeting  was  warned, 

"  1st.  To  see  if  the  Town  will  carry  into  Execution  a  late  Act  of  the 
Great  and  Genl  Court,  intitled  an  Act  for  the  Securing  this  and  the  Other 
United  States  against  the  Danger  to  which  they  arc  Exposed  by  the  inter- 
nal Enemies  thereof : 

2dy  To  see  if  the  Town  will  chuse  some  One  Person  to  collect  Evidence 
against  those  Persons  that  may  be  deemed  Enimical  to  their  Country,  as 
directed  by  the  said  Act : 

3dy.  To  see  if  the  Town  will  chuse  a  Committee  to  Supply  the  Soldiers 
Families  that  are  gone  into  the  Continental  Service,  agreeable  to  a  Eesolve 
of  the  General  Com-t  of  this  State." 

Upon  the  first  and  second  articles,  the  vote  was  in  the  affirmative  ;  and 
Thomas  "West  was  chosen  to  collect  evidence,  agreeably  to  the  second  article. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  October  20th,  a  committee  of  ten  were 
chosen  "  to  supply  the  families  of  such  non-commissioned  &  private  sol- 
diers as  are  in  the  Continental  Service."  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  committee :  —  Thomas  West,  Deacon  Moses  Clement,  Edward  Ordway, 
John  Mitchell,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Webster,  Esq.,  Mr.  Isaac  Eed- 
ington,  Captain  Timothy  Eaton,  Deacon  Ezra  Chase,  and  Lieutenant  Isaac 
Snow. 

January  12,  1778,  a  town  meeting  was  called, 

"  To  see  if  the  Town  will  take  into  consideration  the  Proposals  of  the 
Continental  Congress  in  entering  into  a  Confederation,  and  perpetual 
Union  between  the  States,  and  to  give  Instructions  to  their  Eeprcsentativcs 
how  to  act  for  or  against  it." 

The  following  named  persons  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  peruse  the. 
Articles  of  Confederation,  and  give  their  Eepresentative  Instructions 
Eespecting  them "  :  —  Hon.  Judge  N.  P.  Sargeant,  Brigadier-General 
James  Brickett,  Major  Enoch  Bartlett,  Samuel  White,  Esq.,  Mr.  Joseph 
Haynes,  Captain  Samuel  Merrill,  Mr.  James  Duncan,  Doctor  William 
Bachellor,  Deacon  Ezra  Chase.     The  meeting  then  adjourned  for  one  week. 

January  19th,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  met,  according  to  adjourn- 
ment, and  passed  the  following  :  — 

'•  Voted,  That  a  Union  of  the  Thirteen  independant  American  States  is 
a  Ma~tter  of  the  greatest  importance  for  the  defence  and  Protection  of  this 
and  the  Other  American  States: 


HISTORY   OP  HAVERHILL.  405 

Voted,  That  the  Confederation,  or  Plan  of  Union  formed  hy  the  Honble 
Congress,  and  laid  before  the  Town,  is  in  general  very  agreeable.  Though 
in  some  respects  we  could  wish  it  altered : 

Voted,  as  the  Opinion  of  this  Town,  that  the  Larger  States  in  this  Con- 
federacy Ought  to  have  votes  in  Congress,  in,  or  near  the  proportion  of  the 
Taxes  they  pay  for  the  Common  Defence.  —  that  it  appears  necessary 
some  Plan  or  Mode  should  be  added  to  the  Confederation  for  compelling 
such  States  as  shall  be  defective  in  Raising  Men,  or  Money  for  the  common 
Defense,  to  perform  their  Duty  :     Lastly 

Voted,  that  our  Eepresentative  be  Instructed,  in  Conjunction  with  the 
Other  Representatives  of  this  State,  to  Authorize  our  Delegates,  or  any 
Number  of  them  in  Congress,  to  confirm  and  establish  this  Confederation, 
or  Plan  of  Lnion,  with  such  alterations  and  Amendments  as  the  General 
Assembly  may  think  necessary. 

The  Moderator  dismissed  the  meeting." 

At  the  annual  March  meeting,  the  following  were  chosen  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence  and  Safety: — Brigadier-General  James  Brickett, 
Captain  Timothy  Eaton,  Deacon  Ezra  Chase,  Isaac  Snow,  John  Saw- 
yer, Captain  Samuel  Merrill,  Joseph  Pike. 

The  renunciation  of  allegiance  to  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  rendered 
it  necessary  for  all  the  American  colonies  to  establish,  as  soon  as  practica- 
ble, independent  governments,  for  the  protection  and  security  of  the  people 
and  their  interests.  The  growing  necessity  of  a  Constitution,  or  Form  of 
Government,  for  Massachusetts,  led  the  General  Court,  in  June,  1776,  to 
appoint  a  committee  to  prepare  one.  But  as  the  opinion  was  generally 
expressed  that  the  subject  should  originate  with  the  people,  the  business 
was  not  proceeded  in  by  the  committee.  The  House  contented  itself  with 
recommending  the  people  to  choose  their  deputies  to  the  next  General 
Court  with  power  to  adopt  a  form  of  government  for  the  State.  This 
recommendation  was  renewed  more  formally  the  next  spring.  In  the  in- 
terval, a  convention  of  the  Committees  of  Safety  of  a  majority  of  the 
towns  in  the  State,  met  at  "Worcester,  and  voted  that  it  would  be  improper 
for  the  existing  General  Court  to  form  a  constitution,  but  that  a  conven- 
tion of  delegates  from  all  the  towns  should  be  called  for  that  special 
purpose. 

.  A  majority  of  the  towns  having  chosen  their  representatives  with  a 
special,  or,  at  least,  implied  consent,  to  form  a  constitution,  the  General 
Court  at  their  next  session  appointed  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  The 
result  was,  that  a  draught  was  agreed  upon,  approved  by  a  convention, 
and  submitted  to  the  people. 


406  HISTORY    OP   HATERHILL. 

April  13,  1778,  a  town  meeting  was  held 

"  1st  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  to  accept  of  the  New  Form  of  Govern- 
ment lately  proposed  by  the  Convention  of  this  State  : 

2d.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  joyn  in  a  Convention  of  this  County, 
to  be  held  at  Ipswych  on  the  15th  Instant,  relating  to  the  new  Form  of 
Government,  proposed  by  the  Convention  of  this  State,  as  recommended  to 
us  from  the  Select  Men  of  Newbury  Port." 

"  Voted,  not  to  act  on  the  1st  Article.  Voted,  not  to  comply  with  the 
Eequest  of  the  Select  Men  of  Newbury  Port  &c." 

The  meeting  was  then  dismissed. 

May  21st,  another  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  subject.  The 
warrant  for  the  meeting  directed  "  all  Male  Inhabitants  being  free  and 
Twenty  one  Years  of  Age  To  take  into  their  deliberate  Consideration  the 
Constitution  and  Form  of  Government  agreed  upon  by  the  Convention  of 
this  State  on  February  last ;  to  see  if  the  town  will  approve  of  the  same." 

The  Clerk  records  :  —  "At  the  Request  of  the  Moderator,  I  read  the 
Form  of  Government  proposed.  After  some  talk,  &  without  any  Vote 
being  tried,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Monday  next." 

Monday,  June  8th,  the  town  again  met,  and  proceeded  to  vote  upon  the 
proposed  Constitution.  The  result  was  seven  votes  for,  and  sixty-three 
against  it.  The  record  gives  us  no  clue  to  the  reasons  for  this  strong  oppo- 
sition to  the  new  Constitution,  but  we  find  that  throughout  the  State  the 
general  objections  against  it  were,  that  it  contained  no  declaration  of 
rights ;  that  the  principle  of  representation  was  unequal ;  and  that  the 
powers  and  duties  of  the  legislators  and  rulers  were  not  clearly  and  accu- 
rately defined.  Besides,  the  opinion  was  still  general,  that  such  a 
Constitution  should  be  framed  by  a  convention  of  delegates,  chosen  directly 
by  the  people.  The  vote  in  the  State  stood  ten  thousand  against  the  con- 
stitution, and  two  thousand  in  its  favor ;  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
towns  made  no  return. 

While  the  people  were  thus  laboring  to  establish  a  proper  form  of 
state  government  for  themselves,  they  were  at  the  same  time  making  the 
most  vigorous  efi"orts  to  establish  their  national  independence,  as  may  be 
seen  from  what  follows :  — 

May  5th,  a  meeting  was  held  to  see  what  the  town  would  do  about 
"  procuring  fifteen  soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army,  which  this  Town  is 
obliged  to  Eaise." 

After  voting  that  they  would  raise  the  men  required,  it  was 

"  Voted  that  the  Militia  Officers  of  the  Companies  of  this  Town  be  em- 
powered to  procure  by  hiring,  sd  soldiers,  on  the  most  reasonable  Terms, 
at  the  Charge  of  the  Town  : 


HISTORY   OP  HAVERHILL. 


407 


Voted  tLat  the  Town  Treasurer  be  directed  to  hire  &  furnish  sd  Officers 
with  such  sums  of  Money  as  may  be  necessary  for  raising  sd  Men  :  The 
Officers  to  be  accountable  to  the  Town,  for  such  sums  of  Money  as  they 
shall  recieve." 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  for  one  week.  At  the  adjourned  meeting, 
the  treasurer  was  directed  "  to  hire  Money  as  soon  as  possible,  to  enable 
the  Officers  to  raise  Soldiers"; — and  the  militia  officers  were  ordered 
"  to  raise  Men  for  the  Militia  Service,  by  hiring,  at  the  Charge  of  the 
Town." 

On  the  succeeding  page  of  the  town  records,  we  find  a  list  of  the  names  of 
those  of  whom  the  treasurer  borrowed  money.     It  is  as  follows :  — 

"  According  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  in  the  last  Meeting,  held  on  May  5, 
1778,  I  borrowed  Money  of  the  following  Persons,  viz. 


13  Eevd  Gyles  Merrill 

£  75 

Isaac  Eedington 

^18 

Capt  Jas  Sawyer 

100 

Langley  Kelley 

90 

Jno  Farnham 

200 

13  Edmd  Kimball 

30 

Israel  Burtlet 

30 

16  David  Brown 

30 

14  Daniel  Lord 

25 

Anthony  Chase 

100 

15  Saml  Jackman 

45 

Austin  George 

39 

Willm  Morse 

68.2 

Capt  Jas  Sawyer 

60 

Gideon  George 

180 

William  Appleton 

30 

18  James  Whittaker 

30 

Caleb  Cushing 

150 

19  Mrs  Anna  Gushing 

•    57.7 

July   2  Mehitable  Carleton 

36 

Charles  Haddock 

100 

4  Lieut  Israel  Bartlctt 

30 

21  Thomas  Whittaker 

15 

13  Capt  Daniel  Eames 

15 

Capt  Timo  Johnson 

90 

Capt  Nat  Marsh 

30 

23  Thomas  Sargent 

30 

Capt  Daniel  Johnson 

58.18 

Saml  Jackman 

9 

James  Ayer 

30 

Joel  Harriman 

30 

Joseph  Snow 

19 

25  Timothy  Ayer 

60 

Simon  Hariman 

10 

36  Ephraim  Brown 

40 

Jno  Whittier  Jur 

5 

.  Samuel  Eames  Jur 

70 

Israel  Bartlett 

35 

28  James  Kimball 

60 

14  Ebeor  Gage 

■36 

Benja  Baker 

60 

Joseph  Youring 

90 

29  Frances  Smiley 

70 

18  Jona  Sawyer 

40 

Jno  Baker 

70 

31  Ebenr  Gage  Jur 

15 

30  Eachel  Duston 

12.12  Aug  5  Bradley  Mitchell 

18 

1   Caleb  Cushing 

20 

10  Abigail  Smiley 

48.14 

2  David  Smiley 

55 

Sept  1 1  Dea  Jo  Kelley 

15 

3  Deacon  Ezra  Chase 

50 

24  Joseph  Hall 

11.8 

8  Samuel  Ela 

90 

Daniel  Carleton 

21 

10  Levi  Senter 

62 

Stephen  Cai-leton 

SO 

Zebadiah  Barker 

30 

John  Emery 

30 

Capt  Saml  ]\Ierrill 

19.16 

Deacn  Jos  Kelley 

20 

James  Pecker 

30 

26  John  Ayer 

21 

403 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


30  Dca  Ezra  Chase 

54 

Apl  17  JnoBrickett 

60 

Kov  23  Willm  Chase 

30 

May  31  "Widow  Phebe  Hatch  626 

Dec    1  Jona  Simmons 

30 

June  1 2  Langlcy  Kellcy 

90 

31  Moses  Simmons 

12 

July  12  John  Gross 

282 

1779. 

Edmd  Baker 

150 

Jan  12  Capt  Daniel  Johnson 

16.4 

Nat  Soley 

282 

14  "William  Chdse 

30 

Eben  Bradbury 

45 

Mar  16  Widow  Sarah  Ayer 

129.6 

Mary  Baker 

12 

April  9  Francis  Smiley 

30.10 

1         13  Daniel  Quimby 

200 

David  Smiley 
May  1  Benja  Baker 

15 

75 

£4963.5 

May  13  Nehemiah  Simmons 

51 

The  drafts  upon  the  town  this  year  were  by  no  means  light.  In  March, 
two  men  were  detached  to  serve  as  guards  at  Cambridge.  In  April,  an 
order  was  received  to  raise  fifteen  men  in  this  town,  to  complete  the  fifteen 
batallions  which  were  raising  for  the  continental  army.  The  town  voted 
a  bounty  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  each  soldier  who  would  enlist.  They 
were  to  serve  nine  months' after  their  arrival  at  Fishkill.  Thos'e  who  were 
detached  from  the  First  Company,  were  Nathan  Kimball,  Thomas  Sargent, 
William  Appleton,  Moses  Harriman,  Gilbert  Bond,  Ephraim  H.  Brown, 
Samuel  Fames,  Francis  Smiley,  Jeremiah  Davis,  Edward  Baker,  jr.,  and 
Daniel  Quimby.  In  May,  another  order  was  received  for  a  detachment  of 
ten  men,  to  serve  eight  months  after  their  arrival  at  Peekskill.  The  town 
voted  a  bounty  of  ninety  pounds  to  each  soldier  that  would  enlist.  The 
following  enlisted  in  this  service  :  — 

Samuel  Ela,  Robert  Griffin,  David , 

Abraham  Silver,  Levey  Senter, 

Zebadiah  Barker,  jr.,      James  Pecker, 

In  July,  twelve  men  were  detached  for  Rhode  Island.  The  following 
gives  their  names.  They  are  copied  from  "  A  Muster  Roll  of  Capt  Jona- 
than Fosters  Company  of  Col  Nathl  "Wades  Regt  of  the  Mass  Troops  now 
in  the  Service  of  the  United  States.  Stationed  in  Middlcton  in  the  State 
of  Rhode  Island  for  the  term  of  Six  months  from  the  first  of  July  1778." 
Sergt  John  Whittier  enlisted  July  1     Pr  Parker  Xoyes     enlisted  July  1 


Pr  John  Berry 

<( 

"     9 

"  Jonathan  Silver 

"     9 

*'  John  Gage 

•' 

"     9 

"  Joseph  Snow 

"     9 

"  Simon  Herriman 

♦' 

"     9 

'*  Theodore  Tyler 

"     9 

"  Peter  Middlcton 

>i 

"     1 

"  Mark  Witham 

"     9 

**  Joshua  Moore 

(( 

"     11 

.**  Ebenr  Webster 

"     9 

In  the  same  month,  six  men  marched  to  Cambridge,  and  were  paid  by 
the  town,  and  six  men  were  detached  from  the  First  Company,  to  serve 
six  weeks  at  Rhode  Island.  In  September,  nine  men  marched  from  this 
town,  three  from  the  First  Company,  to  serve  at  Boston  till  the  1st  of 
January,  1779. 


msTOllY   OJ-   HAVERHILL.  409 

To  rais3  mon  and  money  for  tliese  frequent  drafts,  required  the  exertion 
of  every  nerve,  —  hut  it  was  done.  The  following  items  will  show  some- 
what of  the  expenses  of  the  town  for  the  national  cause,  this  year:  — 

Sixty  pounds  were  paid  to  four  men,  who  served  •  as  guards  at  Cam- 
bridge." Oae  huudred  and  twenty  pounds  were  paid  to  eight  soldiers, 
"who  "  served  about  Boston."  Seven  pounds  eleven  shillings  were  paid  to 
two  men  for  "  going  to  Boston  ;  "  these  were  probably  Simon  Harriman, 
and  Joseph  Snow,  who  enlisted,  July  3d,  for  a  six  mouths'  service,  and 
were  paid  fifty-five  pounds  each  by  the  town,  in  addition  to  their  expenses 
to  Boston.  Xine  soldiers  enlisted  in  the  militia,  and  were  paid  by  the 
towa.  The  amount  paid  them  was  five  hundred  and  ninety  pounds.  For 
the  fifteen  soldiers  for  the  continental  army,  the  town  paid  fifteen  hundred 
pounds.  Two  men  served  on  AYinter  Hill  five  months,  to  whom  the  town 
paid  fifty  pounds  ;  they  were  Daniel  Adams  and  Samuel  Le  Courts  Eight 
men  served  in  the  militia  three  months,  and  were  paid  three  hundred  and 
twenty-four  pounds.  Six  men  marched  to  Providence,  and  were  paid 
three  huudred  and  thirty  pounds.  On  the  30th  of  June,  the  town  raised 
two  thousand  and  six  hundred  pounds  to  defray  the  charges  "  it  had  been 
at  in  procuring  soldiers  for  the  continental  army  and  for  the  service  of  the 
state."  It  was  also  voted  "  to  raise  £500  to  hire  the  soldiers  this  town  is 
now  obliged  to  raise."  On  the  19th  of  July,  six  soldiers  were  hired,  to 
be  stationed  at  Cambridge,  to  whom  the  town  paid  one  hundred  and  ten 
pounds. 

Besides  these  expenses,  the  town  paid  several  hundred  pounds  for  sup- 
plies to  the  families  of  soldiers.  This  year  there  were  at  least  ten  such 
families  principally  supported  by  the  town.--- 

But  we  find  no  symptom  of  a  murmur.  At  a  meeting  in  September, 
the  militia  officers  were  dii-ected  *'  to  hire  any  detachments  ordered  by 
authority,  at  any  time,"  and  the  treasurer  "  to  pay  what  money  was  neces- 
sary for  them."     If  he  had  no  money,  he  was  "to  hire  some." 

In  June  of  this  year,  the  Greneral  Court  made  a  requisition  on  the  towns 
for  clothing  for  the  soldiers  of  the  army.  This  town  came  up  promptly 
at  the  call,  and  we  find  in  a  single  receipt,  dated  December  11,  1778,  the 
items  — 150  shirts,  91  pr  shoes,  and  57  pair  stockings  sent  from  Haver- 
hill. 

The  whole  expenses  of  the  town  for  soldiers  this  year,  was  upwards  of 
thirty-one  hundred  pounds  ! 


o  From  September  1st,  1777,  to  March  1st,  1779,  the  town  paid  for  this  purpose  £934.2.0.    The  whola 
»i'.ii!i!)rr  of  families  was  foui-tcen.     The  sum  paid  from  October,  1779,  to  January,  1780,  was  £137.4.6. 


410 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL 


At  the  annual  meeting  in  177f>,  Thomas  West,  Lieutenant  Peter  Carl- 
ton, Colonel  John  Whitticr,  Captain  Samuel  Merrill,  Phinehas  Carlton, 
Isaac  Snow,  and  Samuel  A\-er,  Jr.,  were  chosen  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spoudence  and  Safety.-"' 

The  committee  to  supply  the  families  of  those  soldiers  from  the  town, 
who  were  in  the  army,  were  Mr.  John  AVhite,  merchant,  Ebcnezer  Gage, 
Senr.,  Jonathan  Duston,  Deacon  Benjamin  Clements,  Captain  Samuel 
Merrill,  Samuel  Ayer,  Jr.,  Anthony  Chase,  Captain  Joseph  Eaton,  Eichard 
Kimball,  "William  Ladd,  Elias  Johnson,  Lieutenant  Jonathan  AVcbster, 
and  Simon  Ayer. 

The  militia  officers  were  again  ordered  to  hire  what  men  the  town  should 
be  called  on  to  furnish,  and  the  treasurer  was  directed  to  pay  the  bills  for 
the  same. 

The  following  account  of  bounties  paid  by  this  town,  between  Febru- 
ary, 1777,  and  March,  1778,  is  copied  .from  the  book  of  the  province 
treasurer :  — ■ 


Soldiers  Xames 
Jacob  Row 

Amt 
Bounty 

£14 

Time 

r         when 

paid 

Feb    10 

Soldiers  Names 
Eeubn  Sillaway 

Amt 
Bounty 

14 

Time 
whett 
paid 

Mar 

Eobt  Martin 

15 

"     15 

Abner  Kimbal 

14 

n 

David  Peaslee 

14 

Mar  20 

Benj  Moody 

" 

11 

Samuel  Buck 

14 

Feb   13 

Eobt  Brant 

<< 

(( 

John  Tyler 

14 

Mar     0 

Katl  Peas  Moody 

<i 

(t 

William  Baker 

14 

Feb   25 

Jos  Currier 

" 

(( 

Jno  Dow,  Sergt 

14 

'«      17 

John  Johnson 

7 

it 

Moses  Kezar 

14 

"      3d 

Willm  Davis 

12 

n 

John  Thomas 

7 

"      11 

Danl  Parker 

15 

"■ 

Saml  Eemicks 

14 

Feb   24 

Chase  Pilsbury, 

" 

(< 

John  Straw 

14 

"      10 

John  HutchinsJur 

12 

it 

John  Straw  Jur 
Joua  Dustan 
Moses  Lacount 

14 

87 
14 

"      10 
Aug  10 
Apl    19' 

Joseph  Young 
/Humphrey  Moody 
Saml  Staples 

15 
14 
21 

(( 

i( 

May 

Job  Gage 

6 

Jany  — 

James  Eix,    Sargt 

14 

Feb  14 

Thos  Hopkins 

— 

Jonathan  Loughlur 

21.10 

Apl 

1778 

John  Loughar 

21.10 

Apl 

Saml  iliddleton  Jur 

90 

Mar  14 

AViugate  Bradley 

16.1C 

1  " 

Thos  Thornton 

3.1 

1777 
2  May 

Nathl  Peabody 
AVilliam  Case 

16.10 
15 

1   <* 

"Wm  Huston 

17.2 

June 

Saml  Bradley  Fulsom  15 

<( 

Saml  Midilton 
Danl  Page 
Chas  Davis 

30 
14 

Apl 
Mar 

Hollaway 

Moses  AVorthing 
Ebenezer  Ballard 

15 
12 
15 

Apl 

°  At  the  adjonrncd  meeting,  March  2Cth,  n  new  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Gcnenil  James 
Brickett,  Captain  Samuel  Merrill,  Deacon  Ezra  Chase,  Isaac  Snow,  John  Sawyer,  Captain  Timothy  EatOB 
and  James  Fike.    Xo  reason  is  given  for  choosing  a  new  committee  for  this  purpose. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


411 


Soldiers  Names 

John  Berry 
John  Stanford 

Amt 
Bounty 

15 

Time 
when 
paid 

Apl 

<< 

Joshua  Henshaw 

,, 

<( 

John  Hutchins 

15 

Apl 

Eichd  Jose 

<( 

.  " 

"William  Gould 

ti 

<( 

Joseph  Eichards 
Wm  Smith  Price 

<< 

Moses  Downing 

14 

FelD   1 

William  Harriman 

30 

Apl 

Timothy  Bedle 
Peter  Carlton 

18 
24 

May 

Pearlcy  Haynes 
Lott  Ayer 
Fortune  Brennux 

36 

30 
30 

Isaac  Thompson 

30 

14 


Soldiers  Names 

John  Gibson 

Saml  Barber 

Elias  Rowell 

John  Wilson 

James  Clements 

Saml  Gage 

Oliver  Page 

James  Clements  Jur  14 

John  Graham 

Jacob  Buck  Jur 

AVilliam  Pecker 

Willm  Harriman  Jur 

"Willm  Greenleaf  Jf 

Benj  Pressey 

John  Lee 


Amt 
Bounty 

30 
45 

Time 
■when 
paid 

:May 

24 
30 
14 
18 

Apl 

May 

Apl 

8 

<< 

'  14 

<c 

Feb 

19 

Mar 

10 

a 

25 

r  " 

Feb 

13 

.;=    « 

Mar 

11 

15     Feb   15 


The  complaints  of  the  people  in  most  of  the  States  had  become  so  loud 
and  so  general,  on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  extortion  and  monopoly, 
growing  out  of  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  money,f  that  Congress  deemed 

'^  Lieutenant  William  Greenleaf  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  January,  1776.  He  was  appointed 
Ensign  soon  after,  and  subsequently  commissioned  as  Lieutenant.  He  was  in  the  battle  at  Gowrnor's 
Island;  at  Haarlem  Heights  ;  at  the  taking  of  Burgoyne;  carried  the  standard  of  his  reg'mtnt  at  Mon- 
mouth ;  and  was  in  the  memorable  Retreat  from  Long  Island.  He  left  the  scr'ice  in  17S3.  and  returned 
to  his  native  town,  where  he  was  for  many  years  tlie  popular  landlord  of  Greenleaf  s  Tavern  (where  the 
Chase  Block  now  stands).  He  was  a  brave  officer,  and  a  kind  and  gentlemanly  citizen  and  neighbor.  He 
died  in  1832. 

t  As  a  paper  of  no  ftnall  historical  value  and  interest,  we  copy  the  following  table  from  the  book  of 
our  Town  Treasurer.    It  was  evidently  prepared  for  his  own  convenience. 

" Scales  of  Depreciation.  The  Worth  of  £100  in  Paper  Money,  when  reduced  to  Solid  Coin,  at  the 
rate  of  Six  Shillings  &  Eight  Pence  for  one  ounce  of  Silver." 


1777 

Mass 

New  Hamp 

Congress 

1779 

Mass 

NH 

Congress 

January 

95.+.9 

Equal 

No  Depreci- 

Jan 

13.10 

13.9.7 

Veh 

93.11.0 

96.3.1 

ation  till 

Feb 

luio.e 

11.10.5 

Mar 

91.14.11 

94.6.9 

October 

Mar 

10 

10 

Apr 

89.5.8 

90.18.1 

Apt 

9.11.1 

9.1.2 

May 

87 

,  87.14.4 

May 

8.4.7 

8.4.7 

June 

83.6.8 

'Same  as 

June 

7.9 

7.9 

July 

80 

Mass  to 

July 

6.15.8 

6.15.5 

Aug 

66  13.4 

December 

Aug 

6.2.7 

6.2.7 

Sept 

57.2.10 

1779 

Sept 

5.11 

5.11 

Oct 

36.7.3 

91.3.4 

Oct 

4.18.5 

4.18.5 

Nov 

33.6.8 

82.6.8 

Nov 

4.6.8 

4.7 

Dec 

32..5.2 

76.9.S 

Dec 

3.17.3 

3.17.2 

1778 

1780 

Jan 

30.15.5 

68.11.8 

Jan 

3.8.1 

3.8.1 

3.8.0 

Feb 

28.U.5 

62.8.2 

Feb 

3.0.3 

3.0.2 

3 

Mar 

26.14 

57.2.10 

Mar 

2.13.6 

2.13.6 

2.13.7 

Apl 

25 

49.7.6 

Apl 

2.10 

210 

2.10 

May 

25 

43.9 

May 

2.1.8 

June 

25 

37.16 

June 

1.15 

July 

23.10 

33  0.7 

July 

1.13.4 

Aug 

22.4.5 

28.14 

Aug 

1.11.8 

Sept 

21.1 

25.0.2 

Sep 

1.10.9 

Oct 

20 

21.10.5 

Oct 

1.9.1 

Nov 

18.6.11 

18.7 

Nov 

L8.6 

Dec 

15.15.5 

15.15.6 

I  J)«c 

1.7.4 

412  niSTORY   OF   nATTERniLL, 

rp^?r?a^w^  statutes  necessary,  and  in  January,  1779,  (liviclcd  lie  tln'rtccn 
States  into  two  districts,  advising  that  a  conA-cntion  Ic  held  in  each,  to  fix 
and  regulate  the  prices  of  the  common  articles  of  .living.  A  convention 
for  the  northern  district  was  held  at  New  Haven,  who  formed  a  plan  for 
regulating  prices  and  preventing  extortion.  This  plan  was  adopted  by 
most  of  the  States  composing  the  district.  The  legislature  of  Massachu- 
setts approved  of  it,  and  passed  a  law  on  the  subject,  and  on  the  12th  of 
April  a  meeting  was  called  "  To  see  if  the  Town  will  choose  one  or  more 
Persons  as  a  Committee  t©  prevent  monopoly  &  Fore  Stalling  agreeable  to 
a  late  Eesolve  of  the  General  Court." 

The  town  voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  persons  for  the  above 
px;rposc,  and  the  following  were  so  chosen :  —  Captain  Xathaniel  Marsh, 
Joseph  Bradley,  and  Captain  John  Mullaken. 

In  May,  two  meetings  were  held  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  State  Con- 
stitution.    The  record  is  so  brief,  that  we  copy  it  entire  :  — 

"At  a  legal  Town  Meeting,  held  in  Haverhill  on  Tuesday  the  18th  Day 
of  May,  1779,  warned  by  the  Constable  by  Virtue  of  a  Warrant  recieved 
from  the  Select  Men. 

Doctr  James  Brickett  was  chosen  Moderator. 

"  The  two  following  Particulars  are  the  Articles  contained  in  the  War- 
rant. 

Viz.  1st.  To  see  whether  the  Town  Chuses  at  this  Time  to  have  a  new 
Constitution,  or  Form  of  Government  made. 

2d.  To  see  whether  the  Town  will  impower  their  Representative  for 
the  next  year,  to  vote  for  the  calling  a  State  Convention,  for  the  Sole 
Purpose  of  forming  a  new  Constitution;  Provided  it  shall  appear,  on 
Examinaition,  that  a  major  Part  of  the  People  present,  and  voting,  shall 
have  answered  the  first  article  in  the  Affirmative. 

"After  somo  Time  bcitig  spent  in  debating  on  the  proceeding  Articles, 
tbe  Moderator  tried  a  Vote  on  the  first  Article,  &  in  order  to  ascertain 
tbe  Number  voting  each  Way,  the  House  was  divided,  and  the  Numbers 
were  equal,  viz.  Forty  one  for  having  a  new  Constitution,  or  Form  of 
Government,  and  Forty  one  against  it. 

The  Moderator  dismissed  the  meeting." 

"  1779.     May  31. 

The  Select  Men  called  another  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  qualified 
by  Law  to  vote  for  Eepresentatives,  for  the  same  Purpose  of  the  last 
Meeting.  Mr  Isaac  Osgood  was  chosen  Moderator.  The  Votes  were, 
Thirty  five  for  having  a  new  Constitution  or  Form  of  Government;  and 


HISTORY   OP  HATERHILL.  41 3 

Sixty  one  against  having  it  made  at  present.  On  Motion  made  wliether 
the  Totvn  would  give  Instructions  to  their  Ecpresentative  about  this  Affair, 
it  was  voted  in  the  Negative. 

The  Meeting  was  dismissed  by  the  Moderator." 

July  12  th,  a  meeting  was  warned, 

"  1st.  —  To  see  if  the  Town  will  adopt  a  Plan  similar  to  that  proposed 
by  the  Town  of  Boston  for  appreciating  the  Continental  Currency,  and 

2d.  —  To  see  if  the  town  will  approve  of  the  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence, Inspection  &  Safety  of  this  Town  in  sending  one  of  their  Number 
to  meet  a  Convention  of  the  several  Committees  of  this  State  at  Concord 
on  the  14th  of  this  Instant  for  the  Purpose  expressed  in  their  Letter  from 
the  Committee  of  Boston." 

Upon  both  of  the  articles,  an  affirmative  vote  was  passed.  The  Con- 
vention at  Concord  was  attended  by  deputies  from  more  than  three-fourths 
of  the  towns  in  the  State.  Prices  were  fixed  for  all  the  products  of  the 
country,  and  those  who  had  articles  of  foreign  growth  or  manufacture  to 
dispose  of,  were  requested  to  have  reasonable  prices  stated  for  the  same. 

Notwithstanding  this  town  voted  not  to  have  a  new  consitution,  a  major- 
ity of  the  towns  decided  otherwise,  and  precepts  were  issued  for  a 
Convention  at  Cambridge  in  September.  ■ 

August  5  th,  a  meeting  was  held,  — 

"  1st.  —  To  see  if  the  Town  will  chuse  one  or  more  Delegates  to  meet  in 
Convention  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  Day  of  September  next  for  the  sole 
Purpose  of  framing  a  new  Constitution  for  the  Massachusetts  State  : 

"  2d.  — To  see  if  the  Town  will  consider  of  the  Doings  of  the  Conven- 
tion which  met  at  Concord  the  l-4th  Day  «f  July  last,  &  adopt  a  Plan 
proposed  by  said  Convention  for  putting  a  Stop  to  the  late  growing  evils 
amongst  us : 

"3d.  —  To  see  whether  the  Town  will  chuse  one  or  more  Members  to  meet, 
in  Convcutiou  at  Concord  on  the  first  "Wednesday  in  October  next  as 
recommended  in  a  Piesolve  of  the  late  Convention  held  at  that  Place  : 

"  The  Town  being  met  Isaac  Eedington  was  chosen  Moderator. 

"  1st.  Thehonbl  Xathl  Peaslee  Sargeant  Esqr  was  chosen  a  Delegate 
to  meet  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  Day  of  September  next,  for  the  sole 
Purpose  of.  Framing  a  Constitution. 

"The  2d  Article  was  voted  in  the  Affirmative;  and  a  Committee  of 
Fourteen  Men  was  chosen  to  see  that  the  Eeeommendation  of  the  Conven- 
tion is  comply d  with  as  expressed  in  the  4  th  &  oth  Eesolves  of  said 
Convention.  The  following  are  the  Persons  chose  for  a  Committee,  viz 
Doctr  Brickett,  James  Chase,  Capt  Timo  Johnson,  Aaron  Carleton,  Lieut 


414  DISTORT   OP   HAVERHIIL. 

Israel  Bartlet,  Capt  Samuel  Mcrrrill,  Anthony  Chase,  Jona  Kimball,  Capt 
Nat  j\[arsh,  Capt  Timo  Eaton,  Nat  "Walker,  Deacon  Benja  Clements,  Jno 
Sawyer.  Mr  Jno  "Wliitc  Marcht. 

"  3d  The  Town  made  Choice  of  Doctr  James  Brickett  a  Delegate  to 
meet  the  Convention  at  Concord  the  1st  Wednesday  in  October  next." 
At  a  town  meeting,  held  September  7,  1779,  it  was 
"  Voted  to  accept  of  the  Doings  of  the  Convention  of  Delegates  that 
met  at  Ipswych  Aug  20,  1779  ;  also  of  the  Doings  of  the  Committee  of 
this  Town  chosen  August  5th  1779."- 

September  17th,  the  General  Court  ordered  out  four  hundred  of  the 
militia  to  repair  and  man  the  forts  in  Boston  Harbor,  as  reports  had 
been  received  of  an  intended  attack  by  the  British.     This  town  furnished 
eight  men,  who  served  one  month  and  ten  days,  viz  :  — 
Corp  Joel  Heriman,         Amos  Currier,  Moses  Moody, 

Frances  Dinsmore,  Levi  Hastings,  Trueworthy  Herriman. 

Hugh  Pike,  Justin  George, 

In  October,  the  town  was  called  on  for  nineteen  men,  to  re-inforce  the 
army  in  New  York.  They  all  marched  before  the  month  expired.  The 
town  paid  them  three  hundred  and  ninety-nine  pounds  as  bounty  and  mile- 
age. 

The  expenses  of  the  town  this  year  may  well  be  considered  enormous, 
when  we  state  that  six  thousand  pounds  were  raised  to  defray  them.  To 
meet  these  large  charges,  the  town  was  almost  daily  obliged  to  borrow 
money,  as  may  be  seen  fi'om  the  following :  — 

"  Account  of  Persons  to  whom  the  Town  is  indebted  for  Money  bor- 
rowed of  'em  "  :  — 

1779.                                     '                  1779 
July  2d  Capt  Timo  Johnson    £900  Sept  7    John  Gross                  £150 
17  Capt  Danl  Johnson          26           27  Joseph  Silver                   42 
Aug  20  Deacn  JoscjA  Kelly         45       .           Zebadiah  Silver               42 
Gideon  George,                 30                 Capt  Timo  Johnson        180 
21  Israel  Bartlett                 90  Oct   12  Gideon  George               210 
23  Nathl  Clarke                    24  Oct  13  Edwd  Ordway               203  4 
Kichd  Kimball                 30               AVidow  Prudence  Carle- 
Capt  Jo  Eaton                 30                  ton                               60 
Nat  Eaton                        30              Deacn  Ezra  Chase           60 
Aaron  Carlton                  60         19  Sarah  Levett                    36 
Itharaar  Emerson             48  Nov  6  Moses  Simmons                90 
Daniel  Appleton            150               Peter  AVhittaker              30 
Edwd  Baker                     45           8  Ithamar  Emerson           120 
Nathl  Soley                      60               Daniel  Nickols  Jun       147 
Capt  Nat  Marsh               30         13  Gideon  George                120 
Capt  Timo  Johnson         90 

°  The  Ipswich  Convention  was  in  rclatioa  to  "  regnlatiog  prices ;  "  as  was  also  the  doings  of  the  com- 
mittee above  alluded  to. 


.      HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  415 

1780                                                         16  Benj  Ordway  £120 

Jan  12  Neliemi  Simmons  £26     Marl  Nat  Walker  100 

SLirah  Simmons                30             9  AVillm  Sawyer  45  ■ 

26  Capt  Daniel  Johnson  120     Apl  4  Benja  Ordway  72 

Feb  1  Wiilm  Sawyer  52.10  May  2     Edwd  Ordway  173 

2  Capt  Daniel  Jotnson  135 


AVillm  Sawyer  19  Total         £4070.14 

November  3d,  1779,  a  town  meeting  was  called,  principally 

"  To  see  if  the  Town  will  approve  of  and  adopt  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Convention  begun  and  held  a;t  Concord  on  the  5th  of  Oct  -last,  &  enter 
into  such  further  Eesolves  &  Eegulations  as  the  Town  .may  think  proper 
for  the  more  effectualy  carrying  the  same  into  Effect." 

It  was  "  voted  to  accept  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Convention  met  at 
Concord,  that  have  been  published,  and  Chuse  a  Committee  of  Ten  Men 
to  affix  the  Prices  which  Merchandize  &  Country  Produce  are  to  be  sold 
at,  in  this  Town.  The  committee  consists  of  the  following  Persons,  viz : 
General  Bricket,  Capt  Timo  Eaton,  Capt  Timo  Johnson,  Aaron  Carlton, 
Lieut  Israel  Bartlet,  Capt  Samuel  Merrill,  James  Pike,  Willm  Johnson, 
Thomas  West,  &  Bailey  Bartlet." 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the  15th  of  the  same  month,  at  which 
time  it  was  voted  to  "  approve  the  Eesolves  and  address  of  the  Convention 
held  at  Concord  in  October  last;  "  and  "the  Proceedings  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  this  Town,  chosen  at  the  last  Meeting  were  also  read,  &  accepted, 
by  a  Vote  of  the  Town ;  &  a  Committee  of  Five  Men  were  chosen  to  see 
them  put  in  Execution,  &  complied  with.  This  Committee  consisted  of 
the  following  Persons,  viz  :  Capt  John  Mullaken,  Capt  David  Eemick,  Mr 
Thomas  West,  Capt  Joseph  Eaton,  Capt  Samuel  Merrill." 

"  Voted,  That  this  Committee  be  directed  to  enquire  into  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Neighboring  Towns,  respecting  this  Business,  &  make  report  at  the 
adjournment  of  this  meeting." 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the  22d  instant,  at  which  time  it  was 
merely  opened  and  again  adjourned.     December  6th, 

"  The  Moderator  and  the  Town  Clerk  met  at  the  Meeting-House  at  the 
Time  the  Meeting  was  adjourned  to,  &  waited  about  an  Hour,  when  no 
other  Person  attended,  the  Moderator  dissolved  the  Meeting." 

A  partial  and  temporary  relief  was  afforded  the  people  by  these  repeated 
efforts  to  regulate  the  price  of  commodities,  but  no  permanent  or  general 
good  was  effected. 

Heavy  as  had  been  the  burdens  of  the  town  thus  far  during  the  war, 
they  were  in  nowise  lighter  the  year  following.  Taxes  were  multiplied 
upon  its  inhabitants,  until  they  were  almost  crushed  beneath  the  load. 
The  town's  proportion  of  the  tax  laid  by  Congress,  March  8th,  was  thirty. 


416 


HISTORY   OF    UAVERHILL. 


eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six  pounds.  Ten  days  after> 
Congress  laid  another,  the  town's  proportion  of  ^Yhich  was  thirty-nine 
thousand  two  hundred  pounds.  In  July,  a  tax  was  laid  to  redeem  a  part 
of  the  continental  bills,  &c.,  and  this  town  was  assessed  five  hundred  and 
four  pounds,  hard  moneyS'  In  September,  the  town  was  called  on  to  sup- 
ply sixteen  thousand  eight  hundred  pounds  of  beef,  and  they  promptly 
chose  a  committee  to  purchase  it. 

Lafayette  having  returned  from  France,  with -the  promise  that  another 
fleet  and  several  thousand  troops,  were  to  be  immediately  sent  to  the  aid 
of  America,  Washington  desired  to  make  more  efl&cient  efforts  the  coming 
campaign,  and  called  on  Massachusetts  for  four  thousand  men  to  re-inforce 
the  army  for  six  months.  They  were  readily  granted.  The  following 
were  furnished  by  this  town  :  — 

"Pay  Eoll  for  the  Six  Months  men" Belonging  to  the  Town  of  Haver- 
hill 1780." 


Sartle  Elexander. , 
Daniel  Abbot.  . . 

Noah  Bailey 

Eichard  Baker. .  . 
John  Browning.  . 
William  Bccard.  . 
Silas  Chamberlain 
Samuel  Foster . .  . 
Enoch  Heath .  .  . . 
Levi  Hastings. . . 
Joseph  Herrimon. 
Joshua  Jones .  . . . 

Daniel  Lord 

James  Laferty. . .  . 

John  Moocrs 

Samuel  Merrill . . 
Barthol  Massey. . 

Samuel  Pell 

James  Springer . . 
James  Scammons. 
Samuel  Sargeant. 
Thomas  Sargeant. 

Nathan  Sola 

James  Eccd 

Samuel  Truck . . . 


When 
Marched 

When  Discharged 

June  29  th 

Dec  10,  1780 

Sept  26 
June  29 

Apl3,     1781 
Dee  13 

•  Sept  26 
"   26 

Feby  9 
Feb  9 

June  29 

Dec  23 

Sep    26 
June  29 

Mar  5 
Doc  16 

"    29 

"    6 

"    29 

"    20 

"   29 

"    18 

Sep    26 
June  29 

"    28 
'^    6 

Sep    26 
June  29 

Apl  19 
Dec  15 

"    29 

"    8 

Sep    26 
June  29 

"    29 
"    30 

"   29 

«<    15 

"    29 

"    10 

"    29 

"    13 

«'   29 

"    13 

"    29 

"    8 

Sep    26 
•'    26 

Feb  9 
"    9 

HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL.  417 

"Within  a  montli  after,  a  call  was  made  for  four  thousand  seven  hundred 
of  the  militia,  for  three  months.  This  town's  proportion  was  forty-seven. ='■' 
A  large  number  of  the  soldiers  having  about  completed  their  term  of  inlist- 
mcnt,  Massachusetts  was  called  on  in  December  for  four  thousand  two 
hundred  men  to  serve  during  the  war.  This  town's  proportion  was  twenty- 
eight.  A  meeting  was  called,  and  a  hard  money  tax  of  fifteen  hundred 
pounds  was  voted  to  pay  for  the  same.  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  the 
captains  of  the  companies  of  militia  were  made  a  committee  to  procure  the 
twenty-eight  soldiers  required  of  the  town ;  and  Judge  Sargeant,  Isaac 
Eeddington,  Captain  Timothy  Eaton,  Samuel  Ayer,  Jr.,  and  Captain 
Joseph  Eaton,  were  added  to  the  committee,  "  to  devise  ways  &  means  to 
pay  the  soldiers."     It  was  then 

"  Voted,  That  the  Town  Treasury  be  open  to  those  Committees,  &  that 
the  Town  Treasurer  be  ordered  to  pay  them  ivhat  Money  they  may  call  on 
him  for,  they  being  accountable  for  the  Expenditure  of  said  Money." 

Subsequently,  the  town  adopted  the  "Class"  plan,  recommended  by  the 
General  Court,  in  raising  the  men.  By  this  plan,  the  inhabitants  of  each 
town  were  divided  into  as  many  equal  portions  or  classes  as  there  were 
men  to  be  raised,  and  each  class  was  obliged  to  furnish  one  man. 

Erom  the  official  returns  of  the  several  towns,  we  find  that  the  twenty- 
eight  men  were  duly  raised,  and  "  marched." 

Besides  men,  and  money,  and  beef,  the  town  was  also  called  upon  to  fur- 
nish clothing  for  the  army.  In  January,  1780,  they  forwarded  thirty-one 
blankets;  and  in  April,  they  were  assessed  for  fifty-eight  pairs  of  shoes, 
stockings,  and  shirts,  and  twenty-nine  blankets.  By  the  returns  we  find 
that  the  whole  were  sent  previous  to  November  11th. 

This  was  but  a  small  part  of  the  clothing  furnished  in  December  and 
January.  Erom  the  returns  of  Jonathan  Ayer,  constable,  we  give  the 
names  of  the  persons  of  whom  he  collected  in  December :  — 

"  Phillip  Haseltine,  3  blankets  ;  Joseph  Emerson,  2  do  ;  Joshua  Emery, 
1  do  ;  Capt  Timothy  Eatton  1  do ;  Ebenezer  Baley  1   do ;  John  Smith  Jr 

1  do  ;  Lieut  Baley,  4  shurts ;  Ebenr  Baley  2  do  ;  Amos  Baley  2  do,   and 

2  pr  stockins ;  Wid  Lydia  Haseltine,  3  shurts,  &  4  pr  stockins ;  Moses 
Haseltine  3  shurts  ;  Lieut  Jona  Webster  4  do ;  Wid  Euth  Haseltine  2  do  ; 
John  Kezcr  4  do ;  Moses  Swaze  2  do,  &  7  pr  shoes ;  James  Webster  1  pr 
stockins  ;  Lieut  David  Bradley  24  pr  Shoes;  John  Marble  10  yards  cloth." 

c  One  of  thpse  was  Daniel  Bradley.  Bradley  was  pre&ent,  and  on  guard  duty,  when  Major  Andre  was 
brought  into  camp  a  prisoner.  He  was  the  first  butcher  who  rcQ^^ilarly  attended  Haverliill  market.  He 
died  September  20th,  IS  J-1,  in  the  9-ith  year  of  his  age.  Among  the  soldiers  hired  by  the  town  this  year, 
were  Samuel  Campbell  and  John  Cox,  who,  it  appears,  were  "  taken  up  for  stealing,"  and  tried  before  Sam- 
uel White,  Esq.,  and  the  town  paid  the  costs  in  their  cases,  on  condition  that  they  enlisted  I 

63 


418 


HISTORY   OF  HAVERHILL. 


Among  the  old  papers  of  the  town,  we  found  the  original  subscription 
book  of  the  person  employed  by  the  town  to  collect  clothing  at  diiFerent 
times ;  and  believing  that  the  list  of  names  will  be  read  with  interest,  we 
copy  them" :  — 


Names 

1 

•f  3 

Ul 

ca 

CO 

"VVidEutk-Sjmders... 

2 

, 

3 

Samuel  Bradbury .... 

2 

1 

Amos  Eaton 

4 

2 

Ebenezer  Webster. . . . 

6 

Micha  Emerson 

1 

Euth  Emerson 

1 

John  Emerson 

1 

Peter  Emerson 

2 

Joseph  Emerson 

8 

Jeremiah  Emerson .... 

5 

John  Page 

5 

2 

Joshue  Emery 

2 

Wid  Abigal  Webster. 

2 

Richerd  Kimball 

2 

Abigail  Marsh 

2 

peter  Johnson 

2 

•Tohn  Ealcv 

2' 

Elias  Johnson 

4| 

Seth  Johnson 

6!  • 

1 

James  pike 

31 

5 

Ephreum  Robinson . . . 

2 

1 

Ebcnzer  Bayley 

2 

1 

A  Tnn^  T?nlpv.  ........ 

2 

1 

Pichard  Baley 

3 

Jeremiah  Baley 

1 

1 

Samuel  ]Merrill 

2 

William  Ladd 

3 

1 

Bcnjen  Baley 

1 

John  Emerson  Jun . . . 

i 

Ammi  Haynes 

1 

1 

Anthony  Chase 

1 

James  Chase 

2 

1 

William  Bradley 

2 

2 

Names 


John  Swd  Corles 1 

Capt  Joseph  Eaton. . .  10 

Nathl  Clarck 2 

Benja  Ordway. . . . 

Capt  Timothy  Johnson   2 

Widow  Heseltine 9 

Jacob  Ela 

Capt  Daniel  hills. . . . 

John  Downer 

Moses  Swesey 

Josiah  Emerson 

Jeremiah  Heseltine. . 
Jonathan  Bradley . . . 

Davide  Bradley 

Samuel  Ayer. ...... 

Isaac  Snow 

Mary  Bradley 

Joseph  Greelay 

Folensbee  Noise 

:  John  Sd  George 

the  Town 

Lieut  Stephen  Webster 

Widow  Dusten 

lAron  Carlton 

iLieut  David  Bradley 

'Jonathan  Baker , 

Benja  Baker 

I  Mary  Bradley 

Davide  Marsh 

William  Bradley ... 
Nehemiah  Emerson. 
Joel  Hereman 


30 


10 

5 

6 


10 
9 


*  We  copy  tbe  names  as  we  find  them — in  groups.    Each  of  these  groups,  or  lists,  seems  to  have  beea 
»  separate  subscription. 


HISTORY  OP   HAVERHILL. 


419 


Mens  Names 

U4 

to 

DQ 

Persons  Names 

3 

William  Greenleaf. . .. 
Lef  Stephen  Webster. 

Seth  Johnson 

Elias  Johnson   .  * . . .  • 

1 

2 
6 
4 

0 
2 

I  pr 

5 
0 

8 

8 

1  pr 

2 
1 
9 

2 

1 
1 

Mr  Ennuck  Mash 

Phineas  Carleton 

Abarm  Sweet, 

Daniel  Hill 

1 

2 

G 
6 
1 
5 
4 

1 
1 

1 

Ben  Ordway 

James  Bricket  Esq . . . 
John  Cogwell  Jur. . . . 

Aaron  Caltou 

James  Heseltine 

Dea  Thomas  Webster . 

John  Smith  Jun 

WillEdards. 

8 

Sam  White  Esq 

Maverick  Johnson. . . . 
Ebenr  Ga^e ......... 

2 
1 

Abel  Page 

1 

John  Williams 

Jkir  David  Mash, 

1 

■it 

East  parish  things  delivered  "• 

Names              | 

■a 

J3 
02 

5 

Names 

3 

02 

1 

IS 

Dea  Ezra  Chase 

James  Pike 

5 

2 
2 
9 

2 
2 
2 

2 

1 
2 
1 
2 
1 
1 

3 

1 

7 

1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

2 

2 

2 

1 
1 
1 
1 
10 

2 
2 
1 
1 

2 
1 
1 

Perley  Ayers 

Daved  Webster 

William  Ladd.. 

Capt  Timothy  Eaton . . 
Mr  Joshua  Emory .... 

James  Chase 

Amos  Page 

2 
1 

3 
2 
2 
6 
0 
5 
2 

8 

2 
1 

2 
4 

1 
1 

1 
2 

1 

0 

1 

5 
2 
2 

4 

1 

1 
4 

1 

Antony  Chase 

Euben  Currier 

Job  Tyler . . . ., 

2 

Amos  George 

Ephraim  Ellet 

Daniel  Appleton. .... 

John  Hastings 

Amos  Bayley 

Enouck  Heriman 

Jerimiah  Heselton. . . . 

Capt  Joseph  Eaton . .  . 

Ithamer  Bradley 

Jeremiah  Emerson .... 

Joseph  Emerson 

Dudly  Tyler 

2 

1 

Luas  Bayley 

Ephrim  Eobison 

Ebenr  Bayley 

W  alker  Smith 

Thomas  West 

John  Sawyer 

James  Webster 

Isaac  Snow 

0 

9 

John  Ealey 

Jona  Baker 

Peter  Emerson 

Ebenr  Mitchel 

John  Swd  Corles 

Benjamin  Baker. ..... 

Nathan  Ayer 

John  Patty 

John  Mitchel 

Moses  Ayer 

1 

Eieut  Croel 

Obidiah  Ayer 

Sam  Walker 

2 

Moses  Webster  Jun . . . 

1 

Jeremi  Baley 

€apt  Sam  Merril 

•Jonn  Emerson  Jun. . . . 

Joal  Herimn, 

Jacob  Eala 

2 

2 

John  Eala. 

2 

420" 


HISTORY  OF  nAvimHrLt., 
"  October  ye  4th,  1779  "'» 


Names 


m 

, 

a 

o  a 

J3 

^ 

ou 

OQ 

i    V. 

Names 


Amos  Eaton 

Elias  Jolinson .  •  - 
Setli  Jolmson. .  • . 
Peter  Jolmson . .  . 
Capt  Timothy  Johnson 

John  Davis 

Hannah  Hunhins. . . 
Samuel  Sarnders. . . . 

Elias  Sergent 

Joseph  Greeley 

Jacob  Elec 

Wid  Kuth  Sarnders . , 

Samuel  Page 

Capt  Daniel  Johnson 
Abigal  Sai-nders .... 
Ephraim  Eobeson.  .  . 

.  Euth  Sheperd 

Joel  Herriman 

Jerh  Haseltine 


2 

8 

5 

2 

6 

1 

2 

1 

6 

6 

8 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

4 

1 

1 

6 

9 

4 

2 

4 

1 

2 

4 

2 
4 
3 

3 

19 

6 

Lues  Baley 

Ebenr  Baley 

'Amas  Baley 

David  marsh 

Wm  Bradlay 

Gen  Brickit , 

[Lieut  Bartlet 

jNem  Emerson 

;A\'id  Lydia  Haseltine. 
Saml  Haseltine ...... 

Jona  Webster , 

lEuth  Haseltine 

John  Kezar 

Enoch  Marsh 

Moses  Swazey 

Lt  David  Bradley . 

Aaron  Cai'lton 

Eicherd  Haseltine .  .  . 
James  "Webster 


13 

7 
24 


The  expenses  of  the  town  in  the  year  1780,  were  indeed  enormous,  as 
may  be  seen  by  their  tax  for  that  year :  — 

First  Parish,     Town  Tax  £185.15.12     State  Tax   £119.50.5 
West         "         "         "         198.09.6  "       ♦'        127.94.9 

East          "         "         "         139.24.2  "       "         89.89.18 

North        "         "         "  84.43.19         "       "         54.49.5 

The  total  State  tax  of  the  town  was  £18040.0.0,  and  its  County  tax 
was  £224.1.0.  The  reader  will  of  course  remember  that  these  amounts 
are  reckoned  in  the  continental  currency,  which  was  at  a  large  discount  at 
this  time.  But,  notwithstanding  this,  the  amount  was  still  very  large,  and 
the  inhabitants  were  compelled  to  make  extraordinary  exertions,  and  heavy 
sacrifices  to  raise  the  money.  The  town  treasurer  was  paid  for  over  nine 
days  time  in  hiring  money  in  the  month  of  October  alone. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety  for  this  year,  were  :  — 
General  Brickett,  Captain  Samuel  Merrill,  James  Pike,  William  Johnson, 
John  Sawyer,  Captain  Timothy  Eaton,  and  John  Ela. 

In  addition  to  the  matters  already  noticed,  the  town  was  again  called 
upon  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  new  Constitution  for  the  State.     The 

o  This  being  the  date  affixed  to  the  last  list  of  names  in  the  book,  would  seem  to  prove  all  the  others  of 
an  earlier  dale.    A  receipt  in  the  book,  dated  May  5,  1778,  makes  it  almost  certain  that  such  was  the  fact 


HlSTORr   OP   HAVERHILL.  421 

convention  called  for  that  parpose,  in  September,  1779,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  a  draft,  and  then  adjourned  to  the  next  January,  when 
they  again  met  and  agreed  upon  a  Constitution.  This  was  published  and 
sent  to  the  towns  for  their  approval,  or  rejection. 

May  2d,  a  meeting  of  this  town  was  called,  to  see  if  they  would  "ap- 
prove of  the  Form  of  Government  for  the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  as 
agreed  upon  by  their  Delegates  in  a  Convention  lately  held  at  Cambridge." 
General  James  Brickett  was  chosen  Moderator,  who  "  publicly  read  the 
new  form  of  Government  as  published  by  the  Convention  ;  and  also  num- 
bered the  voters  in  the  meeting,  and  declared  them  to  be  one  hundred  and 
nineteen." 

The  votes  were  taken  upon  each  article  separately.  Articles  I.  and  II. 
in  the  Bill  of  Eights  were  unanimously  agreed  to ;  but  the  third  "  was  a 
subject  of  considerable  debate,"  and  the  meeting  finally  adjourned  to  the 
next  Monday,  without  taking  a  vote  upon  it.='' 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  May  8,  there  were  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  voters  present.  The  debate  upon  Article  III.  was  resumed,  and 
continued  for  some  time,  when  it  was  voted  to  pass  over  the  Article  for 
one  hour.  Articles  IV  to  XX,  inclusive,  were  unanimously  agreed  to, 
(except  Article  X,  which  passed  one  hundred  and  four  to  twenty-six)  when 
the  meeting  again  took  up  the  third  Article. 

<*  The  following  is  the  Article  alluded  to :  — • 

Akt.  III.  As  the  happiness  of  a  people,  and  the  good  order  and  preservation  of  civil  government, 
essentially  depend  upon  piety,  religion  and  morality ;  and  as  these  cannot  be  generally  diffused  through  a 
community,  but  by  the  institution  of  the  public  worship  of  GOD,  and  of  public  instructions  in  piety,  reli- 
gion and  morality ;  therefore,  to  promote  their  happiness,  and  to  secure  the  good  order  and  preservation 
of  their  government,  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth  have  a  right  to  invest  their  legislature  with  power 
to  authorize  and  require,  and  the  legislature  shall,  from  time  to  time,  authorize  and  require,  the  several 
towns,  parishe-,  precincts,  and  other  bodies  politic,  or  religious  societies,  to  make  suitable  provision,  at 
their  own  expense,  for  the  institution  of  the  public  worship  of  GOD,  and  for  the  support  and  maintenance 
of  public  Protestant  teachers  of  piety,  religion  and  morality,  in  all  cases  where  such  provision  shall  not  be 
made  voluntarily. 

And  the  pcple  of  this  Commonwealth  have  also  a  right  to,  and  do,  invest  their  legislature  with  author- 
ity to  enjoin  upon  all  the  subjects  an  attendance  upon  the  instructions  of  the  public  teachers  aforesaid,  at 
stated  times  and  seasons,  if  there  be  any  on  whose  instructions  they  can  conscientiously  and  conveniently 
attend. 

Provided,  notwithstanding,  that  the  several  towns,  parishes,  precincts,  and  other  bodies  politic,  or  reli- 
gious societies,  shall,  at  all  times,  have  the  exclusive  right  of  electing  their  public  teachers,  and  of  con- 
tracting with  them  for  their  support  and  maintenance. 

And  all  moneys  paid  by  the  sul>ject  to  the  support  of  public  worship,  and  of  the  public  teachers  afore- 
said, shall,  if  he  require  it,  be  uniformly  applied  to  the  support  of  the  public  teacher  or  teachers  of  his  own 
religious  sect  or  denomination,  provided  there  be  any  on  whose  instructions  he  attends ;  otherwise  it  may 
be  paid  towards  the  support  of  the  teacher  or  teachers  of  the  parish  or  precinct  in  which  the  said  moneys 
are  raised. 

And  every  denomination  of  Christians,  demeaning  themselves  peaceably,  and  as  good  subjects  of  the 
Commonwealth,  shall  be  equally  under  the  protection  of  the  law;  and  no  subordination  of  any  one  sect 
or  denomination  to  another  shall  ever  be  established  by  law. 


422  HISTORY   OB'   HAVERHILL. 

The  Recorder  informs  us  that  this  "  was  a  subject  of  much  Altercation^ 
and  considerable  Time  was  spent  in  arguing  upon  it  The  following  vote 
was  passed,  viz:  91  voted  to  have  it  stand  as  it  was  published  by  the 
Convention  ;  &  85  voted  for  an  Amendment.  This  last  Vote  was  recon- 
sidered by  a  Majority  of  64,  &  on  a  second  Tryal  there  were  but  40  for 
the  Article,  «&  104  against  it.  A  Division  then  took  place  in  this  last 
Number,  concerning  the  alteration  &  Amendment.  Two  Plans  were  pro- 
posed ;  one  by  the  Honble  Nat.  P  Sargeant  Esqr ;  &  the  other  by  the 
Eevd  Mr  Hezekiah  Smith.  A  vote  was  tried  on  each  of  their  Amendments ; 
&  there  were  79  in  favor  of  the  former,  &  Q6  for  the  latter." 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  until  the 
next  day,  in  order,  doubtless,  that  some  compromise  or  plan  might  be  pre- 
sented that  Would  secure  a  majority  vote. 

At  the  next  meeting  sixty-six  voters  were  present.  Commencing  at 
Article  21,  the  remaining  portion  of  the  Bill  of  Eights  was  unanimously 
agreed  to, —  except  Article  28th,  which  had  one  negative,  and  the  29th, 
on  which  the  vote  was  a  tie.  * 

The  moderator  then  proceeded  to  lay  before  the  town  "  the  Frame  of 
Government,"  which  wasagi-eed  to  almost  unanimously  (except  Article  2d, 
Chapter  1st,  on  which  the  vote  was  a  tie)  as  far  as  Article  14th  of  Chap- 
ter 2d,  when  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  22d  inst. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  the  remaining  portions  of  the  Constitution 
were  agreed  to,  (the  most  of  the  sections  unanimously)  except  Chapter 
6th,  which  was  amended  by  adding  the  word  "  Protestant "  to  the  word 
"  Christian." 

General  Brickett  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  next  Convention ;  and 
the  next  Thursday  (25th  inst.)  was  fixed  upon  as  the  time  to  resume  the 
consideration  of  the  third  Article  in  the  Bill  of  Eights. 

At  the  adjournment,  the  first  vote  passed  was,  "  to  re-consider  all  that  haa 
been  acted  on,  i-cspecting  the  3d  Article  in  the  Bill  of  Eights."  It  being 
then  moved  to  ascertain  by  a  vote  how  many  were  in  favor  of  the  Article, 
it  appeared  that  85  were  in  favor,  and  69  against  it.  The  Eev.  Mr.  Smith 
then  offered  an  amendment,-'  which  was  agreed  to;  and  the  following  vote 
was  passed : — 

"  Tho'  the  Town  have  tho't  fit  to  propose  to  the  Convention  some  Alter- 
ations and  Amendments  in  some  of  the  Articles  in  the  Form  of  Govern- 
ment they  have  made  for  the  Common  "Wealth  of  Massachusetts,  are, 
notwithstanding  of  Opinion,  &  do  consent,  that  the  Whole  of  said  Form, 

•  What  his  amendment  was,  the  record  does  not  inform  ua. 


HISTOKY   OF   HAVERHIIi.  423 

as  published  "by  the  Convention,  Ibe  established,  rather  than  the  same 
should  be  returned  to  the  People  for  farther  Eevision ;  which  -will  prevent 
its  taking  place,  &  being  established  so  soon  as  we  wish  to  have  it." 

This  town  was  not  alone  in  objections  to  the  Third  Article  of  the 
Constitution.  Objections  were  made  in  all  quarters,  and  the  subject  was 
thoroughly  discussed,  both  in  public  and  private.  Says  Bradford,  "  The 
Baptists  were  the  most  inclined  to  complain,  for  the  teachers  of  Keligion 
were  generally  of  the  Congregational  order."  They  considered  it  oppressive, 
and  inconsistent  with  their  rights,  that  those  who  had  belonged  to  other 
Churches,  and  were  desirous  of  joining  a  Baptist  Church,  should  be  sub- 
jected to  the  inconvenience  of  applying  for  license  so  to  do. 

The  Constitution  having  been  agreed  to  by  a  large  majority  of  the  towns 
in  the  Commonwealth,  Monday,  the  fourth  day  of  September  was  assigned 
for  the  election,  by  the  people,  of  a  Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor,  Coun- 
cillors, and  Senators,  under  the  new  Constitution.  This  being  our  first 
electfon  under  a  State  Constitution,  and  the  inauguration  of  a  new  era  in 
our  local  government,  the  following  extracts  from  our  town  records  of  that 
date  are  of  more  than  ordinary  interest : — •■= 

"  The  Select  Menf  presided  at  this  Meeting,  who,  with  the  Town  Clerk, 
received  the  Votes,  sorted,  and  numbered  them.  The  Votes  for  Governor 
were,  Forty  Seven  for  the  Hon'ble  John  Hancock  Esq ;  and  Forty  one  for 
the  Hon'ble  James  Bowdoin  Esq.  For  a  Lieut  Governor,  the  Votes  were, 
Twenty  six  for  the  Hon.  Jno  Hancock  Esq ;  Twenty  two  for  the  Hon 
Thomas  Gushing ;  Ten  for  the  Hon  James  Bowdoin  Esq ;  &  Two  for 
Tristram  Dalton  Esq."  Sixteen  persons  received  votes  for  "  Councillor 
Senators." 

Although  hostilities  had  been  for  some  time  transferred  to  a  distance 
from  the  State,  yet  Massachusetts  was  by  no  means  relieved  from  frequent 
and  heavy  requisitions  for  men  and  materials  to  carry  on  the  war.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1780,  the  General  Court  called  on  the  towns  for  a  fresh  supply  of 
beef  for  the  army.  The  amount  assessed  on  this  town  was  thirty-two 
thousand,  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  pounds  !  Large  as  was  the  quantity,  the 
town  promptly  voted  to  raise  it,  and  laid  a  tax  of  £48,384  to  pay  for  it. 
Hardly  had  the  town  time  to  collect  and  forward  their  quota  of  beef,  when 
(June  22,  1781)  they  were  called  on  for  thirteen  thousand,  three  hundred 
and  fourteen  pounds  more !     At  the  same  time  they  were  assessed  for 

c-  The  warrants  for  the  town  meetings  at  this  time  run  as  follows :  —  "These  are  to  notify  and  warn 
the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill,  of  21  years  old  &  upwards,  having  a  Free- 
hold Estate  within  this  State  of  the  annual  Income  of  Three  Pounds,  or  any  estate  to  the  value  of  Sixty 
Pounds  sterling,  to  meet,"  &c. 

t   Previous  to  this  time,  the  meetings  were  invariably  presided  over  by  a  Moderator. 


424  HISTORY  or  haterhill. 

i5fty-six  sTiirts  ;  tlie  same  numlber  of  pairs  of  shoes  and  etockings  ;  and 
twentj-eiglit  blankets.  These  -were  all  raised  and  forwarded  before  the 
middle  of  November. 

July  3d,  the  town  was  called  on  for  four  men  for  the  Rhode  Island 
service,  and  they  were  raised.  In  their  warrant  for  the  meeting  to  attend 
to  the  above,  the  selectmen  say  "  and  as  there  is  a  Necessity  of  their 
being  marched  immediately,  it  is  hoped  the  good  Inhabitants  of  this  town 
will  generally  attend,  and  use  their  utmost  endeavors  in  procuring  said 
men."-' 

The  effective  aid  of  the  French,  in  men  and  money,  in  1781,  threw  a 
bright  glow  over  our  military  and  financial  operations,  and  helped  to  crown 
our  arms  with  brilliant  success,  both  on  sea  and  land.  Early  in  1782,  the 
English  government,  wearied  with  the  fruitless  and  desperate  seven  years 
struggle,  and  hopeless  of  success,  began  to  think  seriously  of  overtures  of 
peace.  The  preliminary  motion  was  made  in  Parliament  Februar}'  27th, 
and  five  days  later  it  passed.  The  preliminary  articles  were  signed  at 
Paris  in  the  following  November,  and  in  September,  1783,  the  treaty  was 
signed  at  the  same  place. 

Thus  the  war  of  the  revolution  was  happily  ended.  The  Colonies  were 
wrested  from  the  grasp  of  England,  and  American  Independence  was 
acknowledged  and  established.  It  was  indeed  "  glad  tidings  "  to  Ameri- 
ca that  peace  was  declared.  Every  countenance  was  radiant  with  smiles ; 
and  the  proclamation,  when  read,  was  hailed  with  tumultuous  cheers. 
Bells  were  rung ;  cannon  fired ;  bonfires  lighted ;  and,  in  the  evening, 
houses  were  brilliantly  illuminated.  All  were  inspired  with  new  life,  and, 
looking  to  Heaven  with  grateful  emotions,  poured  out  their  offerings  of 
gratitude  to  God ! 

In  looking  back  over  the  long  and  severe  struggle,  and  considering  how 
heavy  was  the  burden  upon  the  towns,  especially  of  Massachusetts,  it  is 
with  no  small  degree  of  pride  that  we  find  upon  the  official  record  the  fact, 
that,  upon  the  final  settlement,  Haverhill  was  deficient  one  man  only,  in 
all  the  drafts  that  had  been  made  upon  it !     We  can,  without  exaggeration, 

o  In  Captain  Nchcmiah  Emerson's  company,  in  the  10th  Massachusetts  Regiment,  in  1781-2  were  the 
followins  from  Ilavcrlii  II :  — 

Thomas  Page,         enlisted  March  18, 1781,  for  3  years 

Parker  Page,  "  "     19,      "  " 

Nathaniel  Clark,         "  '•     1-1,      "  " 

Thomas  Page  and  Nathaniel  Clark  were  only  about  fifteen  years  old  when  they  enlisted.  They  were 
taken  into  his  company  by  Captain  Emerson,  at  their  own  urgent  solicitation,  and  with  the  consent  of 
their  parents,  as  his  musicians,  Page  being  drummer  and  Clark  fifcr.  It  is  said  that  their  youthful  ap- 
pearance and  skilful  execuiion  attracted  the  attention  of  Washington,  who  enquired  of  their  Captam  in 
regard  to  them,  and  drew  from  him  the  compliment  (of  which  they  were  ever  after  proud)  "  they  are 
vrtlly  hoys."    They  remained  with  Captain  Emerson  until  the  close  of  the  war. 


HTStOEY  Ot   HAVEKHILl.  42§ 

say  that  "  there  were  but  few  towns,  if  any,  which  made  greater  exertions 
to  forward  the  cause  of  freedom  than  this  ;  no  effort  was  spared  ;  no  sac- 
rifice was  thought  too  great.  The  courage  of  the  inhabitants  never  flagged, 
■even  at  the  darkest  period;  *  they  had  nailed  the  flag  to  the  mast,'  to  use 
the  expression  of  a  veteran  of  that  period,  '  and  they  determined  to  see  ib 
wave  in  the  winds  of  freedom,  or  fall  nobly  fighting.'  They  were  willing 
to  spend  their  treasures  and  shed  their  blood ;  and  when  there  was  scarcely 
room  to  hope,  the  votes  which  were  passed  in  their  town-meetings,  show  a 
spirit  of  coolness,  determination  and  patriotism  which  is  truly  astonish- 
ing ;  —  they  evinced  a  chivalry  far  nobler  than  that  of  olden  time ;  they 
were  actuated  by  a  principle  from  which  death  only  could  separate 
iihem."" 

«  Mirick. 


426  HI3T0RT    OT   HlVEEHItt*' 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


1765  TO  1790. 


During  tbc  period  covered  by  tlie  preceding  chapter,  the  inhabitants  of' 
this  town  ■were  so  completely  absorbed  in  the  great  work  of  American 
Liberty,  that  but  little  time  or  attention  was  given,  or  indeed  could  have 
been  given,  to  anything  else.  "We  find,  therefore,  but  few  tilings  to  note 
during  this  time,  except  those  relating  to  the  great  struggle,  and  which  we 
have  already  considered  in  the  above  chapter.  But  these  few  matters  will 
now  find  place,  before  we  take  up  the  history  of  the  town  under  the  broad 
and  peaceful  banner  of  American  Independence  and  American  Union. 

The  items  of  the  valuation  of  the  town,  as  taken  in  17G7,  seem  so  well- 
worth  an  insertion  in  this  place,  that  we  copy  the  return  in  full :  — 
*' Valuation  of  Haverhill,  1767. 

478  Polls  ratable,  27  Polls  nOt  ratable. 
281  Dwelling  Houses  at  £o  each,  £1405' 

44  Work  Houses  403  each  88 

2  Distill  Houses  £23  each  46 

3  Warehouses  SOs  ,,  .  ,12 
3320  superficial  feet  wharf  a  SOs  per  1000  feet  4.19.5- 

19  Mills  £6  each  114 

10  Servts  for  life  a  40s  each  20 

£4768.13.2  Trading  Stock  a  6  pr  ct  268.2.4 

242  Tuns  of  Shiping  a  3  pr  tun  36.6 

£3855.12.2  Money  at  Int  a  6  p  ct  231.6.8| 

186  Horses  a  4s  9d  44.3.6 

252  Oxen  a  4s  50.8 

716  Cows  a  3s  6d  107.8 

1315  Sheep  &c  a  3d-  16.8.& 

59  Swine  a  12d  2.19 

1040  Cow  Pastures  a  1 2s  624 

13765  bushels  Grain  a  8d  458.16.8 

2736  barrels  Cyder  a  3s  410.8 

916i  Tuns  English  Hay  a  12s  549.18 

945     "      Meadow  Hay  a  6s  283.10 

£4791.13.41 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILI..  427 

We  presume  no  grumbling  tax-payer  will  claim  that  this  valuation  was 
too  high,  as  five  pounds  each  for  dwelling-houses,  and  forty  shillings  for  a 
•"servant,"  certainly  seems  low  enough.  In  comparing  this  list,  therefore, 
with  those  of  a  later  date,  this  extremely  low  valuation  should  be  taken 
into  the  account. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  this  valuation  list  gives  fifteen  less  slaves,  than 
the  census  of  1764:,  only  three  years  previous.  May  not  the  difference  be 
accounted  for  by  supposing  that  the  other  fifteen  were  either  too  young  or 
too  old  to  be  of  any  value,  as  "  property  ?  " 

In  1767,  the  first  powder-house  was  erected.  It  was  eight  feet  square, 
but  where  it  was  located  we  are  unable  to  say. 

February  23d,  1763,  a  Firs  Olab  was  organized  in  this  town,  and  fire- 
wardens were  chosen.  The  latter  were  Cornelius  Mansise,  Enoch  Bartlett, 
Samuel  White,  Esq.,  and  Isaac  Osgood. 

The  object  of  the  Club,  was,  to  assist  in  extinguishing  fires,  and  "  in 
saving  and  taking  the  utmost  care  of  each  other's  Goods  "  upon  such  oc- 
casions. The  number  of  members  was  originally  limited  to  twenty-five, 
each  of  whom  was  to  provide  "  two  good  Bags,  of  one  yard  and  three 
quarters  in  length  and  three  quarters  of  a  yard  in  breadth,  with  strings  at 
the  mouth  ;  and  two  good  leather  Buckets,  "  =■'  =■■*  =-  and  keep  them 
hanging  in  a  convenient  place,"  ready  for  an  emergency.  The  officers  were 
a  Moderator,  who  was  chosen  at  each  meeting,  and  a  Clerk,  who  was 
chosen  annually.  Xew  members  were  only  admitted  by  unanimous  con- 
sent. The  penalty  for  non-attendance  at  a  fire,  was  fifty  cents.  The 
members  had  a  watch-word,  changed  at  the  pleasure  of  the  society,  which 
they  were  forbidden  to  divulge,  uader  a  penalty  of  thirtj^-four  cents  for 
each  offence.  The  number  of  original  members  was  eighteen,  and  included 
the  most  prominent  and  respectable  citizens  in  the  village. 

Subsequently  the  Club  (or  Society)  furnished  themselves  with  a  number 
of  ladders,  which  were  kept  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  ready  for  emer- 
gencies ;  and  added  a  new  feature  to  their  Constitution,  the  design  of 
which  was  to  protect  each  other  from  loss  of  goods  by  theft.  Their  arti- 
cles provided  that  half  the  members  should  draw  tickets  at  the  quarterly 
meetings,  upon  which  should  be  inscribed  the  different  roads  to  be  pursued 
in  case  of  theft ;  that  those  who  drew  tickets,  upon  the  first  information 
of  theft  upon  the  property  of  any  member,  should  repair  to  the  place 
where  the  theft  was  committed,  or  to  his  usual  place  of  abode,  and  pursue 
the  roads  they  had  drawn,  unless  the  committee  of  advice  should  prescribe 
different  routes  ;  and  it  was  made  their  duty  to  use  the  utmost  exertion  to 
apprehend  the  thieves  and  recover  the  stolen  property.     All  extra  expenses 


428 


HISTORY   OP   HATERHrLE. 


TVtre  paid  by  the  Club.  This  plan  of  operations  was  not  only  the  means 
of  recovering  much  stolen  i)ropcrty,  but  the  knowledge  of  its  existence, 
and  of  the  energy  and  perseverance  with  which  all  its  doings  were  char- 
acterized, without  doubt  proved  of  still  greater  value  by  its  preventative 
influence  upon  the  evil  disposed. 

The  Club  further  extended  their  sphere  of  usefulness,  by  providing 
gi'apples  for  the  recovery  of  bodies  in  case  of  drowning,  and  which  were 
kept  in  constant  readiness  for  emergencies. 

For  a  long  series  of  years,  the  annual  supper  of  the  Fire  Club  was  one 
of  the  great  social  occasions  of  the  }' ear,  and  though  the  active  duties  of  the 
Club  have  long  since  been  transferred  to  the  Fire  Department  of  our  town, 
the  annual  supper  is  still  duly  prepared  and  enjoyed  by  the  surviving 
members  of  the  Club,  and  its  anniversary  bids  fair  to  be  held  in  remem- 
brance these  many  years  to  come. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  Society,  from  its  organiza- 
tion, in  17G8,  to  1822,  with  the  date  of  admission  of  each  member :  — 

"  List  of  Menibers  of  the  Fire  Society." 
Kich'd  Saltonstall,  Esq-Feb  »2  1768.  Nathaniel  3Iarsh, 


James  M'Hard,  Esq. 

Enoch  Bartlett, 

John  "White,  jun, 

Nath.  Peaslee  Sargeant, 

James  Duncan, 

Nathaniel  Walker, 

Major  Edmund  Mooers, 

John  CogsAvell,  jun. 

Isaac  Osgood, 

Jonathan  Buck, 

James  Brickett, 

Benjamin  Mooers, 

Jonathan  Webster,  jun. 

AVilliam  Greenleaf, 

Cornelius  Mansise, 

John  Mulliken, 

David  Marsh,  jun. 

Isaac  Bedington, 

Samuel  Apple  ton,  March  17 

Cutting  j\larsh, 

Jacob  Ayer,  January,  17 

Captain  John  WTiite,  " 

Israel  Bartlett,  January,  17 

Moses  Dow,  " 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall     " 

James  M'Hard,  " 


October,  1774 
Phineas  Carlcton,  January,  17-75 
^Daniel  D.  Eogers,  "       " 

Joseph  Dodge,  "       " 

Thomas  Cogswell,  "      *" 

Samuel  Souther,  "       " 

Bailey  Bartlett,  April,  1776 

Nathaniel  Sparhawk,         Nov.,  1777 
Capt.  Joseph  Cordis,  "       " 

Moses  Parsons,  April,  177D 

Thomas  Stickney,  "       " 

John  White,  jun.  "     1780 

Moses  Fessenden,  "       " 

Capt.  Benjamin  Willis,         "       " 
Joseph  Harrod,  "       " 

James  Duncan,  jun.      January,  1781 
Daniel  Appletou,  "       " 

Capt.  Simon  Mansise,  "       " 


Timothy  Osgood, 

68  John  Wingate, 
John  Sawyer, 

69  Jonathan  Payson, 
Samuel  White,  jun. 

73  Moses  Gale, 
James  Walker, 
Ebeuezer  Gage, 
Samuel  Walker, 


April     " 
January,  1782 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


429 


Rer.  Hezekiah  Smith,  January,  1784  Leverett  Saltonstall,  Octoher, 
Dean  Tyler,  "       "       Justin  Kent,  " 

Calel)  Stark,  October,  "       John  Huse,  " 

Ebenezcr  Greenough,  "       *'       Eichard  Kimball,  " 

Edward  "Woodbury,  "       "       Ecv.  ^Villiam  Bachelder,  Jan. 


1£06 


January,  1785  John  Varniam,  April,     " 

July,     "       Samuel  Bartlett,  October,     " 

jun.    Oct.      "       Benjamin  Clap,  "       " 

January,  1786  James  Bartlett,  "  "    1807 

"     1787  Charles  White,  April,  1S08 
October,  1788     John  Marsh, 


Eev.  Joshua  Dodge,   January,  1809 

April,     " 


October,     " 
January,  1810 
April,  1811 

July,     " 
October,  1812 


John  Thaxtcr, 
Samuel  Blodget, 
"William  Greenleaf, 
Benjamin  Mooers, 
David  How, 
Leonard  "White, 

Nehemiah  Emerson,  January,  1789 
Henry  West,  October,     " 

Daniel  Brickett," 
Eev.  John  Shaw,  "       " 

Moses  Marsh,  jun.  '   "     1790 

Jonathan  B.  Sargeant,         "       " 
William  Cranch,         January,  1792 
Moses  Atwood,  April,     " 

John  Johnson,  July,     " 

Abraham  Swett,  "       " 

Henry  Porter,  April,  1794 

Cotton  B.  Brooks,  "       " 

Benjamin  Willis,  jun,  "       " 

Ichabod  Tucker,         January,  1795 
Eev.  Abiel  Abbot,  July,     " 

Ephraim  Emery,  April,  1796 

Oliver  Putnam,  October,  1798 

Caleb  B.  Le  Bosquet,         ^'       " 
Daniel  Swett,  April,  1799 

Moses  Morse,  January,  1800 

EzekiH  Hale,  April,  1802 

Dudley  Porter,  jun.    October,     " 
Jabez  Kimball,  January,  1804 

Galen  H.  Eay,  April,     " 

]\Ioses  Brickett,  January,  1805 

Dudley  Porter,  sen.       April,     " 

The  first  Fire  Engine  in  this  town  was  purchased  in  1769,  by  a  com- 
pany formed  for  the  purpose.  In  organizing  the  company,  Cornelius 
Mausise  was  chosen  Captain,  or  Chief  Director,  with  fourteen  assistants, 
including  under  officers.  The  company  were  to  meet  monthly.  Those 
who  neglected  to  attend  the  annual  meeting,  in  May,  one  hour  before 
sunset,  to  clean,  fit,  and  exercise  the  engine,  were  to  pay  a  fine  of  8d  to 
the  Clark  and  treasurer.  For  absence  at  fires,  the  fine  was  6s,  and  when 
a  member  wished  to  leave,  he  had  to  pay  3s.  W^hen  any  one  did  not  pay 
his  fines,  he  was  voted  out  of  the  company. 


Daniel  Haddock, 

David  Bryant, 

Nathaniel  Hills, 

Peter  Osgood, 

Jesse  Harding, 

Moses  Wingate, 

James  How, 

David  How,  jun. 

James  Atwood,  "       " 

David  Marsh,  2d.       January,  1813 

Samuel  W.  Duncan,       April,     " 

AVilliam  Greenough,  Janu;;ry,  1814 

Daniel  Appleton,  jun.  "       " 

William  White,  "       " 

Phineas  Carleton,  "       " 

John  Atwood,  '•       '• 

James  H.  Emerson, 

Eufus  Longley, 

Jonthan  K.  Smith, 

James  H.  Duncan, 

John  Woodman, 

Isaac  E.  How, 

Eevd  George  Keeley, 

Nathan  Webster, 

Stephen  Minot, 


October, 

1815 

April, 

1816 

January, 

1816 

April, 

1816 

" 

1817 

Jan. 

1819 

Jan. 

" 

April, 

1822 

430  HISTORY    OF    nAVERHILL. 

The  first  election  of  officers  was  held  May  16, 1769,  wlien  the  following 
were  chosen :  —  Cornelius  Mansise,  Captain ;  David  Eemick,  James 
Soammon,  John  White,  Thomas  Cogswell,  Enoch  Marsh,  Nath  Marsh, 
Nath  Walker  Jr,  David  Bradley,  Daniel  Greenleaf,  James  Hcllard,  Israel 
Bartlett,  Bailey  Bartlctt,  Samuel  Eamcs,  Phineas  GoirXQion,  Assistants ; 
Nath  Walker,  Jr,  Clark.  The  Clark  was  to  "  warne  all  sd  company, 
when  and  ware  to  meet  by  a  billet." 

August  1st,  Wm.  Lampson  was  chosen  Lieutenant.  September  19th, 
the  company  met  for  the  first  time  at  their  new  Engine  House. 

The  second  year,  David  Eemick  was  chosen  Lieutenant,  and  James 
McHard,  Clark.  Several  of  the  members  were  fined  for  not  appearing  to 
exercise  the  engine,  and  it  was  voted  that  it  should  "  be  exercised  at  the 
sun  one  hour  high  for  the  futer,  and  the  members  be  warned  one  day  be- 
forehand, and  any  officer  absenting  himself  shall  pay  2s  lawful  money." 

March  19th,  1770,  the  company  "  took  the  engine  out,  worked  her,  and 
put  her  in  again  ;  "  and  in  the  evening  "  met  at  Capt  Bradley's  for  re- 
freshments, (ic." 

This  engine  was  purchasted  and  kept  in  repair  entirely  by  private  sub- 
scriptions. The  first  mention  we  find  of  such  a  machine,  in  the  town 
records,  is  in  September,  1779,  when  a  proposition  was  made 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  build  a  small  Store  house  for  Storing  Publick 
Goods  or  Stores  belonging  to  the  Tov^n,  together  zoith  the  Engine.^^  The 
town  voted  not  to  act  upon  the  article. 

In  1769,  "  salt  works  "  were  erected  on  Mill  Brook,  by  one  James  Hud- 
son, and  the  town  (September  21)  voted  him,  as  an  encouragement,  the 
sum  of  £13.6.8.  But  he  soon  found  the  business  unprofitable,  audit  was 
abandoned. 

Among  the  town  officers  in  1771,  we  find,  for  the  first  time,  "  Weighers 
of  Bread."  Nathaniel  Walker  and  William  Greenleaf  were  chosen  for 
that  purpose. 

In  1773,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  town,  and  an  article  was  there- 
upon inserted  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  meeting,  "  to  see  if  the  town 
will  vote  that  the  stream  proceediug  out  of  the  Little  pond'''  be  turned  into 
his  natural  course  from  said  pond  to  the  West  river. "f  The  proposition 
was  negatived. 

o  Round  Puml. 

t  LitlU.  River.  At  Ihc  nnnual  meeting,  in  17G8,  James  S:iwycr  and  Jolin  Farnum  were  granted  the 
privilege  of  fljwins  the  Great  Pond,  "  to  save  water  to  grind  at  their  mills,"  provided  they  secured  the 
towu  from  damage,  in  consequence  of  such  flowing. 


BISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL,  431 

A  tornado  which  took  place  in  this  vicinity,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1773, 
is  thus  described  in  a  publication  of  that  period. 

"  The  tornado  took  its  course  from  the  east,  first  struck  Salisbury  pointy 
^d  following  the  course  of  the  Merrimack  river,  spread  havoc  before  it 
for  the  space  of  a  mile  in  width,  extending  to  Haverhill.  The  devastation 
was  almost  beyond  conception  or  description.  Almost  every  house  and 
building,  from  Salisbury  point'  to  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  Amesbury 
ferry,  was  levelled  with  the  ground,  uprooted,  or  otherwise  damaged.  A 
Capt.  Smith,  who  belonged  to  Beverly;  was  sitting  in  a  sail  maker's  loft, 
at  Amesbury,  when  the  storm  commenced,  and  in  a  moment  he  and  the 
whole  building  were  carried  away  together,  the  building  rent  to  pieces  and 
dispersed.  Capt.  Smith  was  found  lying  senseless  ninety  four  feet  from 
the  sill  of  the  loft  he  was  carried  from  ;  one  of  his  legs  was  broken,  and 
he  was  otherwise  bruised.  A  large  white  oak  post,  fourteen  feet  in 
length,  and  twelve  by  ten  inches,  was  transported  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  feet.  Two  vessels  of  ninety  tons,  building  in  Amesbury,  were  lifted 
from  the  blocks,  and  carried  sideways  through  the  air,  twenty-two  feet.  A 
large  bundle  of  shingles  was  taken  from  the  ground,  and  thrown  three 
hundred  and  thirty  feet,  in  an  opposite  direction  to  that  of  the  post  above 
mentioned,  and  at  right  angles  to  the  course  the  vessels  were  carried. 
Large  trees  were  torn  up  by  the  roots  and  cast  into  the  river.  Large  oak 
planks  were  hurled,  with  the  velocity  of  cannon  balls,  through  the  roofs 
of  houses  ;  and,  in  fine,  during  the  hurricane,  which  lasted  a  few  minutes 
only,  the  air  was  filled  with  everything  that  could  be  moved,  whirling  with 
the  most  surprising  rapidity  through  the  air,  and  surrounding  the  affrighted 
inhabitants,  some  of  whom  were  taken  up  by  the  winds,  carried  a  consid- 
erable way,  and  let  down  safe :  others  were  buried  in  their  cellars,  but 
were  dug  out  without  receiving  any  hurt.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty 
buildings  fell. 

"  In  Haverhill,  the  inhabitants  fled  in  consternation  from  one  large 
dwelling  house,  which  was  blown  down,  and  thought  to  save  themselves  in  a 
barn  which  was  almost  new,  and  filled  with  about  thirty  tons  of  hay  ;  but 
the  barn  was  entirely  blown  to  pieces,  in  another  moment,  and  some  parts 
of  it  carried  to  the  distance  of  three  miles. 

"  This  tempest  was  preceded  by  heavy  rain  and  gross  darkness ;  and  it 
appeared  first  on  the  Merrimack  river,  which  was  in  the  utmost  tumult, 
rolling  upon  the  banks,  and  threatening  to  swallow  up  the  affrighted  in- 
habitants." 


432  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

Mirick  (who  evidently  mistakes  in  placing  tlie  date  as  the  13th,  instead 
of  the  1st  of  August,)  thus  describes  the  cflfccts  of  the  tornado  in  this 
town :  — 

"  About  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  large  black  cloud  arose  in  the  South- 
west, charged  with  wind  and  rain.  The  wind  came  in  a  vein  of  only  a 
few  rods  in  breadth,  and  sweeping  over  Silver's  Hill,  struck  the  house  of 
Mr.  Bradley,  now  owned  by  Hon.  Moses  "\A'ingate.  Mr.  Bi*adley  imme- 
diately ran  to  the  door  and  attempted  to  hold  it,  while  the  family  was 
thrown  into  the  greatest  confusion,  running  hither  and  thither,  Q.mid  the 
falling  bricks,  broken  glass,  and  splinters  of  wood.  The  roof  was  instantly 
blown  off,  and  a  bundle  of  wool  was  taken  from  the  garret  and  carried  to 
Great  Pond.  Not  a  pane  of  glass  was  left  in  the  house.  The  barn> 
which  stood  within  a  few  rods  of  the  house,  was  totally  demolished,  and  a 
valuable  horse  which  was  then  in  it,  escaped  unharmed." 

The  physical,  as  well  as  the  political  elements,  seem  to  have  been  un- 
usually turbulent  about  these  times.  The  year  1772  is  set  down  as 
"  uncommonly  stormy,"  with  much  snow  and  wind  in  April,  and  a  "  great 
rain  and  freshet  "  in  September. 

In  September,  1773,  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  "  to  prevent  the 
destruction  of  Salmon  in  Merrimack  Eiver ;  "  in  which  it  was  declared 
that  no  seines  should  be  used  which  were  more  than  sixteen  rods  long* 
They  had  previously  been  used,  it  appears,  long  enough  to  stretch  quite 
across  the  river. 

The  same  fall,  the  town  decided  "to  build  a  stone  Pound  in  the  comet 
of  the  parsonage  pasture,  neare  Capt  Eames."  This  was  the  old  stone 
pound,  which  stood  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  about  midway  be- 
tween White  and  Fourth  Streets,  and  which  was  demolished  not  many 
years  since.  The  house  of  A.  B.  Jaques,  Esq.,  stands  upon  the  original 
site  of  the  pound. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  in  1774,  it  was  proposed  to  see  "  whether  the 
Town  will  vote  Mr  Hezekiah  Smith  residing  in  said  town  his  proportion  of 
Eents,"  &c.,  of  the  parsonage  lands,  "according  to  the  number  of  his 
hearers  belonging  to  Haverhill."  The  town  refused  to  make  such  a  divi*- 
sion,  and  also  to  choose  a  committee  to  examine  the  records  of  the 
Baptists.'- 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  proposition  was  made,  and  agreed  to,  that  two 
schools  should  be  kept  the  year  to  come,  "  the  one  a  Grammar  School,  and 
the  other  an  English  School."     Though  the  record  does  not  so  state,  yet 

.    *  The  same  propositiou  was  renewed  in  1780,  but  "  passed  over." 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  433 

vr«  presume  tHe  vote  referred  fo  the  First  Parish  only ;  as  grammar  schools 
•were  already  kept  in  the  several  parishes. 

This  year  the  town  voted  to  choose  a  board  of  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
but  after  choosing  them,  re-considered  their  action,  and  decided  not  to 
have  any.  In  1776,  the  same  thing  was  again  done,  and  it  was  finally 
decided  to  add  two  more  to  the  Board  of  Selectmen,  —  which  was  done. 
In  1781,  the  number  was  again  reduced  to  three. 

In  1774,  John  Eaton,  after  faithfully  serving  as  town  clerk  and  treas- 
urer for  the  long  period  of  fifty-seven  years,  retired  from  office,  and  John 
Whittier  was  elected  in  his  place.  "  Glarh  Eaton  "  lived  in  the  house 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  B.  Spiller,  just  below  the  "  button- 
woods."  That  he  was  well  fitted  for  the  responsible  post,  and  commanded 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- townsmen,  is  abundantly  demon- 
strated by  his  fifty-six  annual  re-elections  to  the  office.  Whittier  having 
declined  a  re-election  in  1778,  Eaton  was  again  chosen  to  the  office,  but 
refused  to  serve.     He  was  then  considerably  past  four-score  years  of  age ! 

Among  the  names  of  the  original  grantees  of  the  township  of  Eumford, 
Me.,  February,  177-1,  (upon  petition  of  Timothy  Walker,  Jr.,  of  Concord, 
N.  H.,  and  associates,)  we  find  the  following  from  this  town:  — 
Benjamin  Grale,  James  McHard,  Phinehas  Kimball," 

Nathaniel  Marsh,  Anna  Stevens,  Eobert  Davis, 

Cutting  Marsh  Henry  Lovejoy, 

The  whole  number  of  grantees  was  sixty-nine. 

In  1777,  the  small  pox  again  visited  this  vicinity,  and  caused  great 
alarm.  A  town  meeting  was  called,  April  8th,  to  see  if  the  town  would 
erect  an  "  Innoculating  Hospital."  The  town  not  only  refused  to  erect 
such  a  hospital,  but  also  refused  to  let  it  be  done  at  individual  cost,  con- 
tenting itself  with  choosing  a  committee  to  act  with  the  selectmen  in 
preventing  the  spread  of  the  disease.  From  the  record  of  a  meeting.  May 
21,  we  find  that  although  the  town  had  so  decidedly  objected  to  a  hospital, 
one  was  then  actually  in  course  of  erection  ;  and  a  proposition  was  made 
that  the  selectmen  might  be  authorized  to  permit  persons  to  be  inoculated 
in  it  —  but  it  was  refused. 

The  next  year,  however,  it  was  found  that  some  such  measures  were 
necessary,  and  in  June  it  was  voted  to  "  give  leave  and  admit  of  Innocu- 
lation  in  the  town,"  and  the  selectmen  were  to  appoint  the  time  and  place 
for  that  purpose.  But  before  July  was  past,  the  vote  was  "  revoked,"  and 
two  months  later,  (September  21)  it  was  "  voted  to  prosecute  those  per- 
sons that  have  taken  the  small  pox  by  innoculation  in  this  town,  or  any 
that  shall  take  it  in  future,  without  consent  of  the  town  first  obtained." 
55 


434  nisTOKT  ov  haverhili. 

Three  weeks  later,  it  -was  "  voted  to  allow  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to* 
be  innoculatccl  at  the  Hospital,  or  houses  near  it  "  A  committee  of  scA^en 
was  chosen  to  hare  the  charge  of  the  hospital,  and  several  regulations  were 
adopted  for  their  government.-  Were  it  not  for  the  extravagancies  of 
even  quite  recent  times,  we  should,  perhaps,  smile  at  this  vascilating 
course.  But  when  we  reflect  that,  although  the  loathsome  disease  is  now 
shorn  of  its  principal  terrors,  yet  its  appearance  in  our  communities  is  the 
signal  for  all  sorts  of  wild  fancies  and  fears,  the  smile  assumes  a  doubtful 
significance. 

The  winter  of  1780  was  one  of  remarkable  severity.  For  forty  days,' 
thirty  one  of  which  were  the  month  of  March,  there  was  no  perceptible 
thaw  on  the  southerly  side  of  any  house.  The  snow  was  so  deep  and  hard 
that  loaded  teams  passed  over  walls  and  fences  in  every  direction.  Says 
Hon.  Bailey  Bartlctt,  in  his  journal:  — 

"  Snow  so  deep  and  drifted  that  in  breaking  a  path  on  the  Common,  we 
made  an  arch  through  a  bank  of  snow,  and  rode  under  the  arch  on  horse- 
back." 

The  same  year  is  rendered  memorable  for  its  "  dark  day,"  which  occur- 
red oi\the  19th  of  May.  For  a  week  or  more,  the  air  had  been  very  thick 
and  heavy ;  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  above-named  day,  very  black  clouds 
were  seen  to  lise  suddenly  and  fast  from  the  west,  and  soon  covered  all 
New  England  with  almost  total  darkness.  It  was  darkest  from  nine 
o'clock  A.  M.,  to  half-past  three,  P.  M.  About  twelve,  M.,  fowls  went  to 
roost,  frogs  peeped,  cattle  went  to  their  barns,  and  night-birds  appeared. 
About  midnight,  a  breeze  sprung  up  from  the  north-west,  and  the  dark- 
ness gradually  disappeared.  It  was  attributed  to  a  thick  smoke,  which 
had  been  accumulating  for  several  days,  occasioned  by  extensive  fires  in 
northern  New  Hampshire,  where  the  people  were  making  many  new  set- 
tlements. 

If  the  office  of  constable  was  not  a  desirable  one  previous  to  the  war, 
it  must  have  been  much  less  so  when  the  people  were  so  heavily  burthened 
with  taxes,  as  they  were  about  this  time.  We  need  not  therefore  be  sur- 
prised to  find  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  order  the  town  treasurer  to 
prosecute  those  refusing  to  serve  when  chosen  to  the  office. 

The  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency  had  become  so  great,  that,  in 
1781,  the  town  decided  not  to  receive  any  more  for  taxes.  In  September 
of  that  year,  the  town  had  £10,121.4.4  of  it  in  the  treasury.  Exchange 
was  then  seventy-Jive  to  one  !     This  gives  to  the  list  of  prices  of  that  time 

"  From  the  Town  Records  of  1782,  we  find  the  disease  was  still  in  the  town,  and  the  "Pest  House"  i» 
active  operation. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  435 

a  really  formidable  appearance.  Shoes  were  £20  per  pair;  milk  15s  per 
quart ;  plauk  27s  per  foot ;  wood  £35  per  cord  ;  board  £60  ,per  week  ; 
sugar  o4s  per  pound  ;  meal  78s,  and  potatoes  9Gs  per  busbel ;  rum  45s 
per  pint;  molasses  22s  per  pint;  coffee,  96s,  butter  60s, candles  60s,  pork 
GOs,  veal  2-ls,  tobacco  o6s,  and  ginger  60s  per  pound;  and  everything  else 
in  proportion.  AVe  copy  the  following  as  an  additional  illustration  :  — 
"1781.     April  16,  the  town  of  Haverhill  to  Nathaniel  Bradley 


to  one  mug  of  flip 

3.12.0 

to  my  horse  to  danvers 

24.  0.0 

to  3  messes  of  oats 

•  5.  8.0 

to  ferrage 

1.16.0 

to  one  dinner  supper  &  Breakfast 

18.  0.0 

to  one  nights  Lodging 

1.16.0 

to  4  mugs  of  flip 

14.  8.0 

to  3  half-mugs  for  my  self 

5.  8.0 

£74.8.0 
Errors  Excepted 

Nathaniel  Bradley."-' 

In  1782,  the  town's. proportion  of  the  State  tax  was  £2,026.4.0,  and  of 
the  tax  laid  by  Congress,  for  the  war,  £1,347.18.04  !     No  wonder  that 
men  shrunk  from  the  unpleasant  duties  of  town  ofiices.     At  the  annual  T 
meeting  that  year,  Joseph  Dodge,  Captain  Nathaniel  Marsh,  and  Phineas  I  ' 
Carleton,  were  successively  chosen  town  clerk  and  treasurer,  the  first  two  v 
refusing  to  serve  ;  and  Deacon  Moses  Clements  refused  to  serve  as  select- 
man.    Four  town  meetings  were  held  before  a  constable  for  the   East 
Parish  was  finally  secured  !     Phineas  Nichols  and  Ecuben  Currier  were 
chosen,  refused  to  serve,  and  were  fined  £5   each ;  and  it  was  only  by 
voting  him  their  fines  as  a  premium,  that  Edmund.  Brown  was  induced  to 
accept  the  office ! 

In  1783,  the  town  voted  to  instruct  their  Representative  to  join  the 
Piepresentatives  of  Newbury  and  other  towns  in  the  county,  to  memorialize 
the  General  Court  in  regard  to  "  the  iniequal  distribution  of  the  Courts  in 
the  County,"  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  it  was  voted  to  concur  with 
Newbury  and  Almsbury  in  praying  for  the  removal  of  all  the  courts  and 
county  offices  to  Ipswich. 


o  Six  years  later,  (1787),  Rum  was  two  shillings  and  sis  pence  per  gallon;  Shalloon,  two  shillings  and 
sis  pence  per  yard ;  Sugar,  nine  pence  per  pound ;  Chocolate,  one  shilling  and  four  pence  per  pound  ;  Salt 
four  shillings  per  bushel ;  Coflee,  one  shilling  and  six  pence  per  pound ;  Brandy,  five  shillings  per  gallon  ; 
Mutton,  four  pence  per  pound  ;  Floui',  three  pence  per  pound. 


436  HISTORY    OF    HATERHILL. 

In  the  early  part  of  May  of  this  year,  the  selectmen  received  a  letter 
from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  of  Boston,  in  relation  to  the  return 
of  "  refugees  "  to  this  country,  and  an  article  was  inserted  in  the  warrant 
for  a  meeting  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  to  sec  if  the  town  would 
take  any  action  in  the  matter.  At  first,  it  was  voted  not  to  take  any  ac- 
tion, but  "  after  some  debate,"  it  was 

"  Besolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Town  that  their  Eepresentative 
be  Instructed  that  whenever  the  affair  respecting  the  return  of  Conspiri- 
tors  or  absentees,  should  be  laid  before  the  General  Court,  by  proper 
authority,  that  he  do  use  his  Influence  in  said  Coui-t  to  prevent  the  Eeturn 
of  said  persons,  until  the  Keasons  for  the  same  be  laid  before  his  Consti- 
tuents, if  not  Inconsistent  with  the  articles  of  peace  agreed  upon  at  Paris 
by  the  Powers  of  War,  in  Nov.  1782." 

Bailey  Bartlett  was  chosen  Eepresentative  to  the  General  Court,  in  1784, 
but  declined,  and  Samuel  White  was  then  elected.  Bartlett  had  filled  the 
place  three  years,  and  was  the  first  one  elected  by  the  town  under  the 
Constitution.    The  town  acknowledged  his  past  services  by  a  vote  of  thanks. 

At  the  same  time  liberty  was  granted  "  to  the  Fire  Club  to  set  an 
Engine  House  on  the  west  side  of  the  landing,  adjoining  land  of  Samuel 
White." 

On  the  29th  of  June,  of  this  year,  John  Sawyer,  who  had  been  partially 
insane  for  several  years,  leaped  from  the  belfry  of  the  First  Parish  meeting- 
house. Mr.  Bradford,  the  bell-man,  who  had  but  one  leg,  was  ascending 
to  the  bell,  when  Sawyer  crowded  past  him,  and,  without  warning  of  his 
design,  leaped  from  the  dizzy  height.  He  intended  to  throw  himself 
directly  upon  the  whipping  post  and  stocks,  which  stood  a  few  feet  from 
the  north  east  end  of  the  meeting-house,  but  over-shot  the  mark,  and 
landed  on  the  side-walk.  The  fall  broke  his  back,  and  he  survived  but  a 
few  hours. 

The  year  1785  was  one  of  remarkable  extremes  of  weather,  &c. 
April  1st,  the  snow  was  three  feet  deep  on  a  level,  and  so  hard,  that  as  late 
as  the  15th  it  was  used  for  skating,  and  still  later,  bore  up  cattle.  On 
the  13th,  the  Merrimack  was  passable  on  the  ice.  In  September  and 
October  there  fell  unusual  quantities  of  rain.  In  the  latter  mouth  there 
fell  in  three  days  nine  inches,  and  the  Merrimack  was  higher  than  in  tlie 
great  freshet  of  1745.  Kovember  25,  there  was  a  remarkable  snow  storm, 
the  snow  blowing  into  halls,  one  of  which  ran  7G  feet,  and  measured 
17^  by  22  inches.  December  18th,  the  frost  was  out  of  the  ground,  and 
the  weather  pleasant.  One  month  later,  was  the  "coldest  night  ever 
known  in  the  climate." 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  437 

The  novelty  of  the  following,  (which  includes  all  the  articles  in  the 
warrant  for  a  town  meeting  November  14th,  1785)  entitles  it  to  a  place  in 
a  history  of  the  town :  — 

"  First,  To  see  if  it  he  the  minds  of  the  Town  to  have  a  bank  of  paper 
money  Emitted  if  it  may  be  done  upon  a  Solid  foundation. 

"  Secondly,  To  chuse  a  committee  to  draw  up  Instructions  for  our 
present  Deputy  to  forward  the  Matter  that  it  may  be  done  without  delay." 

The  scheme  did  not,  however,  appear  to  meet  with  the  favor  its  friends 
expected.  It  was  "  voted  not  to  act  on  the  first  article  in  the  Warning," 
and  the  second  was  then  passed  over,  as  a  matter  of  course. 

In  March,  178G,  the  office  of  "Surveyor  of  Bread"  was  joined  with 
another,  called  "  Clerk  of  the  Market."  The  latter  was  from  this  time 
regularly  chosen  annually,  until  quite  recently.  The  Selectmen  were  at 
the  same  time  ordered  to  regulate  the  size  of  all  bread  sold  by  the  bakers 
in  the  town. 

This  year  is  rendered  memorable,  by  an  insurrection  in  the  western  part 
of  the  State,  headed  by  one  Daniel  Shays,  and  known  as  "  Shays' 
Eebellion."  The  origin  of  these  disturbances  is  to  be  found  in  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  masses  of  the  people  under  their  grievous  load  of  taxes.  A  few 
artful  and  unprincipled  men,  took  advantage  of  their  distresses,  and  pur- 
suaded  them  that  they  had  a  right  to  rid  themselves  of  the  restraints  of 
law  and  government,  which  had  so  oppressed  them. 

Early  in  August,  delegates  from  about  fifty  towns  assembled  at  Hatfield, 
"  to  consider  and  provide  a  remedy  for  the  grievances  they  suffered,"  and 
though  they  professed  to  disapprove  of  mobs,  their  action  so  inflamed  the 
minds  of  the  ignorant,  that  three  weeks  after,  a  mob  of  fifteen  hundred 
men,  chiefly  armed,  assembled  at  Northampton,  and  prevented  the  sitting 
of  the  Coui-t  of  Common  Pleas.  The  spirit  of  insurrection  spread  rapidly. 
The  first  of  September,  three  hundred  armed  men  took  possession  of  the 
Court  House  at  Worcester,  and  would  not  allow  the  Court  to  be  opened. 
Soon  after,  a  similar  body  assembled  at  Springfield,  under  the  leadership 
of  Captain  Daniel  Shays,  but  found  the  Court  protected  by  six  hundred  of 
the  militia,  under  General  Shepard,  and  after  threatening  and  alarming 
the  people  for  four  days,  they  dispersed.  Similar  disturbances  occurred  in 
Berkshire,  Bristol,  and  Middlesex  Counties,  and  the  governor  finally  con- 
vened the  General  Court  to  consider  the  unhappy  state  of  afi"airs. 

Previous  to  the  last  named  act,  the  town  of  Boston  held  a  meeting,  and 
addressed  a  circular  letter  to  every  town  in  the  State,  "concerning  the 
common  interest  of  the  country."  On  the  receipt  of  the  letter  in  this  town, 
a  meeting  was  at  once  called,  and  a  committee  chosen  to  draft  a  suitable 


438  HISTORY    OF    HAVBRniLL. 

reply.  General  Briclcctt  was  chairman.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  the 
committee  reported  the  following,  which  was  read  and  adopted,  and  sent 
out  as  the  deliberate  conclusion  of  the  town.  The  document  breathes  the 
purest  and  loftiest  patriotism :  — 

"  Haverhill,  the  10th  of  October,  1786. 
Friends  and  Fellow  Citizens :  — 

Your  circular  address  of  the  11th  of  September  last,  to  the  several  towns 
of  this  Commonwealth,  has  been  received,  and  laid  before  this  town  at  a 
legal  meeting  of  the  same,  and  a  serious  attention  paid  to  the  importance 
of  the  subject.  The  blessings  of  a  free  Government,  and  an  undisturbed, 
impartial  administration  of  justice,  are  the  peculiar  advantages  of  freemen, 
and  when  contrasted  with  the  miseries  attendant  upon  a  despotism,  appear 
as  objects  too  dear  to  be  sacrificed  without  a  struggle.  So  sensible  of 
these  advantages  were  the  good  people  of  this  Commonwealth  in  formiug 
their  Constitution,  that  they,  with  grateful  hearts,  acknowledge  the  good- 
ness of  the  Great  Legislator  of  the  Universe  iri  affording  them  in  the  course 
of  this  Providence,  an  opportunity,  deliberately  and  peaceably,  without 
fraud,  violence,  or  surprise,  of  entering  into  an  original,  explicit  and  solemn 
compact  with  each  other,  whereby  the  dignity  of  man  was  preserved,  his 
essential  rights  and  liberties  guarded,  and  the  fruits  of  his  honest  industry 
and  labor  secured  to  him,  against  the  avaricious  grasp  of  a  despot  or  his 
minions.  Under  a  Constitution  so  mild  and  equal,  being  neither  the  result 
of  fear  or  surprise,  nor  any  system  imposed  upon  us  by  a  foreign  power ; 
but  made  our  own  free  act  and  deed,  by  our  voluntary  consent  in  which 
the  various  branches  of  government  are  wisely  separated,  arranged  and 
organized,  and  so  ample  provision  made  for  the  regular  and  impartial 
administration  of  law  and  justice,  we  flattered  ourselves  we  should  have 
enjoyed  for  a  long  time  the  blessings  of  peace,  good  order  and  harmony. 
From  our  government  being  annually  elective  by  the  people,  they  have  a 
complete  control  over  their  rulers,  and  it  is  our  peculiar  advantage  that 
both  governors  and  governed  feel  alike  every  public  burden,  and  share  in 
common  every  calamity  and  distress. 

If  at  any  time  we  are  agrieved,  the  avenues  to  Government,  when  we 
apply  for  redress,  are  not  closed  against  us,  nor  guarded  by  a  military 
power  to  overawe  us.  We  have  a  right  to  apply  for  relief,  and  the  Con- 
stitution has  pointed  out  an  easy,  cheap,  and  expeditious  mode,  unattended 
with  any  of  those  dangers  to  which  the  Commonwealth  may  be  exposed, 
when  combinations  of  armed  men  undertake  to  redress  what  they  deem 
grievances,  and  in  effect  legislate  for  the  whole  people.     The  late  tumul- 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  439 

tuous  and  riotous  proceedings  in  some  counties  of  this  Commonwealth  in 
interrupting  and  stopping  the  Courts  of  Justice,  from  which  government 
derives  so  much  energy  and  support,  are  so  repugnant  to  the  Constitution, 
and  so  abhorent  to  every  idea  of  peace  and  good  order,  that  we  think  it  is 
our  indispensable  duty  to  bear  this  public  testimony  against  them,  as  sub- 
versive of  government,  and  tending  to  introduce  a  state  of  anarchy  which 
may  terminate  in  the  establishment  of  despotism  and  arbitrary  power. 

We  deprecate  the  consequences  of  svxch  proceedings,  as  having  a  tendency 
to  remove  every  guard  and  barrier  which  the  Constitution  has  placed  over 
our  lives,  liberties  and  property,  and  everything  else  men  hold  dear  in 
civilized  societies. 

The  zeal  and  activity  displayed  by  his  Excellency  the  Governor  in 
calling  upon  the  good  people  of  this  State  to  exert  their  efforts  to  avert  the 
impending  ruin,  are  so  expressive  of  his  anxious  solicitude  for  the  safety 
of  the  Commonwealth,  and  of  his  determination  to  support  it,  that  we 
cannot  on  this  occasion  forbear  to  express  the  highest  approbation  of  his 
conduct.  We  are  sensible  there  are  grievances,  we  feel  them  in  common 
with  our  fellow-citizens,  and  have  cheerfully  participated  in  all  their 
calamities  and  embarrassments.  But  whether  all  the  gi'ievances  we  com- 
plain of  originated  from  government,  is  a  subject  of  very  serious  enquiry. 
Cannot  we  trace  many  of  them  in  luxurious,  dissipated  living,  in  idleness, 
in  want  of  temperance,  honesty,  industry,  frugality  and  economy. 
Surely  these  are  sources  from  whence  many  spring,  and  a  reformation  in 
these  respects  will  operate  a  cure  of  almost  all  the  evils  that  at  present 
distress  us.  We  know  of  no  grievances  that  cannot  be  redressed  in  a  con- 
stitutional manner,  and  are  unwilling  to  cast  a  reproach  upon  government 
while  our  own  private  vices  are  the  principal  obstacles  to  its  doing  all  that 
good  we  might  reasonably  expect  from  it. 

We  lament  the  delusion  of  some  of  our  brethren,  and  that  the  arts  and 
intrigues  of  wicked  and  designing  men  have  precipitated  them  into  such 
violent  outrages  upon  law  and  government.  We  doubt  not,  however,  upon 
a  cool  and  dispassionate  consideration  of  the  evil  consequences  of  such 
measures,  they  will  be  convinced  of  their  inefficiency  in  procuring  the 
redress  of  any  grievances,  that  the  design  of  their  leaders  is  the  total  sub- 
version of  our  Constitution  and  erecting  their  power  upon  its  ruin,  and 
that  the  evils  they  and  we  labor  under  are  rather  the  offsprings  of  our 
vices  than  the  faults  of  goverment. 

This  town  has  borne  its  full  share  of  all  the  burdens,  losses  and  ex- 
penses, of  the  late  war,  and  its  subsequent  proportion  of  public  expenses 
since  the   peace.      The  present  form  of   government  was    deliberately 


440  HISTORY    OP   HAVEIiniLL. 

adopted,  and  we  wish  not  to  sec  it  sacrificed.  We  are  ready,  therefore,  to 
join  you  in  a  firm  and  vigorous  support  of  our  Constitution,  in  the  redress 
of  grievances  and  in  promoting  industry,  economy,  and  every  other  virtue 
which  can  exalt  and  render  a  nation  respectable. 

Per  order,         James  Brickett, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee." 
Well  may  the  descendants  of  these  patriotic  men  glory  in  the  title  "  Son 
of  Old  Haverhill."  Though  the  "  full  share  of  all  the  burdens,  losses  and 
expenses,"  of  the  long  and  arduous  struggle  for  liberty,  had  fallen  upon 
them,  they  had  "  deliberately  adopted  "  the  rules  for  their  government, 
would  not  consent  to  see  them  sacrificed,  and  were  "ready  to  join  in  a 
firm  and  vigorous  support  of  our  Constitution."  Shame  on  him  who  can 
speak  lightly  of  blessings  and  privileges  purchased  at  such  a  price! 
Eather  let  us  fervently  pray  — 

"  Long  be  our  father's  temple  ours  ; 
Wo  to  the  hand  by  Avhich  it  falls  ; 
Departed  spirits  watch  its  towers  — 
May  living  patriots  guard  its  walls  !  " 

The  General  Court  passed  several  measures  for  the  relief  of  the  heavily 
burdened  tax-payers,  and  by  offers  of  free  pardon  for  the  past,  endeavored 
to  induce  the  mis-guided  insurgents  to  cease  their  opposition  to  the  gov- 
ernment. It  was  not,  however,  until  several  regiments  of  militia  were 
ordered  out,  and  the  most  vigorous  measures  adopted,  that  the  insurrection 
was  finally  quelled. 

Among  those  called  out,  was  a  detachment  of  the  militia  of  this  town.'"' 
At  a  meeting  in  April,  1787,  the  town  voted  to  pay  them  "  8s  per  month," 
in  addition  to  what  they  received  from  the  State. 

One  of  the  safeguards  adopted  in  the  then  unsettled  state  of  the  public 
mind,  was  that  requiring  persons  elected  to  ofl&ce,  to  "take  and  subscribe 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,"  in  order  to 
qualify  them  to  act  in  their  several  offices.  At  the  March  meeting  in  1787, 
each  and  every  town  officer  was  "  sworn  into  office,"  and  the  principal 
officers  "  took  and  subscribed  to  the  oath  of  allegiance,"  in  addition.  This 
is  the  first  mention  we  find  of  one  of  our  town  officers  taking  the  oath  of 
office. 

In  November,  of  the  same  year,  Bailey  Bartlett,  Esq.,  and  Captain 
Nathaniel  Marsh,  were  chosen  delegates  to  a  State  Convention  at  Boston, 

o  Their  names  were,  Moses  Marsh,  Sarjeant ;  Moses  Brickett,  Joseph  Mullican,  Samuel  MidJleton, 
Caleb  Gushing,  Daniel  Eames,  Timothy  Johnson,  David  Ayer.  They  enlisted  January  9th,  1787,  to  serve 
thirty  days  A-om  the  23d  of  the  same  month. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  441 

to  ratify  tlie  Federal  Constitution.  After  several  weeks'  discussion,  it  was 
approved,  by  a  vote  of  187  to  168.  The  first  election  under  tlie  new 
Constitution,  was  lield  December  18th,  1788. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1789,  it  was  "  Voted  to  choose  a  Committee 
to  Inspect  the  schools.  The  committee  chosen  were  as  follows  —  viz :  — 
The  settled  Clergymen  and  Selectmen,  Isaac  Osgood  Esq,  Hon  Nathaniel 
P.  Sargeant  Esq,  Mr  John  White,  Capt  Francis  Carr,  &  Capt  Samuel 
Merrill. 

Voted  the  above  Committee  Visit  the  Schools  Quarterly  and  make  Ee- 
port  to  the  Town,  at  their  Annual  March  &  fall  Meetings." 

This  was  the  first  "  School  Committee  "  in  the  town,  and  so  well  did  the 
plan  commend  itself  to  the  inhabitants,  that  the  next  year  the  committee 
were  "  desired  to  reccommend  such  rules  and  regulations  in  the  schools  as 
they  shall  think  proper ;  "  and  a  similar  committee  has  been  annually 
chosen  since  that  time. 

October  6th,  of  the  same  year,  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  if  the  town 
would  build  a  "  Work  House  "  for  their  poor.  After  choosing  a  committee 
to  consider  the  matter,  visit  other  towns,  and  ascertain  the  present  cost  of 
supporting  the  poor  of  the  town,  the  meeting  adjourned.  The  next  Aj^ril 
the  committee  reported  that  it  would  not  be  good  policy  or  economy  for 
the  town  to  erect  a  work -house,  as  most  of  their  poor  were  too  old  or  infirm 
to  labor  much,  and  could  be  better  supported  as  they  then  were  (in  "  good 
families.")  They  give  the  names  of  twenty  persons  and  one  family,  then 
mostly  supported  by  the  town,  at  an  expense  of  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  pounds  per  annum. 

The  year  1789  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  the  unwritten  history  of 
our  town,  and  deserves  an  equally  prominent  one  in  its  written  history,  as 
the  year  in  which  the  First  President  of  the  Eepublic  visited  the  town, 
and  gladdened  the  hearts  of  its  patriotic  inhabitants  by  his  visible  pre- 
sence among  them. 

George  Washington  was  elected  President  of  the  United  States  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1789,  and  was  inaugurated  on  the  50th  of  the  following 
month.  The  peculiar  and  unsettled  state  of  the  public  mind  and  afi"airs 
at  that  period  of  our  political  history,  together  with  a  desire  on  the  part  of 
AVashington  to  examine  the  resources  of  the  new  goverment,  and  the  dis- 
position of  the  people  toward  it,  induced  him  to  make  an  early  tour 
through  New  England!  Soon  after  the  adjournment  of  the  first  Congress, 
he  started  on  the  proposed  journey. 

He  left  New  York  on  the  loth  of  October,  1789,  and  visited  as  far  east 

as  the  old  town   (now  city)    of  Portsmouth,   N.  H.     Everywhere  on  the 
56 


442  HISTORY  or  haverhill. 

route  he  was  received  with  the  strongest  marks  of  respect  —  in  matiy  in-' 
stances  bordering  on  veneration.  He  journeyed  in  an  open  carriage,  drawn 
by  four  horses,  accompanied  only  by  his  Secretary,  (Mr.  Lear,)  Major 
Jackson,  and  a  single  servant.  Mr.  Lear,  upon  a  beautiful  white  horse, 
usually  rode  in  advance  of  the  carriage,  which  was  occupied  by  Washing- 
ton and  Mr.  Jackson,  and  driven  by  the  Presidents's  private  coachman. 
Compared  with  modern  turnouts,  the  equipage  of  our  first  President  was 
plain  and  unpretending,  and  a  model  of  Republican  simplicity.  His 
journey  east  from  Boston  lay  along  the  seaboard,  through  Salem,  Newbury- 
port,  and  the  line  of  towns  on  the  then  principal  road  from  Boston  to- 
Maine. 

The  news  of  Washington's  tour  early  reached  the  people  of  Haverhill, 
and,  as  might  be  expected,  awakened  the  liveliest  interest.  Soon  the  in- 
telligence came  that  he  had  passed  through  Ncwburyport  on  his  way  to 
Portsmouth,  and  would  return  by  way  of  Haverhill.  This  added  to  the 
already  rapidly  increasing  interest  and  excitement,  and  the  most  respecta- 
ble citizens  of  the  town  prepared  to  receive  their  Chief  Magistrate  in  a 
manner  becoming  his  exalted  station  and  distinguished  character.  Anon, 
came  a  rumor  that  Washington  would  go  from  Portsmouth  direct  to  Con- 
cord, and  would  not  return  this  way,  which  cast  its  dark  shadow  over  the 
whole  community.  To  have  the  joyfully-anticipated  honor  and  pleasure 
of  a  visit  from  Washington  so  suddenly  taken  away,  was  a  most  painful 
disappointment  to  the  good  people  of  Haverhill ;  and  their  sad  faces  and 
subdued  tones  of  voice,  in  the  frequent  and  earnest  discussion  as  to  the 
probabilities  of  his  coming,  and  of  the  reasons  why  he  should  so  suddenly 
change  his  route,  fully  revealed  the  deep  and  firm  hold  our  country's 
Pathcr  had  in  the  hearts  and  aflPections  of  his  children. 

Among  those  who  most  keenly  felt  the  disappointment  were  Kev.  Gyles 
INIerrill  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Payson.  When  the  day  arrived  that  the  dis- 
tinguished visitor  was  to  have  passed  through  the  town,  they  could  not  be 
content  to  risk  losing  the  golden  opportunity  of  seeing  him  ;  and  resolving 
that  "  see  him  they  must,"  if  it  were  possible,  they  mounted  their  horses 
and  started  for  Exeter,  through  which  place  Washington  would  pass  on 
his  way  to  Concord.  The  young  daughters  of  these  gentlemen,  (Sally 
White  and  Sally  Merrill  —  the  first-named  a  step-daughter  of  Mr.  Payson) 
through  much  pleading,  and  most  probably  tears,  obtained  permission  of 
their  parents  to  accompany  them  in  the  family  chaise.  With  hearts  light- 
ened by  the  renewed  prospect  of  a  consummation  of  their  much-desired 
wishes,  the  little  party  started  early  in  the  forenoon  for  Exeter, 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  443 

A  few  miles  this  side  of  their  place  of  destination  (in  the  town  of  King- 
ston) ,  they  unexpectedly  met  the  equipage  of  Washington  !  The  gentlemen 
in  their  own  all-absorbing  interest,  quite  forgot  their  young  charges;  and 
the  latter,  well-nigh  transported  at  the  sight  of  the  noble  and  dignified 
form  and  face  of  Washington,  forgot  all  things  else,  and  in  an  absent- 
minded  attempt  to  turn  aside  and  give  room  for  the  carriage  to  pass,  the 
young  ladies  were  thrown  from  the  chaise.  The  excitement  of  the  moment, 
rendered  them  quite  insensible  to  fright  or  pain  ;  and  before  the  horsemen 
could  dismount,  the  young  misses  were  upon  their  feet,  declaring  most 
vehemently  that  they  were  not  hurt  —  not  in  the  least.  Arriving  oppo- 
site to  them,  Washington  ordered  his  carriage  stopped,  and  kindly  enquired 
—  "I  hope,  young  ladies,  you  are  not  injured  ?  "  Being  assured  by  their 
appearance  and  replies  that  they  had  escaped  unhurt,  he  congratulated 
them  on  their  good  fortune,  and,  respectfully  saluting  them  and  their  com- 
panions, directed  his  party  to  move  on. 

The  people  of  Haverhill  had  reluctantly  yielded  to  the  unwelcome  rumor 
above-mentioned,  and  had  settled  into  the  conviction  that  notwithstanding 
their  well-earned  fame  in  the  (then)  recent  struggle  for  their  country's 
independence,  and  their  well-known  devotion  to  the  cause  and  its  distin- 
guished defender,  their  beloved  and  venerated  chief  had  passed  them  by. 
Oppressed  with  such  thoughts  as  these,  each  turned  aside  to  attend  to  his 
daily  avocation,  and  the  day  wore  slowly  away,  until  the  sun  had  passed 
his  meridian,  and  unusual  quiet  and  stillness  reigned  in  the  pleasant  little 
-village  "  at  the  foot  of  the  hill." 

But  hark  !  what  sound  was  that  ?  Again  it  comes  upon  the  iinwonted 
stillness.  It  is  a  trumpet  !  The  villagers  rush  to  their  doors  to  learn 
from  whence  comes  the  strange  sound.  It  is  soon  explained.  Down  the 
hill  gallops  a  single  horseman,  hare-headed,  and  at  full  speed,  one  hand 
guiding  his  foaming  steed,  while  with  the  other  he  at  short  intervals  imi- 
tates the  shrill  blast  of  a  trumpet,  alternating  it  with  the  cry,  "  W^ashington 
is  coming  ;  AVashington  is  coming  !  "  As  he  draws  up  to  the  "  Mason's 
Arms, "'••■=  he  is  recognized  as  Timothy  Osgood  a  well-known  citizen  of  the 
town.  He  had  seen  Washington  at  Exeter,  and  learning  that  he  was  en 
route  for  Haverhill,  had  lost  no  time  in  hastening  to  notify  his  townsmen. 

Immediately  the  tones  of  the  village  bell  broke  forth.  Those  who  had 
not  heard  the  ex-tempore  trumpet,  quickly  caught  the  sound  of  the  bell, 
and  it  needed  no  other  tongue  to  interpret  the  meaning  of  the  sudden  peal ! 
Xever  before  had  spoken  that  little  bell  more  acceptably  to  the  villagers  ; 

<*  Harrod's  Tavern,  the  sign  for  which  was  a  painting  representing  the  Freemason's  Arms. 


444  HISTORY  or  havebhill. 

never  before  had  it  rang  a  merrier  peal.  Eound  and  round  it  went,  with 
a  speed  almost  supernatural ;  it  seemed  as  if  indeed  propelled  by  some 
weird  power ;  while  its  musical  tones,  eagerly  caught  up  by  the  swift- 
moving  November  breeze,  followed  each  other  with  marvellous  rapidity, 
and  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  overjoyed  citizens  in  golden  showers. 

The  old  schoolmaster,  as  he  paced  back  and  forth  in  his  little  palace  at 
the  head  of  the  green,  suddenly  stopped  midway  his  round,  as  the  first 
tone  leaped  through  the  whittled-edged  chink  in  the  door,  and  with  a  spas- 
modic '•  School's  dismissed,"  scarce  found  patience  to  wait  the  exit  of  his 
startled  scholars."  Horses  were  saddled  and  mounted  in  such  a  brief 
space  of  time  that  their  very  legs  trembled  with  excitement ;  and  in  an 
exceedingly  short  time,  a  company  of  horsemen  was  formed,  composed  of 
some  of  the  most  respectable  citizens  in  the  place,  and  advanced  to  meet 
and  escort  the  President  into  town. 

Washington  entered  the  village  about  half-past  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  Wednesday,  November  4th,  and  took  up  his  quarters  at  Har- 
rod's  Tavern,  which  was  situated  on  what  is  now  the  Town  Hall  lot, 
though  earnestly  invited  to  occupy  apartments  prepared  for  him  by  Mr. 
John  White,  at  his  residence  on  AVater  Street,  (on  the  site  of  Mr.  West's 
present  residence).  The  President  called  on  Mr.  White,  whose  daughter- 
in-law  had  often  been  a  visitor  at  his  own  house  in  Philadelphia ;  took  a 
social  glass  of  wine  with  him,  and  acknowledged  his  obligations  for  such 
kindness ;  but  expressed  his  preference  for  a  public  house ;  and,  in  answer 
to  a  suggestion  of  his  would-be -hostess,  observed  that  he  was  "  an  old  sol- 
dier, and  used  to  hard  fare,  and  a  hard  bed." 

He  had  on,  at  the  time,  a  drab  surtout,  then  a  fashionable  color  with 
the  "most  respectable  gentlemen,"  and  a  military  hat.  He  is  described 
to  us,  by  several  who  distinctly  remember  his  visit  to  the  place,  as  very 
tall  and  straight,  and  remarkably  dignified  in  his  looks  and  manners. 

On  alighting  at  the  tavern,  he  was  introduced  to  several  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  the  town  ;  and  after  a  short  rest,  he  walked  about 
the  town,  visiting  various  points  of  interest,  and  entering  into  conversa- 
tion upon  the  location,  business,  and  commercial  and  other  advantages  of  the 
town.  He  called  at  the  residence  of  Sheriff  Bartlett,  (who  was  absent  at  the 
time)  and  left  his  regai'ds  for  j\Ir.  B.,  and  his  thanks  for  the  attentions 
shown  him  on  his  journey  east.  (Air.  Bartlett,  as  Sheriff,  aided  by  his 
Deputies,  had  escorted  Washington  through  the  county).  He  paid  a  visit 
to  the  small  duck  factory  which  had  been  recently  started  by  Samuel  Blod- 
gett,  Esq.,  on  Kent  Street,  and  seemed  to  share  in  the  interest  with  which 

"  A /act;  as  is  also  svery  other  incident  given  in  this  sketch. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  445 

the  enterprise  was  regarded  by  the  citizens.  He  walked  up  Merrimack 
Street,  and  as  far  as  what  is  now  Washington  Square  and  Washington 
Street  (so  named  in  honor  of  his  visit) ,  and  repeatedly  remarked  upon  the 
pleasantness  and  beauty  of  the  scenery,  the  location  of  the  village,  and 
his  pleasure  in  noticing  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  its  citizens.  His  ob- 
servation that "  Haverhill  is  the  plcasantcst  village  I  have  passed  through," 
was  esteemed  a  high  compliment  at  the  time,  and  has  been  transmitted 
from  father  to  son,  as  an  unanswerable  argument  in  favor  of  his  "home, 
sweet  home,"  as  the  best  place  for  the  exercise  of  enterprise,  and  the  en- 
joyment of  life. 

As  Washington's  eye,  from  his  eligible  stand-point  near  Little  Kiver 
Bridge,  took  in  the  then  unobstructed  view  for  miles  up  and  down  the 
Merrimack,  he  almost  involuntarily  exclaimed,  —  "  Beautiful,  beautiful !  " 
He  especially  admired  the  situation  of  the  Saltonstall  residence,  just  below 
the  village  (now  the  Duncan  place) ,  and  pronounced  it  a  most  charming 
and  picturesque  location  for  a  home. 

Among  the  several  parties  who  called  upon  Washington,  at  his  lodgings, 
were  Eevs.  John  Shaw  and  Gyles  Merrill,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Payson,  with 
the  little  daughter  of  Mr.  Shaw,  and  the  step-daughter  of  Mr.  Payson  — 
two  bright  little  misses,  and  play -mates,  of  about  eight  years  of  age,  named 
Mary  White  and  Betsey  Shaw.  The  pleasant  "  And  how  do  the  little 
ladies  do  ?  "  with  the  familiar  shake  of  the  hand  which  followed  their  in- 
troduction to  the  President,  was  never  forgotten  by  those  to  whom  it  was 
addressed,  and  they  never  tired  repeating  all  the  little  incidents  of  their 
interview  with  the  "  Great  Washington."  While  engaged  in  easy  conver- 
sation with  the  gentlemen,  the  President  called  the  little  girls  to  him,  and 
taking  one  upon  each  knee,  soon  completely  dispelled  their  childish  timid- 
ity by  his  kind  words  and  gentle  manner.  During  the  interview, 
Washington  drew  from  his  pocket  a  glove,  and  smilingly  enquired  — 
"  Which  of  the  little  misses  will  mend  my  glove  ?  "  After  a  little  pleas- 
ant rivalry  between  them,  each  being  eager  for  the  honor,  the  matter  was 
duly  arranged  on  a  sort  of  copartnership  basis,  and  the  young  misses 
retired  with  the  glove. 

On  their  return  to  the  room,  with  the  glove  neatly  repaired,  he  thanked 
them  for  the  favor,  and  drawing  them  to  his  chair,  imprinted  a  kiss  upon 
the  lips  of  each ;  the  recollectiou  of  which,  the  reader  may  be  assured, 
never  lost  the  vividness  and  freshness  of  the  first  gentle  pressure.  A  kiss 
from  the  lips  of  AVashington  was  a  treasure  of  no  mean  value  !  As  might 
be  supposed,  the  quickly-published  success  of  these  little  misses  stimulated 
a  desire  on  the  part  of  others  to  secure  a  like  favor ;  among  whom  were 


446  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL, 

two  of  about  the  same  age,  who,  after  much  teasing,  were  allowed  to  ask 
permission  to  "  kiss  his  hand."  On  answering  their  timid  knock  at  his 
door,  and  hearing  their  respectful  request,  AV'ashington  expressed  his  will- 
ingness to  exchange  kisses  with  the  little  beggars  ;  and  suiting  the  action 
to  the  word,  the  "  Father  of  his  Country  "  made  happy  the  hearts  of  two 
more  of  his  large  family  of  children,  by  a  paternal  kiss. 

In  accordance  with  his  usual  custom,  "Washington  made  jireparations  to 
retire  at  an  early  hour.  Soon  after  he  had  retired  to  his  room,  a  little 
boy  came  into  the  tavern,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  see  "  George  Wash- 
ington." He  was  told  that  he  could  not  see  him;  upon  which  he  burst 
into  tears,  and  declared  that  he  "  must  see  George  Washington."  After 
vainly  endeavoring  to  pacify  the  boy,  he  was  ordered  to  leave  the  house, 
as  his  request  could  not  be  granted.  Upon  this,  the  little  fellow's  distress 
burst  through  all  barriers  of  self-restraint,  and  he  startled  the  inmates  of 
the  whole  house  with  his  piercing  cries.  Before  he  could  be  removed, 
Washington,  hearing  the  uproar,  and  learning  the  cause,  requested  that 
the  boy  be  brought  to  his  room.  The  little  fellow  was  accordingly  taken 
up ;  and,  as  he  entered  the  room,  and  through  his  tears  looked  upon 
Washington,  he  seemed  completely  bewildered,  and  riveted  to  the  spot. 
He  had  doubtless  listened  to  many  a  story  of  the  "  great  Washington  " 
from  his  mother's  lips,  and  had  seen  the  interest  and .  excitement  in  the 
village  in  consequence  of  his  visit ;  and  these  had  so  wrought  upon  his 
childish  imagination,  that  he  verily  believed  he  was  to  see  a  being  of  cor- 
responding physical  magnitude,  and  completely  answering  his  boyish  ideal 
of  a  god.  Washington  kindly  enquired  of  the  boy  what  he  wanted.  "  I 
want  to  see  George  Washington,"  stammered  the  little  fellow.  Calling 
the  lad  to  his  side,  Washington  gently  patted  his  head,  saying —  "  I  am 
George  Washington,  my  little  lad,  but  I  am  only  a  man.'" 

It  was  an  unusually  cold  day  for  the  season,  and  as  Washington  was 
chilly  and  fatigued  with  the  day's  travel,  and  the  "  best  bed"  had  not 
been  used  for  some  time,  the  careful  hostess  concluded  that  it  would  be 
prudent  to  have  the  bed  warmed  before  her  distinguished  lodger  retired. 
This  conclusion  was  overheard  by  her"  young  daughter,  who  lost  no  time 
in  carrying  the  plan  into  execution.  Her  adventure  is  thus  narrated  by 
herself,  seventy  years  afterward :  — 

*'  As  all  and  everybody  were  contending  for  the  honor  of  doing  some- 
thing for  that  great  and  good  man,  I,  with  others,  thought,  what  can  i  do  ? 
Accordingly,  I  took  the  warming-pan,  and  rushed  into  the  chamber,  where 
sat  in  state,  in  my  mother's  easy-chair,   President  Washington.     As  I 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERniLL.  447 

remember,  I  was  about  eleven  years  old,"  and  at  that  time,  being  very 
diffident,  I  was  almost  frightened  to  death  to  think  in  whose  presence  I 
was.  I  guess  I  did  not  stop  to  make  the  bed  very  warm,  but  as  I  was 
leaving  the  chamber,  he  rose  from  his  chair  and  kissed  me.  I  went  below 
and  told  of  it,  and  for  years  after,  it  was  my  boast  and  pride. "f 

The  next  morning,  the  militia  of  the  town  were  called  out  and  paraded, 
for  the  inspection  of  their  Commander-in-Chief,  The  line  was  formed  on 
the  north  side  of  Water  Street,  extending  from  the  corner  of  Main  Street 
east.  There  were  about  one  hundred  in  the  line,  and  several  are  still 
living  who  remember  of  seeing  Washington  standing  on  the  opposite  side 
of  Water  Street,  with  Major  Jackson  on  his  right  and  Mr.  Lear  on  his 
left,  as  he  witnessed  the  modest  parade  of  the  "  citizen  soldiers  "  of  the 
town  in  honor  of  his  visit. 

He  left  town  about  sun-rise  the  next  morning  after  his  arrival,  via  the 
old  ferry,  nearly  opposite  the  foot  of  Kent  Street.  For  some  cause,  not 
now  distinctly  remembered,  except  that  it  was  occasioned  by  the  ferry- 
boat, he  was  delayed  some  little  time,  after  arriving  at  the  ferry-way. 
While  standing  in  the  porch  of  Mr.  Bartlett's  residence,  (Israel  Bartlett, 
Esq.,)  on  the  north-east  corner  of  Water  and  Kent  Streets,  waiting  the 
slow  motions  of  the  boat,  and  surrounded  by  the  principal  citizens  of 
the  place,  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  neighboring  population,  Mr.  Bart- 
lett politely  invited  him  to  "step  in  and  sit  till  the  boat  was  ready." 
Washington  was  apparently  about  to  accept  the  invitation,  when  a  near 
neighbor  of  Mr.  Bartlett's,  Gen,  Brickett,  who  lived  just  below,  and  directly 
opposite  the  ferry,  said  —  "  General,  won't  you  please  go  into  my  house  ? 
it  is  much  nearer  the  boat."  With  the  sagacity  for  which  he  was  ever  so 
remarkable,  Washington  detected  in  an  instant  the  real  reason  of  the 
second  invitation,  and  thanking  the  gentlemen  for  their  invitations,  cour- 
teously declined  them  both.  This  little  incident  was  never  forgotten  by 
the  first  party,  who  could  hardly  forgive  his  neighbor  for  depriving  him  of 
the  distinguished  honor  of  having  received  Washington  beneath  his  own 
roof. 

Among  those  who  had  tried  hard  to  obtain  an  interview  with  Washing- 
ton while  in  Haverhill,  was  Bart  Pecker  —  one  who  had  served  his  country 
long  and  faithfully  as  a  soldier  in  the  Kevolutionary  army.  Bart  had 
been  a  brave  man  and  a  faithful  soldier,  and  was  for  some  time  one  of  the 

°  She  was  in  her  twelfth  year. 

t  Since  the  above  was  written,  we  have  had  the  pleasure  of  an  interview  with  the  >vriter,  who  is  still 
living,  (September,  1S60.)  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  excellent  health.  She  remembers  that  in  her  confusion 
and  awkwardness,  she  stumbled  and  fell,  as  she  was  leaving  the  room,  and  thinks  that  this  was,  perhaps, 
the  immediate  occasion  of  her  receiving  the  envied  kiss. 


448  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

famous  "Washington  Life  Guards  ;"  but  his  love  of  grog  increasing  with  his 
years,  had  interfered  sadly  with  his  standing  in  the  community.  Although 
he  pleaded  hard  for  a  chance  to  speak  to  Washington,  whom  he  declared 
he  was  "  well  acquainted  with,"  he  was  purposely  kept  in  the  hack- 
ground  on  account  of  his  habits  and  shabby  appearance.  But  just  as 
Washington  had  taken  leave  of  his  escort,  and  was  about  to  step  into  the 
boat,  Bart's  patience  gave  way,  and  with  a  fierce  ejaculation  thai  he  would 
•'  speak  to  the  General,"  he  pushed  through  the  crowd,  and  extending  his 
hand,  cried  out,  excitedly,  "  General,  how  do  you  do  ?  "  Washington 
apparently  recognized  the  voice,  and,  turning  quickly,  grasped  his  hand 
and  replied  —  "  Bart,  is  this  you?"  and  quietly  slipping  a  gold  picco 
into  the  hand  of  the  overjoyed  old  soldier,  bade  him  "  good-bye,"  and 
hastened  on  board  the  waiting  boat. 

AVashiugton  arrived  in  Xcw  York  the  13th  of  November,  having  been 
absent  about  one  month.  Ever  after,  he  was  pleased  to  speak  of  his  New 
England  tour  as  one  of  the  most  pleasant  incidents  of  his  public  life. 

AVe  cannot  more  appropriately  close  this  pleasant  episode  in  our  town's 
history,  than  by  inserting  the  following  extract  from  the  diary  kept  by 
Washington  during  his  tour :  — 

"  W^ednesday  4th.  About  half  after  seven  I  left  Portsmouth,  quietly, 
and  without  any  attendance,  having  earnestly  entreated  that  all  parade 
and  ceremony  might  be  avoided  on  my  return.  Before  ten  I  reached 
Exeter,  14  miles  distance.  This  is  conSaered  as  the  second  town  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  stands  at  the  head  of  the  tide-water  of  Piscataqua  Eiver  ; 
but  ships  of  3  or  400  tons  are  built  at  it.  Above  (but  in  the  town)  are 
considerable  falls,  which  supply  several  grist-mills,  2  oil  mills,  a  slitting 
mill,  and  snuff  mill.  It  is  a  place  of  some  consequence,  but  does  not  con- 
tain more  than  1,000  inhabitants.  A  jealousy  subsists  between  this  town 
(where  the  legislature  alternately  sits,)  and  Portsmouth ;  which,  had  I 
known  it  in  time,  would  have  made  it  necessary  to  have  accepted  an  invi- 
tation to  a  public  dinner,  but  my  arrangements  having  been  otherwise 
made,  I  could  not.  Prom  hence,  passing  through  Kingston,  (6  miles  from 
Exeter)  I  arrived  at  Haverhill  about  half  past  two,  and  stayed  all  night. 
AValked  through  the  town,  which  stands  at  the  head  of  the  tide  of  Merri- 
mack River,  and  in  a  beautiful  part  of  the  country.  The  lands  over 
which  I  travelled  to-day,  arc  pretty  much  mixed  in  places  with  stone  — 
and  the  growth  with  pines  —  till  I  came  near  to  Haverhill,  where  they 
disappeared,  and  the  land  had  a  more  fertile  appearance.  The  whole  were 
pretty  well  cultivated,  but  used  (principally)  for  grass  and  Indian  corn. 
In  Haverhill  is  a  Duck  manufactory,  upon  a  small  but  ingenious  scale, 


HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL.  449 

under  tlie  conduct  of  Colo fi  At  this  manufactory  one  small  per- 
son turns  a  wlieel  whicli  employs  eight  spinners,  each  acting  independently 
of  the  other,  so  as  to  occasion  no  interruption  to  the  rest  if  any  one  of 
them  is  stopped  —  whereas  at  the  Boston  manufactory  of  this  article,  each 
spinner  has  a  small  girl  to  turn  the  wheel.  The  looms  are  also  somewhat 
diiferently  constructed  from  those  of  the  common  kind,  and  upon  an  im- 
proved plan.  The  inhabitt's  of  this  small  village  were  well  disposed 
to  welcome  me  to  it  hy  every  demonstration  which  could  evince  their  joy. 
Thursday  5th.  About  sunrise  I  set  out,  crossing  the  Merrimack  River 
at  the  town,  over  to  the  township  of  Bradford,  and  in  nine  miles  came  to 
Abbott's  tavern,  in  Andover,  where  we  breakfasted,  and  met  with  much 
attention  from  Mr  Phillips,  President  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts, 
who  accompanied  us  through  Bellarika  to  Lexington,  where  I  dined,  and 
viewed  the  spot  on  which  the  first  blood  was  spilt  in  the  dispute  with 
Great  Britain,  on  the  19th  of  April  1775." 

<*  Samuel  Blodgett. 

67 


450  HISTORY    or    nAVERHni. 


CHAPTEE  XXIV. 

1790  TO  1800. 


The  close  of  the  Eevolution  found  our  town,  in  common  witli  others, 
seriously  embarrassed.  The  war  had  been  carried  on  under  many  and 
great  disadvantages,  and  at  an  enormous  expense ;  and  the  peace  -which 
followed,  found  the  people,  of  IMassachusetts  particularly,  with  a  heavy 
debt  upon  them,  for  the  payment  of  which  they  were  compelled  to  make 
provision.  Their  resources  were  limited,  their  industry  crippled  ;  and  it 
was  several  years  before  the  blessings  of  peace  were  seen  in  their  full 
vigor.  But  that  time  came  at  last,  and  the  period  when  our  chapter  opens 
found  our  town  already  well  started  on  the  high  road  to  general  prosperity. 

Ship-building  and  commerce,  which  had  been  almost  entirely  suspended 
during  the  war,,  were  again  resumed,  and  with  energy.  The  long  silence 
of  our  ship-yards  was  succeeded  by  the  busy  hum  of  axe  and  hammer, 
and  the  white  wings  of  commerce  once  more  gladdened  the  face  of  the 
beautiful  Merrimack,  cheering  the  heart  and  nerving  the  arm  of  all  classes 
and  conditions  of  our  citizens.  There  were  at  this  time  two  ship-yards  in 
the  village,  and  one  at  the  "  Kocks,"  in  full  operation."  The  yard  at  the 
Eocks  was  discontinued  about  the  year  1800.  The  usual  kind  of  vessels 
were  built  in  these  yards,  including  ships,  brigs,  snows,  f  schooners,  and 
sloops. 

The  commerce  and  trade  of  the  town  at  this  time  was  large.  Several 
of  our  merchants  were  large  exporters  and  importers  to  and  from  England 
and  the  West  Indies.  Vessels  sometimes  sailed  to  and  from  this  place  to 
London  direct,  though  the  larger  ships  were  laden  and  unladen  at  New- 
buryport,  or  Boston.  From  the  former  place,  the  goods  were  carried  to 
and  from  Haverhill  in  long  boats,  or  gondolas ;  and  from  the  latter  in 
snows,  and  smaller  vessels.  The  AVest  India  trade  was  carried  on  in  the 
same  manner,   though  vessels  more   frequently  sailed  direct.     Among 

°  Persons  yet  living  can  remember  when  three  vessels  were  launched  in  a  single  day  in  the  village.  In 
1810,  nine  vessels  were  built  here,  and  fifty  to  sixty  men  kept  constantly  employed  in  the  shipyards. 

t  Snoto.  A  vessel  equipped  with  two  masts,  resembling  the  main  and  fore-masts  of  a  ship,  and  a  third 
small  mast  just  abaft  the  main-mast,  carrying  a  try-sail. — Mar.  Diet. 


EISTORY   OF   nAVERHILL.  451 

tte  articles  exported,  were  large  quantities  of  corn  and  grain,  beef,  fish, 
lumber,  pearl-asbes,  linseed  oil,  tow  cloth,  and  a  great  variety  of  other 
articles  in  smaller  quantities.  In  return,  sugar  and  molasses  were  received 
from  the  West  Indies,  and  the  usual  variety  of  goods  from  London.  This 
town  was  for  a  long  time  the  head-quarters  of  trade  for  a  large  back 
country,  and  our  wharves,  warehouses,  and  shipping,  gave  the  place  quite 
a  port-ly  appearance.  The  goods  and  articles  of  trade  were  transported 
to  and  from  the  interior  wholly  by  oxen,  hundreds  of  which  were  con- 
stantly employed  in  the  business. 

Among  the  principal  merchants  of  the  town  about  this  time,  were  John 
White,  Benjamin  Willis,  James  Duncan,  James  Duncan,  Jr.,  and  Isaac 
Osgood. 

Mr.  White  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Thomas 
West,  Esq.,  next  west  of  the  Merrimack  Bank,  Water  Street,  and  his 
store  stood  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  above  named  Bank  building. 
His  house,  which  he  built  in  1766,  was  a  large  three-story  mansion,  and 
one  of  the  most  imposing  and  costly  dwellings  in  the  region.  Its  massive 
front  door,  with  the  portico  and  pillars  have  been  removed. .  Its  deep  and 
terraced  front  yard,  with  varied  shrubbery  and  flowers ;  its  ample  stone 
steps,  and  high  fence  of  fanciful  trellis  work ;  and  its  tall  poplar  trees, 
have  all  disappeared.  The  street  now  presses  close  to  the  house,  which 
iias  been  extensively  re-modeled,  and  retains  but  little  of  its  ancient 
aristocratic  and  wealthy  appearance.  The  large  garden  in  the  rear  of  the 
mansion,  with  its  regular  squares,  fringed  with  boxwood  —  its  neatly 
gravelled  walks  —  its  terraces,  and  rare  varieties  of  imported  fruit  trees 
—  is  now  despoiled  of  its  beauty,  and  nearly  covered  with  stables.  Mr. 
White,  or  "  Marchant  "  White,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  for  many 
years  not  only  a  prominent  business  man,  but  a  highly  respected,  wealthy, 
and  influential  citizen.  He  was  largely  engaged  in  commerce,  and  im- 
ported and  exported  large  amounts  of  merchandise.  When  Washington 
passed  through  Haverhill,  he  called  upon  Mr.  White,  whose  daughter-in- 
law  (Mrs.  Leonard  White)  had  been  a  frequent  visitor  —  sometimes  for 
weeks  together  —  of  Mrs.  Washington,  and  exchanged  healths  with  the 
merchant  in  a  glass  of  wine.-' 

Mr.  Willis  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Willis,  a  ship-master  of  Charlestown, 
INIass.  The  latter,  during  the  early  part  of  the  Eevolution,  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  British,  at  sea,  and  carried  into  Eustacia.  When  he  re- 
turned, on  being  exchanged,  he  found  his  house  burned,  and  learned  that 

«  Mr.  White  died  ia  1800,  .~.ged  76  years. 


452  HISTORY   OP   HATERHILt, 

his  family  had  taken  refuge  in  Haverhill.  He  settled  here  with  thenJ 
after  the  llevolution,  and  became  largely  engaged  in  shipping.  Benjamin^ 
Jr.,  while  yet  a  young  man,  went  to  London,  as  supercargo,  in  one  of  his 
father's  vessels  —  the  brig  "Benjamin  and  Nancy," -—where  he  became 
acquainted  with  a  Mr.  John  Dickinson,  a  large  merchant  of  that  city,  who 
took  a  strong  liking  to  the  young  American,  and  recommended  him  to  en- 
gage in  -the  mercantile  business  in  Haverhill,  at  the  same  time  offering  to 
furnish  him  Avith  a  full  stock  of  goods  to  start  with.  The  offer  was  ac- 
cepted, and  from  this  beginning  Mr.  Willis  soon  became  one  of  the  largest 
importers  in  the  State.  His  cargoes  usually  came  to  Newburyport  in 
brigs,  and  were  transported  from  thence  to  this  town  in  boats. 

Mr.  James  Duncan  was  a  son  of  George  Duncan,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Londonderry,  In  early  life,  he  started  out  with  a  small  pack  of 
goods,  as  a  pedlar,  and  from  this  small  beginning,  he  rose  to  be  quite  an 
extensive  merchant.  He  came  to  Haverhill  some  time  previous  to  1750, 
and  resided  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1818,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-two  years,  Mr.  Duncan  was  succeeded  in  business  by  his 
son,  James  Duncan,  Jr.,  who  soon  became  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of 
the  place,  and  was  not  only  in  both  the  foreign  and  domestic  trade,  but 
was  largely  interested  in  shipping.  He  built  and  furnished  the  first  store 
in  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  at  which  place  he  also  erected  potash  works,  and  a 
mill  for  grinding  flax-seed.  Loading  his  heavy  ox-teams  with  a  variety 
of  foreign  goods,  from  his  head-qiiarters  in  Haverhill,  for  his  store  in 
Lebanon,  they  returned  laden  with  pearl-ashes,  linseed  oil,  flax-seed,  grain, 
and  various  other  articles  of  expoi't  and  exchange.  Some  idea  of  the 
extent  of  this  country  trade  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that,  during  a 
single  period  of  twenty-six  months,  Mr,  Duncan  sent  over  $90,000  worth 
of  goods  to  his  store  in  Lebanon.  At  this  period,  large  quantities  of 
flax-seed,  and  pot  and  pearl-ashes,  were  exported  to  England  and  Ireland. 
The  flax-seed  was  mostly  sent  to  Ireland.  Mr.  Duncan  was  a  man  of 
a  high  order  of  business  talent,  and  great  enterprise.  Though  deprived 
of  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  he  made  such  good  use  of 
his  time  and  means  for  information,  that  fe\y  could  equal  him  in  legal, 
mercantile,  and  general  knowledge.  He  was  at  one  time  deeply  interested 
in  military  affairs,  and,  as  a  major,  commanded  the  companies  of  cavalry 
which  escorted  Washington,  in  1789,  from  Boston  to  the  New  Hampshire 
line.     He  died  in  1822,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Osgood  was  a  native  of  Andover.  He  came  to  Haverhill  about 
175 — ,  and  was  for  many  years  one  of  our  i^rincipal  merchants,  and  most 
influential  citizens.     His  store,  (a  wooden  building,  with  gambrel  roof,) 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  453 

Was  situated  a  few  rods  east  of  the  bridge.  Previous  to  the  Eevolution, 
Mr.  Osgood  was  quite  largely  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade,  hut  after 
the  war,  he  was  more  particularly  interested  in  that  of  London.  He 
■  erected,  and  operated  for  many  years,  a  large  distillery  near  his  store. 
Subsequently,  the  distillery  was  changed  to  a  brewery,  and  was  used  as 
such  for  several  years.  It  afterward  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Dickenson, 
of  London,  and  after  lying  idle  for  a  long  time,  the  latter  gentleman  made 
a  present  of  it  to  Benjamin  Willis,  Jr.,  by  whom  it  was  torn  down,  to  give 
place  to  the  stores  known  as  the  "  Willis  Block."  The  worms  and  boilers 
were  cast  into  sleigh-bells,  by  Mr.  Bailey,  of  the  West  Parish,  and  the 
clay  around  the  vats  was  used  in  making  bricks  for  the  new  block.-' 

Mr.  Osgood  died  in  1791,  and  was  succeeded  in  business  by  his  son, 
Peter  Osgood,  who  will  be  remembered  by  many  of  our  readers. 

The  population  of  the  town,  at  the  time  our  chapter  opens,  was  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  eight,  and  its  valuation,  1,519,41  Lf 

At  this  period,  newspapers  and  letters  were  carried  through  the  country 
by  persons  who  rode  on  horse-back,  called  "Post-riders."  Samuel  Bean 
was  post-rider  from  Boston  to  Concord,  N.  H,  His  route  was  through 
Andover,  Haverhill,  Atkinson,  Kingston,  Exeter,  Epping,  Nottingham, 
Deerfield,  and  Pembroke  to  Concord  :  •  returning,  he  passed  through  Lon- 
donderry and  Haverhill.  He  performed  the  route  once  a  week.  The  first 
stage  from  Haverhill  to  Boston  was  started  about  this  time.  It  was  a  two- 
horse  coach,  and  owned  by  a  Mr.  Gage.  Gage  owned  one  horse,  and  as 
often  as  he  could  make  certain  of  a  suflGicient  number  of  passengers  for  a 
load,  he  hired  another  horse  and  run  his  coach.  He  performed  the  route 
only  when  he  had  custom.  Mr.  Kobert  Willis  remembers  that  in  Septem- 
ber, 1792,  when  himself  and  his  brothers  were  taken  by  his  mother  to 
Boston  (to  be  inoculated  with  the  small  pox)  they  crossed  the  ferry  here 
just  as  the  sun  was  rising,  and  when  the  coach  crossed  the  bridge  at 
Charlestown,  the  lamps  were  already  lighted  in  the  evening  —  thus  making 
the  journey  in  about  twelve  hours.  In  1793,  a  stage  commenced  running 
regularly  once  a  week ;  and  the  same  year  it  was  changed  to  twice  a 
week. 

An  advertisement  in  a  Boston  paper,  under  date  of  April  9,  1793,  in- 
forms the  public  that  "  The  Haverhill  Stage  Coach  is  complete,  with 
genteel  curtains  &  cushions,  &  a  pair  of  able  horses,  ready  for  service." 

°  The  block  was  erected  in  1811,  by  Benjamin  Willis,  Kimball  Carleton,  Warner  Whittier,  and  James 
Haseltine,  who  owned  one  store  each.  It  was  the  first  hrich  block  erected  in  the  town.  The  Banister 
Block  was  built  in  1815. 

t  The  first  United  States  Census  was  taken  this  year — 1790. 


4:54  HISTORY  OP  haverhill. 

It  was  to  "  set  out  from  Chadwick's  ferry  in  Bradford  on  Tuesday  tlie  IGth 
at  G  oclock,  precisely,  and  it  expects  to  arrive  at  Mr.  Abbott's  in  Andover 
before  S,  &  at  Mr.  Pcabody's  in  Boston  before  one."  The  proprietor  gave 
notice  that  he  "  intends  in  a  short  time  that  the  stage  performs  this  route 
t'wice  in  a  week.  Fare  3d  a  mile."  There  is  no  name  attached  to  the 
advertisement,  but  we  believe  that  Judge  Blodgett  was  the  proprietor. 

In  November,  (1793)  a  stage  commenced  running  twice  a  week  from 
this  place  to  Concord,  X.  H.,  connecting  with  the  Boston  stage.  It  was 
owned  by  parties  in  this  town,  Chester,  and  Concord.  The  mail,  however, 
continued  to  be  carried  on  horse-back  for  several  years  after  the  establish' 
ment  of  a  regular  line  of  stages. 

At  the  celebration  attending  the  opening  of  the  "  Andover  &  Haverhill 
Eailroad  "  to  Bradford,  in  October,  1837,  Hon.  Leverctt  Saltonstall,  of 
Salem,  alluded  in  a  very  happy  manner  to  the  great  contrast  between  the 
rates  of  travelling  at  the  present  time,  and  years  gone  by.  He  said  he 
arrived  in  Boston  from  Salem,  fifteen  miles,  in  the  morning,  by  stage  ;  — 
and  after  waiting  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  he  embarked  in  the  cars  for 
Haverhill  —  a  further  distance  of  thirty-two  miles ;  and,  after  spending 
some  hours  in  the  latter  place,  he  hoped  to  return  to  Boston  in  the  cars  in 
the  afternoon,  and  after  remaining  a  half-an-hour  there,  return  to  his 
family  in  Salem  before  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  He  Avell  recollected 
the  setting  up  of  the  first  stage-coach  between  Boston  and  Haverhill,  some 
forty  or  fifty  years  before,  by  Judge  Blodgett,  of  Haverhill.  It  started 
very  early  in  the  morning  from  Haverhill,  in  order  to  have  time  to  perform 
the  distance,  and  arrive  comfortably  in  Boston  before  dark  !  The  boys 
followed  it  as  it  passed  through  the  villages,  and  the  women  put  their 
heads  out  of  the  windows,  gazing  upon  the  wonder,  and  the  welkin  ruug 
with  the  shouts  of  "  Tue  Stage,  The  Stage  !  "  A  stage-coach  was  soon 
afterward  established  to  run  between  Haverhill  and  Concord,  N.  H.  This 
was  considered  a  most  extraordinary  event,  and  one  of  the  leaders  had  a 
bell,  of  a  size  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  bell  of  the  Academy,  suspended 
to  his  neck,  the  sound  of  which  could  be  heard  a  great  distance,  to  give 
the  intelligence  that  the  stage  ivas  coming  I 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1790,  the  town  granted  leave,  on  the  petition 
of  Judge  Sargeant,  for  "  trees  to  be  set  out  on  the  public  land."  The  land 
referred  to  was  doubtless  the  common,  and  we  presume  it  was  at  this  time 
that  the  sycamores,  —  which  have  been  removed  but  a  few  years,  —  were 
set  out.     Judge  Sargeant's  house  adjoined  the  common,  on  the  north."    At 

o  It  stood  on  the  site  no\y  occupied  hy  the  Unitarian  Church,  and  was  removed  to  make  place  for  that 
structure.  It  now  stands,  with  but  litHe  alteration,  ou  the  south-west  corner  of  Winter  and  Spring 
Street*. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVEBHILI.  455 

the  next  annual  meeting,  General  James  Brickett  and  others  petitioned 
"to  have  the  trees  lately  set  out  in  the  Training  Field  removed,"  but  no 
action  was  taken  on  the  article. 

From  a  report  made  to  the  town  this  year,  we  learn  that  twenty-four 
.  persons  were  at  this  time  supported,  in  whole  or  in  part,  by  the  town,  at 
an  expense  of  £130.  A  proposition  was  made  to  erect  a  poor-house,  but 
it  was  not  agreed  to.  A  similar  proposition  was  made  six  years  later, 
but  was  also  rejected. 

This  year,  (1790)  the  collection  of  the  town  taxes  was,  for  the  first 
time,  sold  at  "  vendue,"  to  the  lowest  bidder,  by  parishes.  They  were  bid 
off  at  eight  and  one-half  to  eleven  pence  on  the  pound. 

Previous  to  this  time,  swine  had  been  allowed  to  run  at  large ;  but  a 
district  was  now  laid  out,  including  the  village,  within  which  they  were 
in  future  to  be  deprived  of  that  privilege.  The  line  run  "  from  Mill 
Brook  to  the  Upper  Sands,  and  then  back  to  Peter  Bradley's ;  then  to 
Dea.  Ayer's  Pond  ;  and  then  to  the  bound  first  mentioned." 

At  a  meeting  in  October  of  this  year,  Samuel  Walker,  from  tlie  school 
committee,  submitted  a  code  of  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
Grammar  Schools  in  town,  which  were  adopted.  There  were  thirteen 
rules,  in  substance  as  follows :  — 

1.  None  should  be  admitted  into  the  Grammar  Schools  but  such  as 
could  with  a  degi-ee  of  readiness  read  words  of  two  sylables.  All  "  under 
this  description"  were  to  be  provided  for  by  employing  school-mistresses. 

2.  From  May  1st  to  September  1st,  the  schools  should  commence  at 
8  A.  M.,  and  2  P.  M.,  and  close  at  12  M.,  and  6  P.  M.  ;  and  from  Septem- 
ber to  May,  should  begin  at  9  A.  M.,  and  1^  P.  M.,  and  close  at  12  M., 
and  4J  P.  M. 

3.  There  should  be  no  school  kept  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturdays,  and 
Lecture-days,  nor  on  the  day  of  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  the 
annual  Election  day,  the  4th  of  July,  and  Tuesday,  AVednesday,  and 
Thursday  of  Commencement  Week  at  Cambridge. 

4.  The  schools  should  be  divided  into  two  or  more  classes.  The  senior 
class  only  to  be  taught  writing  and  arithmetic.  The  Lower  class  or  classes 
to  be  wholly  employed  in  reading  and  spelling. 

5.  Particular  attention  was  to  be  given  in  the  upper  class  to  punctua- 
tion, "  that  in  reading  they  may  be  taught  to  observe  the  Stops  and  points, 
notes  of  affection  and  interrogation,  accenting  and  Emphasising." 

6.  The  upper  class  "  should  be  initiated  into  the  principals  of  English 
Grammer,  and  for  this  purpose,  those  Eulcs  which  are  contained  in  our 


456  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

English  Spelling  Books  should  he  marked  loj  the  Master,"  and  a  lesson 
^  required  daily. 

7.  The  second  class  were  each  to  bring  one  or  more  answers  daily  "  out 
of  such  Catechisms  as  shall  be  directed  by  their  Parents  or  Guardians. 

8.  A  uniformity  of  books  was  to  be  required.  If  the  parent  or  guar- 
dian was  unable  to  purchase,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  provide  the 
books. 

9.  The  schoolswere  to  be  "  opened  in  the  morning,  and  closed  in  the 
evening  by  the  school  master  with  an  Act  of  Eeligion,  reading  a  portion 
of  the  Bible  every  morning,  accompanied  with  an  Address  to  Grod  in  Prayer, 
and  closing  every  evening  with  Prayer." 

10.  Quarterly,  or  at  least  semi-annually,  the  master  should  appoint 
several  of  the  senior  class  "  to  exhibit  specimens  of  their  acquirements  in 
learning  in  the  presence  of  the  Committee  at  the  time  of  their  visiting  the 
school,  in  a  way  of  Public  Speaking." 

11.  That  from  May  to  September  one  hour  in  the  forenoon,  and  the 
same  in  the  afternoon,  be  specially  "  appro j)riated  for  the  instruction  of 
the  young  Misses  or  Females ;  that  of  consequence  the  Common  School  be 
dismissed  daily  for  such  a  period,  at  1 1  oclk,  in  the  forenoon,  &  a  like 
hour  in  the  afternoon,"  to  give  time  for  that  purpose. 

12.  The  master  was  recommended  to  consider  himself  as  in  the  place  of 
a  parent  to  the  children  under  his  care,  and  endeavor  to  convince  them  by 
mild  treatment  that  he  felt  a  parental  affection  for  them ;  that  he  be  spar- 
ing as  to  threatenings,  or  promises,  but  punctual  in  the  execution  of  the 
one,  and  the  performance  of  the  other;  that  he  never  make  dismission 
from  school  at  an  earlier  hour  than  usual,  a  reward  for  attention  or  dili- 
gence, but  endeavor  to  lead  them  to  consider  being  at  school  a  privilege,  and 
dismission  from  it  as  a  punishment ;  that  he  never  strike  the  children  on 
the  head,  either  with  the  hand  or  any  instrument,  nor  allow  one  scholar 
to  inflict  corporeal  punishment  on  another ;  that  when  circumstances 
admit,  he  suspend  inflicting  punishment  until  some  time  after  the  offence 
is  committed ;  that  as  far  as  it  is  practicable,  he  exclude  corporeal  punish- 
ment from  the  school,  and  particularly,  that  he  never  inflict  it  on  females ; 
that  he  introduce  such  rewards  as  are  adapted  to  stimulate  the  "ingenaus 
passions"  of  the  children ;  and  that  he  inculcate  upon  the  scholars  the 
propriety  of  good  behavior  during  their  absence  from  school. 

13.  Saturdays,  in  the  forenoon,  the  master  was  to  instruct  his  scholars 
in  some  catechism,  and  address  them  on  moral  and  religious  subjects, 
endeavoring  to  impress  upon  their  minds  "  a  sense  of  the  being  and  Provi- 
dence of  God,  and  the  obligations  they  are  under  to  Love  Serve  and  to 


HISTORY   01"   HAVERHILL.  457 

pray  to  liim  ;  their  duty  to  tlieir  Parents  and  masters  ;  the  Beauty  and 
■excellence  of  truth,  justice,* and  mutual  Love;  tenderness  to  Brute  Crea- 
tures, and  the  sinfulness  of  tormenting  them,  and  wantingly  destroying 
their  Lives ;  the  happy  tendency  of  Sdf-Grovernment,  and  Obedience  to 
the  dictates  of  Eeason,  and  Eeligion;  the  duty  which  they  owe  their 
Country,  and  the  Necessity  of  a  Strict  Obedience  to  its  Laws  ;  and  that 
he  Caution  them  against  the  prevailing  Vices,  such  as  Sabbath  Breaking, 
profane  cursing  and  Swearing,  Gaming,  Idleness,  Writing  obscene  Words 
on  the  Fences,  &c." 

Large  as  has  been  the  progress  and  improvement  in  our  school  system 
since  these  first  regulations  were  framed,  we  can  hardly  claim  an  advance 
on  the  two  last  rules.  They  cover  the  whole  ground,  and  scarce  leave 
room  for  improvement. 

In  1791,  the  town  voted  to  send  an  additional  Eepresentative  to  the 
General  Court,  provided  it  should  not  be  any  expense  to  the  town.  Sam- 
uel Blodgett  was  chosen ;  and  we  have  it  from  tradition  that  at  the  next 
annual  town  meeting  he  counted  out  the  money  he  received  for  the  service, 
and  laid  it  upon  the  table,  refusing  to  retain  a  penny. 

A  proposition  having  been  made  for  building  a  bridge  across  the  Merri- 
mack, at  Deer  Island,  this  town  and  Salisbury  remonstrated  strongly 
against  it.  One  objection  made  was,  that  the  piers  would  lessen  the  tide 
up  the  river  !  The  committee  of  this  town  say  that  there  was  not  more 
than  nine  feet  of  water  over  the  shoals  in  common  tides,  and  they  feared 
it  would  be  greatly  lessened  if  the  proposed  bridge  should  be  built. 

At  a  town  meeting,  December  12th,  (1791,)  a  j^roposition  was  made  to 
divide  the  town  into  school  districts,  and  a  committee  of  twelve  were 
chosen  for  the  purpose,  Samuel  Walker,  Chairman.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting,  December  2Gth,  the  committee  reported  a  recommendation  that 
each  of  the  four  parishes  be  erected  into  a  distinct  school  district,  with 
full  power  to  build  school  houses,  employ  teachers,  raise  money  to  pay  for 
the  same,  and  to  subdivide  the  parish  into  smaller  school  districts  ad- 
libitum.  If  any  parish  neglected  to  provide  a  school,  according  to  the 
law,  the  selectmen  were,  directed  to  do  it,  and  assess  the  district  for  the 
expenses.     The  report  was  adopted. 

The  occasion  of  this  action  of  the  town  was  a  legislative  act  passed  in 
June  1789,  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  instruction  of  youth,  and 
for  the  promotion  of  good  Education."  By  this  act,  towns  were  authorized 
to  determine  the  limits  of  school  districts,  and  districts  thus  erected  were 
authorized  to  assess  a  tax  to  support  a  "  schoolmaster,"  &c. 
58 


458  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL 

From  the  above  report,  we  learn,  that  "  in  the  Western  part  of  the 
Town,  a  number  of  School  Houses  have  lately  been  erected,  at  their  own 
expense." 

At  the  next  annual  meeting,  the  selectmen,  the  clergj-men,  and  seven 
other  persons  were  made  a  committee  to  inspect  the  schools  in  the  town.=~= 
At  an  adjourned  meeting,  it  was  voted,  that  school  district  No.  1  should 
have  one  or  more  school-houses ;  No.  2,  four ;  No.  3,  three ;  and  No.  4, 
one.     £350  were  appropriated  for  building  new  school-houses. 

The  same  year  (1792)  the  town  was  divided  into  nineteen  highway 
districts.  A  petition  was  received  for  a  highway  from  Thomas  "Whittier's 
(now  J.  B.  Spiller's)  in  a  direct  line  to  Muliken's  ferry,  but  it  was  decided 
to  be  inexpedient.!  At  the  same  time,  it  was  ordered  that  the  "plain 
gate  "  (that  near  Eev.  Mr.  Keely's,"  on  the  bank  of  the  river)  be  kept  in 
repair,  so  that  the  river's  bank  might  be  used  as  "  a  bridle  way." 

Among  the  petitions  presented  to  the  selectmen  this  year,  we  find  one 
signed  by  Samuel  Blodgett  and  eighteen  of  the  principal  citizens  of  the 
village,  praying  that  a  town  meeting  may  be  called  to  see  if  the  town 
"  would  permit  Innoculation  to  take  place  in  said  town  provided  a  conven- 
ient place  can  be  procured  for  that  purpose  in  said  Town."  The  reason 
offered  was,  that  the  small  pox  was  in  the  town  of  Boston,  and  other 
adjacent  towns,  and  that  "  a  great  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Haverhill  are  determined  to  go  from  thence  to  Boston  to  receive  the 
same  by  Innoculation  unless  they  are  permitted  to  be  Innoculated  in 
their  own  Town." 

A  meeting  was  called,  but  the  town  refused  to  repair  the  jiest-house,  or 
to  allow  innoculation  to  be  performed  in  the  town.  As  a  consequence, 
many  persons  went  to  Boston  for  that  purpose.  In  November,  another 
meeting  was  called,  and  it  was  voteci  to  provide  a  hospital  for  innoculation 
in  the  town.  A  few  weeks  later  it  was  voted  not  to  allow  the  thing  to  be 
done  in  the  town. 

In  1793,  President  Washington  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  recommending  that  during  the  then  existing  war  in 
Europe,  they  should  preserve  a  strict  neutrality.  On  the  reception  of  the 
proclamation  in  this  town,  a  town  meeting  was  called,  and  resolutions 
adopted  approving  the  course  of  the  President,  and  agreeing  to  abide  by 
Ms  recommendations. 

o  One  year  still  later,  a  committee  was  chosen  for  each  school  district;  and  this  continued  to  be  the 
practice  for  many  years. 

t  The  portion  between  Mr.  Spiller's  and  "  Tilton's  Corner,"  was  finally  laid  out  about  1835. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  459 

On  tlie  6  th  of  September,  of  the  above  year,  occurred  an  event  of  no 
Small  importance  in  the  town.  This  was  no  less  than  the  publication  of  a 
newspaper, -—the  first  ever  printed  in  the  town.  It  was  "  published  by 
E  Ladd  &  S  Bragg,"  and  styled  the  Guardian  of  Freedom.  It  was  issued 
weekly,  at  "  nine  shillings  per  annum,"  and  edited  by  Benjamin  Edes,  Jr." 
It  advocated  federal  politics^ 

Cotemporancous  with  the  first  stage  coach  and  the  first  newspaper,  was 
the  erection  of  the  first  bridge  across  the  Merrimack,  in  this  town.  The 
Haverhill  bridge  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  179-t.f  It  was  erected  on 
three  arches  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  each,  supported  by  three 
handsome  stone  piers  forty  feet  square.  It  had  as  many  defensive  piers, 
or  sterlings,^extending  fifty  feet  above,  and  a  draw  of  thirty  feet  over  the 
channel.  It  was  built  on  the  plan  of  Timothy  Palmer.  Moody  Spofford, 
of  Georgetown,  was  the  chief  engineer  in  its  erection.  Palmer  was  an 
a.pprentice  to  Spofford  when  he  made  his  invention. 

At  the  time  of  its  erection,  the  bridge  was  considered  a  marvel  of 
mechanical  ingenuity  and  skill ;  and  to  this  day,  though  divested  of  much 
of  its  beautiful  proportion,  it  is  surpassed  by  but  few  in  the  country. 

Dr.  Dwight,  who  saw  it  in  179G,  thus  describes  it:| 

"  The  strength  of  the  Haverhill  bridge  may  be  conjectured  from  the 
following  fact.  Six  gentlemen  placed  themselves  together  upon  an  exact 
model  of  one  of  the  arches,  ten  feet  in  length  ;  in  which  the  largest  pieces 
of  timber  were  half  an  inch  square,  and  the  rest  smaller  in  proportion. 
Yet  not  the  least  injury  was  done  to  the  model.  Of  this  fact  I  was  a 
witness  ;  and  was  informed  by  the  gentlemen  present,  that  eleven  persons 
had,  a  few  days  before,  stood  together  upon  the  same  model,  with  no  other 
■effect,  than  compacting  it  more  firmly  together.  The  eleven  were  supposed 
to  weigh  at  least  sixteen  hundred  pounds.  No  bridge  which  I  have  ever 
seen,  except  that  over  the  Piscataqua,  can  be  compared  with  this,  as  a  fine 
object  to  the  eye.  The  arches  above,  and  below,  have  a  degree  of  boldness 
and  grandeur,  unrivalled  in  this  country.  Every  part  of  the  work  is 
executed  with  exactness  and  strength  on  the  one  hand,  and  on  the  other 
with  great  neatness  and  beauty.  "When  we  saw  it,  it  was  new,  perfectly 
white,  and  brilliant,  without  that  dullness  which  springs  from  the  decays 
of  time.§ 

*  For  a  more  particular  account  of  this  paper,  see  "  Newspapers,"  in  tlie  Appendix. 

t  Soon  as  it  was  passable,  Judith  Whiting,  then  in  her  hundredth  year,  walked  over  it  unaided.  The 
old  lady  died  soon  after,  wanting  twelve  days  to  complete  a  century. 

X  Dwight's  Travels. 

§  In  a  note  to  the  above,  Dr.  Dwight  adds,  —  "  In  the  year  1812,  1  found  the  arched  work  of  this 
bridge  above  taken  down,  and  with  it  a  large  proportion  of  its  fine  appearance  gone." 


460  mSTORY    OF   nATERniLI, 

I  have  since  learned,  that  it  is  too  nicely  built,  and  has  suffered  some 
decay  by  the  retention  of  water  in  the  joints,  and  elsewhere. 

It  was  long  doubted  whether  a  bridge  could  be  so  constructed,  as  to 
resist  the  ice  of  the  Merrimack.  The  stream  is  rapid  ;  and  the  climate  so 
cold,  as  to  produce,  annually,  thick  and  firm  ice.  But  the  doubt  has  van- 
ished. Seven  bridges  have  been  built  on  this  stream :  and  not  one  of 
them  has  been  carried  away.  The  defensive  piers  have  proved  an  effectual 
secui-ity  against  this  evil.  These  are  formed  in  the  figure  of  a  half  pyra- 
mid ;  the  base  a  semi-rhombus ;  and  are  strongly  fortified  with  iron. 
When  the  ice  descends  in  large  floats  against  this  pier ;  it  rises  on  the 
oblique  front ;  and  breaking  by  its  own  weight,  easily  passes  between  the 
principal  piers  ;  and  is  thus  rendered  harmless."  ^ 

Dr.  S]3offord,  the  veteran  editor  of  the  Haverhill  Gazette,  in  that  paper 
of  March  2d,  1860,  gives  the  following  interesting  reminiscences  of 
Haverhill  in  1794:  — 

"  Haverhill  village  at  this  time  consisted  of  Merrimack,  Water,  and 
Main  streets,  and  the  only  brick  building  in  the  village  was  part  of  Sheriff 
Bartlett's  house,  so  long  and  so  lately  and  so  well  occupied  by  Dr.  Longley. 
A  row  of  small  wooden  stores  occujjied  the  river  bank,  above  the  bridge, 
in  one  of  which  David  How,  Esq.,  and  in  another,  Moses  Atwood,  father 
of  HaiTiet  (Atwood)  Newell,  kept  stores  at  that  time. 

About  this  time  a  three-story  brick  store,  perhaps  sixty  feet  long,  and 
forty  feet  deep,  was  built  by  Mr.  Howe  and  Phineas  Carleton,  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  street,"'  of  which  Mr.  How  occupied  what  is  now  two  stores, 
or  about  forty  feet  square,  and  Mr.  Carleton  twenty  by  forty,  and  from 
Mr.  Carleton's  store,  which  was  the  southerly  one,  it  was  vacant  land  to 
the  corner.  From  the  corner  lot  a  house  had  been  burnt  some  years  before, 
belonging,  we  think,  to  Esquire  White,!  ^  citizen  long  well  known,  and 
possibly  yet  remembered  by  some  in  Haverhill. 

Those  who  have  the  curiosity  to  ascertain  which  of  the  stores  now  in 
that  range  was  once  owned  and  occupied  by  Phineas  Carleton,  may  know 
how  much  land  on  Main  and  Merrimack  streets  was  permitted  to  lay 
vacant  after  a  fire,  till  it  was  covered  with  mouldering  ruins  and  tall 
weeds. 

The  old  First  Parish,  and  the  .Baptist  churches  then  furnished  ample 
accommodations,  though  a  much  larger  portion  of  the  people  then  were 
constant  attendants  at  church  than  at  present. 

o  The  block  now  occupied  by  John  Davis,  Willett  <t  Co.,  and  others, 
t  Samuel  White,  Esq.  , 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  461 

Mr.  Shaw  preached  at  the  Congregational,  and  Mr  Smith  at  the  Baptist 
church.  Mrs.  Shaw  was  a  Smith,  and  sister  of  the  wife  of  President  John 
Adams.  AVc  can  just  recollect  hearing  of  the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  Shaw, 
in  connection  with  which  an  anecdote  was  current  many  years  ago  ;  that 
Hex.  Stephen  Peabody,  of  Atkinson,  had  started  that  morning,  upon  the 
recommendation  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw,  to  make  proposals  to  a  lady  in 
Newbury  said  to  resemble  Mrs.  Shaw,  but  meeting  the  news  of  Mr.  Shaw's 
death,  turned  short  about,  and  after  waiting  due  time,  made  proposals  and 
married  the  widow  ! 

At  the  opening  of  the  Andover  and  Haverhill  railroad,  now  the  Boston 
and  Maine,  a  celebration  was  held,  and  a  collation  was  given,  and  speeches 
made,  in  the  Haverhill  Academy  Hall,  at  which,  among  many  good  things 
said,  Hon.  Leverett  Saltonstall,  of  Salem,  a  native  of  Haverhill,  gave  a 
humorous  description  of  the  excitement  here,  when  a  four  horse  stage  was 
set  up,  from  this  town  to  Concord ;  how  the  boys  collected  to  view  the 
unaccustomed  sight,  and  listening  to  hear  the  bells  with  which  the  horses 
were  ornamented,  by  the  time  they  got  to  "  McFarland's,"  ran  to  meet 
them  far  up  on  the  plains." 

Dr.  Dwight,  who  visited  the  town  about  this  time,  thus  speaks  of  it : 

"The  manners  of  the  inhabitants,  in  general,  are  very  civil,  and  be- 
coming. Those  of  the  most  respectable  people  are  plain,  frank,  easy  and 
unaffected.  Both  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  are  well-bred,  and  intelligent ; 
and  reccommend  themselves  not  a  little  to  the  esteem,  and  attachment  of 
a  traveller.  We  saw  at  the  Church  a  numerou^^ongregation,  well  dressed, 
decorous  and  reverential  in  their  deportment." 

"  I  was  informed  by  unquestionable  authority,  that  in  a  small  lake  in 
this  town,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  at  a 
little  distance  from  the  river,  there  is  an  island,  which  has  immemorially 
floated  from  one  shore  to  another,  whenever  it  was  impelled  by  a  violent 
wind.  Lately  it  has  adhered  for  a  considerable  time  to  a  single  spot ;  and 
may  perhaps  be  so  firmly  fixed  on  the  shelving  bottom,  as  to  move  no  more 
hereafter.  Several  trees,  and, shrubs,  grow  on  its  surface  ;  and  it  is  cov- 
ered with  a  fresh  verdure." 

That  the  Doctor's  authority  was  "  unquestionable,"  may  be  safely 
judged  from  the  following  extract  from  a  communication  received  by  the 
writer,  a  few  weeks  since,  (1860)  from  John  Bartlett,  Esq.,  of  Eox- 
bury  :  — -  ' 

°  To  Mr.  Eartktt,  (who  is  a  son  of  Israel  Bartlett,  of  this  town,)  we  arc  greatly  indebted  for  numerous 
favors  received  while  engaged  in  compiling  this  history.  His  kind  efforts  in  our  behalf  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten. 


462  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

"  As  it  respects  the  floating  island,  or  islands  formerly  seen  in  Little  or 
Plug  Pond ;  the  fact  must  be  "well  remembered  b}-^  many  of  the  older  men 
of  Haverhill  village,  Mr.  Robt.  Willis,  Mr.  Phineas  Carleton,  Mr.  Hazen 
Morse, •'  and  others.  According  to  my  recollection  there  were  two  islands ; 
the  smallest  had  a  maple  tree  on  it  of  two  or  three  inches  diameter ;  this 
was  broken  up  and  destroyed  long  before  the  larger  one,  which  continued 
for  years,  and  at  last  grounded  when  the  pond  was  full,  at  the  east  end  un- 
der the  hill,  where  no  wind  could  reach,  to  drive  it  off;  as  the  water  fell, 
the  island  became  rooted  to  the  gi-ound ;  when  the  water  rose,  the  next 
season  it  flooded  the  island,  and  it  soon  broke  up.  I  should  say  that  the 
larger  island  was  60  feet  long  by  15  or  20  broad;  on  the  borders  were 
bushes,  such  as  formerly  grew,  standing  in  the  water  at  the  western  end 
of  the  pond.  The  island  was  composed  of  a  soggy  mass  of  fine  vegetable 
matter,  of  sufiScient  firmness  to  sustain  the  boys  who  were  frequently  on 
it ;  they  would  sink  down  a  few  inches,  the  water  oozing  up  around  their 
feet. 

"  As  you  will  see,  I  have  scratched  out  a  sort  of  Diagram  of  the  pond, 
by  no  means  accurate,  but  it  will  show  you,  however,  the  difi'erent  posi- 
tions, where  I  have  seen  the  larger  of  the  two  islands  ;  many  a  time  have 
I  been  on  it  and  gathered  cranberries ;  and  when  it  was  situated  at  the 
entrance  towards  the  Plug,  where  it  stood  for  a  whole  season,  I  frequented 
it  for  the  purpose  of  fishing,  from  its  outer  side,  from  an  opening  in  the 
bushes.  I  have  marked  the  spot  on  the  diagram,  thus  (2) .  Mr,  Hazen 
Morse  will  remember  bein^on  the  island  while  it  lay  there.  As  the  inner 
edge  of  the  island  did  not  come  to  dry  land,  the  boys  placed  some  rails  to 
assist  in  getting  on  and  off.  In  1827  I  saw  the  rudiment  of  a  new  island 
afloat  at  the  east  end  of  the  pond ;  it  was  perhaps  6  or  7  feet  long  ;  what 
became  of  it  I  don't  know  —  some  bushes  were  on  it.  So  much  for  the 
rioating  Island."! 

Believing  it  would  add  to  the  interest  of  Mr.  Bartlett's  pleasant  sketch 
of  these  islands,  we  have  procured  the  following  engraving,  showing  the 
positions  of  the  larger  island  as  seen  by  him  at  vari- 
ous times.  Figure  "  1  "  indicates  a  place  where  Mr. 
Bartlett  remembers  to  have  seen  the  island;  "2" 
indicates  the  place  where  the  island  remained  an  en- 
tire season,  during  which  time  Mr.  Bartlett,  and 
others,  fished  from  its  outer  edge.  Figure  "3" 
shows  where  the  island  finally  grounded,  and  was  broken  up. 

o  Mr.  Morse  confirms  the  statements  of  Mr.  Bartlett,  and  distinctly  remembers  fishing  from  the  edg« 
of  the  floating  island, 
t  Mr.  Bartlett  adds,  in  a  note,  — "The  larger  island  became  extinct,  I  think,  about  the  year  1800," 


HISTORY   OF   HATERHILL.  463 

As  a  fitting  accompaniment  to  fixe  above  interesting  reminiscenses  of 
Haverhill  in  the  last  century,  we  give  the  following  extract,  from  "  The 
American  Gazetteer,"  by  Jedidiah  Morse,  D.D.,  printed  in  Boston,  1797  : 

Haverhill,  a  handsome  post-town  of  Massachusetts,  in  Essex  County, 
situated  on  the  N.  side  of  Merrimack  Eiver,  across  which  is  an  elegant 
bridge,  connecting  this  town  with  Bradford,  650  feet  long  and  34  wide. 
It  has  3  arches  of  180  feet  each,  supported  by  3  handsome  stone  piers,  40 
feet  square  ;  also  a  draw  of  30  feet,  over  the  channel  of  the  river.  Haver- 
hill has  a  considerable  inland  trade,  lying  about  32  miles  N.  by  W.  of 
Boston,  and  1 2  miles  from  ISTewburyport,  at  the  mouth  of  th^  river,  and 
about  28  S.  W.  of  Portsmouth  in  New-Hampshire.  It  lies  chiefly 
upon  two  streets ;  the  principal  of  which  runs  parallel  with  the  river. 
Yessels  of  100  tons  burden  can  go  up  to  it.  Travellers  are  struck  with 
the  pleasantness  of  the  situation  ;  and  a  number  of  neat  and  well  finished 
houses  give  it  an  air  of  elegance.  Here  are  two  churches,  one  for  Congre- 
gationalists,  and  one  for  Baptists ;  3  distilleries,  one  of  which  has  lately 
undergone  a  laudable  transmutation  into  a  brewery.  Some  vessels  are 
annually  built  here,  and  several  are  employed  in  the  "West  India  trade. 
A  manufactory  of  sail-cloth  was  begun  here  in  1789,  and  is  said  to  be  in 
a  promising  way.  The  trade  of  the  place,  however,  is  considerably  less 
than  before  the  revolution.  The  whole  township  contains  330  houses,  and 
2,408  inhabitants."- 

In  1795,  by  order  of  the  General  Court,  the  selectmen  caused  a  plan  of 
the  town  to  be  taken  for  the  State.  The  surveys  were  made  by  James  C. 
McFarland,  and  Josiah  Xoyes.  According  to  their  report,  the  town  con- 
tained fourteen  thousand  acres,  including  ponds  and  roads.  "  Great  Pond  " 
is  put  down  as  covering  three  hundred  acres;  "Creek  Pond  "  the  same; 
"  Little  Pond  "  eighty  acres  ;  and  "  Ayer's  Pond  "  seventy  acres.  The 
island  in  the  Pdver  is  marked  fifty  acres.  Eussell's  Perry,  (now  "  Chain 
Ferry,")  and  Cottle's  Perry,  were  the  only  ones  then  in  use  in  the  town.f 
Little  River  was  then  called  "  West  Eiver." 

In  the  spring  of  1796,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  startled  by  the 
frequency  of  incendiarism.  So  serious  did  the  matter  become,  that  a  town 
meeting  was  held ;  a  reward  of  three  hundred  dollars  ofi'ered  for  the  dis- 

"  By  the  preface,  we  find  that  the  Census  is  taken  from  the  official  enumeration  of  1790. 

t  Swett's  ferry,  at  the  Rocks,  had  just  been  superseded  by  Merrimack  Bridge,  which  was  completed 
the  same  fall.  This  bridge  was  one  thousand  feet  in  length,  and  was  the  longest  over  the  Merrimack.  It 
had  four  arches,  a  draw,  and  was  supported  by  five  piers  and  two  abutments.  There  was  but  little  travel 
over  the  bridge,  and  the  proprietors  snftered  it  to  fall  to  decay.  It  was  swept  away  by  the  ice  in  1818. 
The  present  bridge  at  that  place  was  built  in  1828. 


4G4:  HISTORY    OF   HAYERHILL. 

covery  of  the  offenders,  and  a  watch  ordered  to  be  kept.     These  vigorous 
measures  had  the  desired  effect,  and  we  hear  of  no  more  like  depredations. 

May  2d,  of  the  same  year,  a  meeting  was  held  to  see  what  the  town 
would  do  in  relation  to  the  withholding  of  supplies  by  the  national  House 
of  Representatives,  so  as  to  render  it  impossible  for  the  President  to  carry' 
into  effect  the  treaty  with  Great  Britain.  Bailey  Bartlett  was  chosen  to 
draft  a  memorial  to  the  above  body,  which  was  adopted  by  the  town, 
signed  by  four  hundred  and  eight  inhabitants  of  the  town,  of  more  than 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  sent  to  Congress.  The  memorial  strongly 
urges  upon»the  honorable  body  the  impoitance  and  duty  of  faithfully  car- 
rying into  effect  all  the  provisions  of  the  treaty,  that  the  federal  govern- 
ment might  not  be  embarrassed,  or  weakened,  and  the  honor  of  the  United 
States,  as  a  young  Eepublic,  might  be  well  established. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  a  "  malignant  fever  "  made  its  appearance 
in  several  towns  in  the  vicinity,  and  carried  off  large  numbers.  In  August 
it  visited  this  town,  and  spread  alarm  and  terror  throughout  its  whole 
length  and  breadth.  A  town  meeting  was  called,  and  a  committee  of 
thirteen  chosen  to  take  measures  to  prevent  its  further  introduction  into 
the  town.  Baily  Bartlett  was  chairman.  Fortunately,  the  measures 
adopted  proved  successful  in  staying  the  progress  of  the  disease,  and  but 
few  of  the  inhabitants  were  numbered  among  its  victims. 

In  the  fall  of  the  above  year,  the  town  ordered  a  stone  pound  to  be 
built.  It  was  set  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  house  of  A.  B.  Jaques, 
Esq.,  Main  Street,  and  was  demolished  about  the  year  1850,  when  the 
present  wooden  structure,  on  Dow  Street,  was  erected  in  its  place.  The 
first  pound-keeper  was  Deacon  Samuel  Ames. 

From  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen  to  settle  with  the  town  officers 
for  the  year  ending  March,  1798,  we  learn  that  the  indebtedness  of  the 
town  at  that  time  was  $2,350,00.  For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of 
the  town,  the  committee  recommended  specific  appropriations  for  the  cur- 
rent year.     Their  recommendations  were  adopted. =•= 

The  first  written  school  report  made  to  the  town,  was  by  Eev.  Hezekiah 
Smith,  this  year  (1798).  Mr.  Smith  was  chairman  of  the  school  commit- 
tee for  the  1st  District. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Eepublic,  it  was  a  common  custom  for  towns 
to  discuss  the  affairs  of  the  nation  in  their  town  meetings,  and  approve  or 

°  Fourteen  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  poor;  one  thousand  dollars  toward 
the  cxlintpiishnient  of  the  town  debt ;  one  thousand  dollars  for  hiijhwaj-s ;  and  six  hundred  dollars  for 
schools.  The  Belectmen  were  ordered  to  hold  regular  monthly  meetings ;  a  new  set  of  town  books  were 
procured,  and  a  new  plan  for  keeping  the  town  accounts  agreed  to. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  465 

disapprove  of  public  acts  and  measures  with  entire  freedom.  The  follow- 
ing address  from  this  town  to  the  President, — John  Adams, — is  an 
illustration :  — 

"  While  we  disapprove  of  an  interference  of  the  people  with  the  admin- 
istration of  our  National  Grovcrnment,  we  consider  it  our  duty,  at  this 
time,  to  assure  you  thaf  the  measures  you  have  adopted  and  pursued  as 
first  Magistrate  of  the  Union,  have  uniformly  met  our  hearty  concurrence. 
In  full  confidence  that  those  measures  have  been  dictated  by  wisdom,  and 
the  purest  principles  of  patriotism,  we  cannot  withhold  the  expression  of 
our  grateful  thanks  for  your  undeviating  firmness  in  their  execution  — 
your  late  exertions  to  redress  our  wrongs — to  accommodate  differences 
unhappily  existing  between  this  country  and  the  French  Kepublic  —  to 
conciliate  the  affections  of  our  Allies — -to  preserve  our  neutrality — to 
establish  our  peace  and  happiness  —  and  above  all  to  support  the  indepen- 
dence, dignity,  and  freedom  of  the  United  States,  afford  the  highest 
evidence  of  the  justice  and  wisdom  of  your  administration;  and  demands 
in  an  eminent  degree,  the  gratitude  of  every  patriotic  citizen. 

"  We  humbly  deprecate  the  calamities  of  war — but  when  the  safety, 
the  independence,  the  freedom  of  our  country  require,  under  the  directions 
of  the  Government  of  our  choice,  imploring  a  blessing  from  heaven,  we  are 
prepared,  with  our  property  and  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives,  to  support  our 
Government,  to  vindicate  our  rights,  and  to  defend  our  country." 

This  letter  was  transmitted  to  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett,  then  Eepresentative 
to  Congress,  and  by  him  to  the  President.'  The  following  is  the  President's 
reply : — 

"  To  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Haverhill  in  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

"  Gentlsmen  :  —  I  thank  you  for  a  respectable  and  affectionate  address, 
Vhich  has  been  presented  to  me  by  Mr.  Bartlett,  your  Eepresentative  in 
Congress, 

"  The  interference  of  the  people  with  the  administration  of  the  National 
Government,  in  ordinary  cases,  would  be,  not  only  useless  and  unnecessary, 
but  very  inconvenient  and  expensive  to  them,  if  not  calculated  to  disturb 
the.  public  councils  with  prejudices,  passions,  local  views,  and  partial 
interests,  which  would  better  be  at  rest.  But  there  are  some  great  con- 
junctions in  which  it  is  proper,  and  in  such  a  government  as  ours,  perhaps 
necessary.     If  ever  such  an  occasion  can  occur,  the  present  is  one. 

"  Your  assurance  to  me  that  the  measures  I  have  adopted  as  first  Mag- 
istrate of  the  Union,  have  uniformly  met  your  hearty  concurrence ;  and 
59 


466 


HISTORY    OF   HAYERIIILI, 


your  declaration  that  you  are  prepared  with  your  property,  and  at  the 
hazard  of  your  lives,  to  support  your  Government,  vindicate  your  rights, 
and  defend  your  country,  are  to  me  a  great  consolation. 

"John  Adam?. 

"  Philadelphia,  June  6,  '98." 

The  following  table,  showing  the  number  and  valuation  of  the  dwelling 
houses  in  Haverhill,  in  1798,  with  the  name  of  each  owner,  and  occupant, 
wc  have  prepared  from  the  official  returns,  and  believe  it  to  be  well  worth 
a  place  in  a  history  of  the  town :  — 

Housckolders  in  HaverJdll,  1798.'' 
"  General  List  of  all  Dwell'mg  Houses,  which  with  the  Out  Houses 
appurtenant  thereto,  and  the  Lots,  on  which  the  same  are  erected,  not 
exceeding  two  Acres  in  any  Case,  were  owned,  possessed  or  occupied  on 
the  1st  day  of  October  1798,  within  the  Assessment  District  No  1  in  the 
3d  Division  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  exceeding  in  value  the  sum  of 
One  Hundred  Dollars." 


Names  of  Reputed  Omicrs. 

Ayer  Samuel 
Ayer  James 
1 — Abbot  Abigail 

Appleton  Daniel 
2 — Appleton  Daniel 
3 — Appleton  Daniel 
Ayer  John  A 
Ajer  Nathan 
Ayer  James 
Atwood  Moses 
.  f  Atwood  Moses  ) 
(  Harris  Abial    ) 
Atwood  Joseph 
Abbot  Abial 
Ayer  Moses 
Ayer  Obadiah  ) 
Ayer  James     | 
Ayer  Jonathan 
5 — Ayer  Peter 
6 — Ayer  Jonathan 
Ayer  John 
Ayer  Peter  Jun 
Ayer  Simen 
Adams  Phineas 
Ayer  Peter 


Valufifion 
iu  Doll's. 

200 

190    7 

5ri0 

1200 
450 

200   8 
400 
850 
200 
850 

1000 
600 
—   9 
400 

375 

200 
120 
140 
220 
600 
600 

350 


Valaation 
iu  Doll's 

380 
GOO 
150 
180 
105 


Names  of  Eepnted  On-ners, 

Bradley  Samuel 

— Bartlett  Enos 

^  Brown  John 
Bradbury  Samuel 
Brown  Edmund 

— Brown  Edmund,  adminis- 
trator 150 
Blodgett  Samxiel  £00 
Brickett  James  )  ,  ^^^ 
Brickett  Daniel  j 
Bernard  Sarah  350 
Bartlet  Bailey  200O 
Bartlett  Israel  950 

—Bartlett  Israel  350 

Bradley  Nathaniel  1000 

Bradley  Peter  550 

Bi'adley  Francis  200 

Bradley  Joseph  275 

^^jBradleyMehitable)  ^^^ 

(  Bradley  Joseph       j 

Bailey  Nathan  350 

Brooks  B  Gotten  800 

11— Burrell  Joseph  400 

Ballard  Ebenezer  120 

Bailey  Nathaniel  200 


°  III  those  cftscs  where  the  owner  is  not  the  occupant,  we  have  prefixed  numerals,  rcfcrrini 
oflluwios,  where  will  be  found  the  name  of  the  occupant  of  the  bouse. 


;  to  the  list 


EISTORY  OP  HAVERHILL. 


467 


14 


■Names  of  Eepnted  Owners. 

12— Bartlet  Bailey 

Bradley  Benjamiu 

13 — Bradley  Benjamin 
Bryant  AVilliam 
Brickct  Barnard 
Bricket  John 
Bradley  Daniel ) 
Cook  Benjamin  j 
Bradley  David 
Bailey  Benjamin 
Bailey  Jonathan 
Bailey  Woodbridge 
Bradley  Isaac 
Bailey  Nathan,  Jnn 
f  Bacheler  William  ) 
(Putnam  Ebenezer  j 
Bradley  Enoch 
Cops  Simeon 
Chase  Daniel 
Chase  Daniel,  Jun 
Carr  Francis 

15 — Carr  Francis 
Chase  Anthony 
Chase  Woodman 
Chase  Joseph. 
Chase  John 
Chase  Leonard 
Chase  Josiali 
Chase  Ephraim 
Chase  William 
Colby  Ephraim 

1&— Colby  Elizabeth 
Currier  Rubin 

17 — Carr  Francis 
Cottle  William 
Cottle  Thomas 
Carleton  Enos 
Clements  Samuel 
Clements  Moses  ) 
Clements  Amos  j 
Cogswell  John 
Cogswell  Thomas 
Chase  Amos 
Carleton  Phineas 
Carleton  Kimbal 
Carleton  Jonathan 
Carleton  Micah 


Valnation 
iu  Doll's 

400 
400 
150 
175 
200 
200 

700 

350 
130 
350 
260 
280 
105 

260 

400 
300 
ISO 
310 
900 
180 
230 
130 
210 
150 
110 
120 
120 
230 
110 
150 
130 
400 
150 
140 
170 
■200 

400 

600 
350 
500 
900 
950 
250 
250 


Names  of  Reputed  Owners. 

Chamberlin  William 
Chickering  John 

18 — Chadwic  James 

19 — Cawlis  John 
Carleton  Aaron 
Clements  John 
Clements  Benjamin 
Clark  Nathaniel 
Corliss  Swadock  John 
Chase  James 
Corliss  Ephraim 
Corliss  John 

20— Carleton  Kimball 
Currier  Jonathan 
Davis  Amos 
Davis  James 
Duncan  James 
Dodge  Joseph 

21— Dustin  &  Treet 
Dusten  David       } 
Dustin  Nathaniel  j 
Dusten  Thomas 
Ela  Jacob 
Elliot  EpTii-aim 
Elliot  Thomas 
Ela  Jonathan 

22— Elliot  Ephraim 

Easterbrooks  Hannah 
Emery  Ephraim 
Emerson  Nehemiah 

23 — Emerson  Nehemiah 
Emerson  Susannah 
Eames  Samuel 

2  4 — Eastman  Ephraim 
Eaton  Joseph 
Eaton  Amos 
Emery  John 
Emerson  Ethemore 

25 — Eaton  Eebecchah 
Emerson  Abraham 
Emerson  Moses,  Jur 
Eaton  Timothy,  Jur 
Emerson  Daniel 
Emerson  Josiah 
Emerson  John 
Eaton  Phineas 
Eaton  Timothy 


Valnfition 
in  Doirs 

750 

700 
450 
500 
250 
175 
450 
ISO 
200 
200 
700 
350 
450 
320 

leo 

290 

1400 

900 

250 

150 

150 
290 
450 
460 
ISO 
110 
250 
600 
400 
SOO 
150 
400 
450 
350 
250 
£00 
SOO 
320 
200 
230 
140 
ISO 
ISO 
220 
200 
400 


463 


HISTORY   OF   HATEKHIII,. 


200 


«            .  -,,       .  1  ^  Vftlnation 

Names  of  Kcputed  Oiniera.  jjj  jy^Wg 

Emery  Moses  320 

McFarland  Moses  250 

26 — Grecnleaf  Dorothy  700 

George  Amos  400 

George  Louis  140 

George  Austin  140 

Greeley  Joseph  220 

Grover  Joseph  1 20 

Gay  Joseph  125 

Gale  Moses  1200 

27— Gale  Moses  300 

28— Gale  Moses  400 

Greenleaf  ^Tilliam  1400 

Gage  Thomas  300 

Gage  Ebenezer  400 

Greenough,  Sally  &  Betsy  400 

Gutridge  Barnard  500 

29 — Green  John  200 

(  Gilc  Amos  ) 

(  Gilc  James  | 

George  Eichard  150 

Goodridge  John  180 

Greenleaf  Caleb  110 

30— Greenleaf  Abel  250 

31 — Greenleaf  Ebenezer  200 

Gilc  John  260 

Hunliin  Jonathan  190 

Hunkin  David  125 

How  David  2000 

Heseltine  James  '  300 

Harrod  Joseph  1000 

Haddock  James  150 

Haynes  Thomas  150 

Hale  Ezekiel  400 

Huse  John  300 

32— Hill 150 

33— Heseltine 200 

Hubbard  David  340 

Heseltine  John  110 

34«_Hoyt  Moses  200 

Heseltine  Ladd  180 

Haynes  Joseph  300 

How  Isaac  540 

Ingals  Henry  400 

Johnson  Thomas  180 

Johnson  Nathaniel  150 

Johnson  John  140 


600 


Names  of  Itepnttd  Owners.  jjj  poU'a 

Johnson  Benjamin  180 

Johnson  John,  Jut  180 

Johnson  Elias  310 

Kelley  Josenh  300 

Kimbal  Cotton  450 

Kimball  David  300 
Kinrick  John       } 
Haddock  Delilah  ) 

Kinrick  Abner  200 

Kent  Justin  550 

Kimball  Solomon  350 

Kimball  Moses  200 

Kezer  Timothy  125 

Kimbal  Eichard  600 

Kimbal  Jonathan  200 

Kimball  Benjamin  250 

35 — Kimbal  Benjamin  150 

36— Kimbal  James  200 

Ladd  Nathaniel  300 

Low  Hannah  £50 

Ladd  Dudley  200 

37 — Lamson  ^\m.  (Heirs  of)    300 

Moody"  Moses  800 

38— Moody  Moses  110 

Morse  Henry  IGO 

39— Morse  Henry  290 

Morse  Oliver  200 

Mansise  Hannah  1200 

Mansise  Simon  1300 

Moors  Benjamin  400 

Moors  Jonathan  200 

40— Mash  David  700 

Mash  Enoch  500 

41— Mash  Nathaniel  300 

Mash  Moses  500 

Mash  Moses,  Jur  500 

Mash  David,  Jur  250 

]\Ic  hard  James  900 

42— Moody  Abigail  150 

MuUin  Eobert  175 

Mash  Cutting  425 

Merrill  Gyles  — 

Merrill  Samuel  500 
Merrill  Samuel,  Jur          150 

Nichols  Phineas  500 

Nichols  Dorothy  160 

Noyes  Eollonsbee  200 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


m 


43. 


44- 


45. 


46- 
47 
48 
49 


Names  of  Reputed  Owners, 

Nichols  Jacob 
Ordway  Benjamin 
Osgood  Abigail 
Osgood  Peter 
Ordway  Benjamin 
Ordway  Edward 
Pike  James 
Page  Caleb 
Page  John  Chapman 
Poyn  Joseph 
Page  Joshua 
Putnam  Oliver 
Plumer  Asa 
Plumer  Thomas 
Poor  John 
Pettingall  Matthew 
Pecker  Euth 
Peabody  Joseph,  Jur 
Page  Dorcas      ) 
Page  Susannah  ) 
Pettingall  Jedediah 
— Pecker  Euth 
Piobinson  Joseph 
Eollins  John 
— Eunnils  Hannah 
Eussel  John 
Eogers  Hannah 
Serjant  Elias 
Sanders  Samuel 
Swan  Francis 
— Serjant  Mary 
Sawyer  Joshua 
Serjant  Mary 
Salistall  Nathaniel 
Souther  Samuel 
Swett  Abraham 
Smiley  William 
Smith  Hezekiah 
— Smith  Hezekiah 
— Smith  Hezekiah 
— Smith  Hezekiah 
— Smith  Hezekiah 
Souther  Jonathan 
Simons  Sarah 
Simson  James 
Southrege  William 
Solay  Nathaniel 


Valnatjon 
in  Doll's 

Nnmes  of  Reputed  Oirnen. 

Vnlnation 
in  Doll's 

500 

Swett  Abial 

250 

170 

1800 

KQ 1 Straw        ) 

(  Johnson  Susannah  j 

120 

1000 

Smiley  Mary 

200 

275 

Sawyer  William 

300 

200 

Simmons  Nchemiah 

150 

120 

Straw  Sherbon 

125 

140 

Swasey  Moses 

150 

120 

Smith  Walker 

200 

650 

Smith  John 

250 

150 

Silver  Daniel 

200 

550 

Stevens  Ephraim 

ISO 

250 

Tyler  Job 

180 

500 

Tompkins  Isaac 

— 

125 

Tucker  Ichabod 

500 

125 

51— Tindle  Niles 

250 

500 

r  Joseph 

300 

Whittier  -  John 

200 

300 

(Moses 
Walker  Nathaniel 

320 

loO 

52— Walker  Samuel 

200 

200 

White  Samuel 

600 

ISO 

White  Samuel,  Jur 

150 

250 

White  John 

2600 

900 

White  Leonard 

700 

400 

53— White  John 

1000 

200 

Willis  Benjamin 

800 

180 

54 — Willis  Benjamin 

200 

135 

West  Henry ") 
West  Mary  | 

1200 

200 

450 

Whittier  Thomas 

300 

250 

Wells  David 

300 

1000 

Woodbury  Hannah 

1500 

3000 

Weed  Joshua 

500 

850 

Winn  David 

150 

1000 

Whitting  John 

125 

250 

Wyman  Jacob 

150 

— 

Walker  Samuel     ) 
Walker  Nathaniel  J 

800 

900 

500 

Watson  George 

600 

300 

Whittiker  William 

300 

200 

Whittiker  Peter 

200 

150 

Webster  Jonathan 

125 

175 

West  Henry 

375 

200 

Webster  Moses 

420 

300 

55— White  Samuel 

200 

125 

Webster  Joshua 

150 

470 


HISTORY   OP   HATERHUL. 


Names  of  Reputed  Owners. 

Webster  Moses,  Jur 
56 — "Webster  Joseph 

Webster  Stephen  3d 
Webster  Stephen  4th 

Signed 


May  6,  1799 

Karnes  of  Occupants. 

1 — James  Walker 
o  f  Hannah  Appleton 

(  Hannah  Osgood 
3— Eliphallet  liuck 
4 — John  Johnson 
5 — James  Smiley 
6 — John  White 
7 — Francis  Bartlett 
8 — John  Brown,  Jur 
9 — Coffin  Dean  Harris 
„  f  Mehi  table  Bradley 

I  Elij^halet  Noyes 
,  j  Joseph  Buvrell 

I  Susannah  Millican 
p  I  John  Kimball 
"^  \  Sarah  Greenleaf 
3 — Joseph  Bradly,  Jur 
4 — William  Bacheler 
»  (  David  Bradbry 
^  I  Nathaniel  Bartlett 
6 — Barnaby  Tyler 
„  I  William  Little 

(  Samuel  Bradley 
8 — Caleb  Lebosquet 
^  (  Nathaniel  Fitz 
'^  (John  Silver 

5 George  W  Hills 
David  Gleson 
Nathaniel  Carvcr(?) 
21 — Nathaniel  Mayhew 
22 — Joseph  Lake 
23 — Amos  Sawj^er 
24— William  F  Fry 
n»  f  Rebekah  Eaton 
"^^  I  Elijah  Eaton 
26 — Zebulun  Ingersoll 


Valnntion 
in  Doll's 

3G0 

2G0 

200 
300 


Names  of  Reputed  Owners. 

AVebster  Isaac 
Webster  David 
Webster  Caleb 


Taluatlon 
in  Doll's 

290 
500 
350 


Webster  Stephen,  Jur        500 
Nathel  Marsh  Principal  Assessor 
Moses  Moody      "^ 

Samel  Walker      J  Assistant 

Enoch  Bradley    )■  Assessors 

William  Russ       I   4th  Assessors  District 


Stephen  "Barker 


3d  Division. 


28 


29 


Names  of  Occupants, 

27 — Benjamin  Chase 

j  Daniel  Adams 

I  David  Webb 

(  John  Green 

(  Moses  Green 
30 — Oliver  Martin 
3 1 — John  Russell 
32 — Oliver  Foster 
33 — James  Heseltine 
34 — Stephen  Corliss 
35 — John  Downing 
36 — Nehemiah  Emerson 
37 — Moses  Mash,  Jur 
38— Samuel  Clark 
39 — David  Morse 
40 — James  Duncan.  Jur 
41 — Jeremiah  Stickney 
,  r)  f  Abigail  Moody 
■^  (  Moses  Moody 
43 — Daniel  Pecker 

f  Hannah  Runniels 

(  Silas  Plumer 
45 — Amos  Serjant 
46 — Jonathan  Smith 
47 — David  Morse 
48 — Asaph  Kendall 
49 — Daniel  Bradbury 

(  William  Smith 

( Straw 

51— Westly  Balch 
52 — William  Edwards 
53 — Benjamin  Willis,  Jur 
54 — Samuel  Blanchard 
55 — John  Downing 
-„  J  John  Webster 

I  Stephen  Webster. 


44 


50 


HISTORY   OF  HAVERHILL.  "  471 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

1800  TO  1815. 


The  opening  of  the  year  1800,  found  tbewtole  American  people  in 
mourning  for  the  loss  of  their  beloved  AVashington."  Never  was  a  mor- 
tal man  more  beloved ;  never  had  a  free  people  greater  cause  for  tears. 
"First  in  war,  first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen," 
the  sudden  death  of  Washington  overshadowed  and  made  trifling  all  other 
Borrows ;  and  from  the  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other,  was  seen  the 
"  mournful  procession,"  and  was  heard  the  solemn  dirge,  and  the  soul- 
moving  eulogy. 

In  these  public  manifestations  of  sorrow,  this  town  took  a  prominent 
part.  The  record  of  January  9th  informs  us  that  a  meeting  of  the  town 
was  held  on  that  day,  "at  the  request  of  James  Brickett,  and  others,"  to 
see  if  the  town  would  take  measures  to  notice  in  an  appropriate  manner 
the  death  of  AVashington.  It  was  decided  to  set  apart  February  22d, 
(the  birth-day  anniversary  of  AVashington,)  as  the  most  fitting  time  for 
that  purpose,  and  a  committee  of  twelve  were  chosen  "  to  determine  in 
what  manner  it  should  be  done."  On  the  day  appointed,  the  inhabitants 
assembled  in  the  old  meeting-house  on  the  common,  where  an  eloquent 
eulogy  was  delivered  by  Eev.  Abiel  Abbot,  and  AVashington's  Farewell 
Address  was  publicly  read.  After  the  services  at  the  meeting-house,  the 
town  again  met,  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  orator  for  his  eloquent 
production,  and  ordered  copies  of  it  to  be  printed,  together  with  "  the 
Invaluable  last  address  of  President  AA'ashington,"  and  distributed  to  each 
family  in  the  town. 

The  first  notice  we  find  in  the  records,  or  elsewhere,  of  a  proposition  to  "H         , 
supply  the  village  with  water  by  means  of  an  acqueduct,  is  in  1798,  when     I    ^/ 
the  town's  Eepresentative,  Nathaniel  Marsh,  was  instructed  "to  oppose     \ 
Osgood's  petition  for  an  Acqueduct "  to  take  water  from  "  the  Pound 
Pond."     The  next  we  hear  of  it,  is  in  1801,  wlien  Benjamin  AA^illis,  Jr., 
Nathan   Ayer,  Samuel  AA'alker,   Jonathan  Souther,  and  Jesse  Harding, 
petitioned  the  toivn   "  for  leave  to  conduct  the  water  by  means  of  an 
acqueduct  from  the  round  pond,  so-called,  into  this  part  of  the  town,  for 

o  George  Washington  died  December  14, 1799. 


472  HISTOBY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

private  and  public  convenience."  The  petition  was  referred  to  a  commit- 
tee, of  whicli  Bailey  Bartlett  was  chairman,  who  reported  that  leave  ought 
to  be  granted  such  a  company,  provided  that  subscription  books  for  the 
stock  were  open  for  all  who  chose  to  take  a  share  ;  that  no  one  should  be 
allowed  to  take  more  than  one  share  until  ninety  days  after  the  book  was 
opened  —  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  remaining  shares  might  be  taken 
by  any  of  the  subscribers ;  and  that  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  com- 
pany be  offered  to  the  town  for  their  approbation. 

The  company  was  organized  the  same  year,  under  a  general  law  of  the 
State.  The  water  was  at  first,  and  for  many  years,  conducted  in  wooden 
pipes,  exclusively.  "Within  the  last  fifteen  years,  the  works  have  been 
greatly  extended,  and  the  old  logs  have  given  place  to  pipes  of  cast  iron. 
The  works  are  now  among  the  best  in  New  England.  The  pond  being  fed 
entirely  by  springs  from  the  bottom, =•■■=  the  water  is  remarkably  pure  and 
sweet ;  and,  if  properly  economized,  the  supply  will  probably  be  suffi- 
cient for  the  reasonable  wants  of  a  population  of  twenty  thousand.  The 
cost  of  the  works  thus  far,  has  been  nearly  $100,000. 

In  1801,  the  town  again  chose  five  selectmen,  instead  of  three,  as  they 
had  done  for  the  fifty-one  years  previous  ;  three  assessors ;  and  five  over- 
seers of  the  poor.  This  was  the  first  time  the  latter  had  been  chosen  since 
1734  ;  and  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  town  that  assessors  had  been 
chosen  as  a  separate  board  of  officers.  From  this  time  forward,  the  three 
offices  have  been  kept  entirely  distinct,  and  regularly  filled.  In  1S06,  the 
number  of  selectmen  was  again  reduced  to  three,  and  has  so  remained  to 
the  present  time. 

Some  idea  of  the  importance  attached  to  the  office  of  school  committee, 
at  this  time,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  the  committee  for  the  1st 
district  consisted  of  twenty-two  persons ;  that  of  the  2d  of  eleven ;  and 
the  3d  and  4th,  of  eight  each. 

This  year,  twelve  "Fish  Wardens"  were  chosen, — the  first  officers  of 
the  kind  in  town,  —  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  the  fisheries  in  the  town, 
and  seeing  that  the  fish  courses  were  not  obstructed  so  as  to  interfei-e  with 
the  free  passage  of  the  fish  up  the  streams  into  the  ponds.  The  alewive 
fisheries  had  now  become  quite  an  important  business,  so  much  so,  that  the 
next  year  (1802)  the  town  petitioned  the  General  Court  to  pass  laws  reg- 
ulating it.  They  declare  the  present  mode  of  catching  the  fish  to  be  very 
destructive,  and  that  but  little  advantage  accrued  to  the  inhabitants  from 

o  There  is  not  a  single  living  brook, — not  even  of  the   smallest  kind,  —  running  into  this  beantiful 
pond ;  and,  except  a  small  place  at  the  north-west  corner,  the  bottom  of  the  whole  pond  is  a  clean  gravel. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL,  473 

it.  They  also  asked  that  the  exclusive  right  to  the  fisheries  within  its 
limits  might  be  given  to  the  town.  The  prayer  of  the  petition  was 
granted. 

The  first  part  of  the  month  of  January,  1802,  was  so  mild,  that  on  the 
24th  of  that  month,  the  ice  in  the  river  moved  with  the  tide.  But  little 
snow  fell  until  the  22d  of  February,  after  which  great  quantities  fell,  and 
the  weather  was  exceedingly  cold.  In  March,  Bailey  Bartlett,  and  others, 
"went  to  Ipswich  on  the  crust  of  the  snow,  over  all  the  fences,  in  a  double 
slay."" 

This  year,  for  the  first  time,  we  find  that  a  list  of  the  voters  in  the  town 
was  made  out,  and  accepted  ;  f  and  a  list  of  names  for  jurymen  submitted 
to  the  town  for  approval,  by  the  selectmen. 

From  the  Haverhill  Observer  of  July  9,  1802,  we  learn  that  "  several 
gentlemen "  celebrated  the  anniversary  of  American  Independence,  in 
this  town,  "by  a  dinner  at  Lieut  Bradley's  Tavern,  followed  by  a  number 
of  toasts."!  This  is  the  first  mention  we  find  of  such  a  celebration  in  the 
town,  and  we  learn  from  tradition  that  it  was  about  this  time  that  the 
first  one  was  had. 

Among  the  many  note- worthy  events  of  this  year,  may  also  be  men- 
tioned the  organization  of  a  Lodge  of  Freemasons  in  the  town, — a  more 
particular  account  of  which  will  be  found  in  another  place. 

In  1803,  Ward  Eaton,  and  others,  petitioned  the  town  for  liberty  to 
erect  Hay  Scales,  —  which  was  granted.  The  fee  fixed  upon  by  the  town 
for  weighing  hay,  was  one  and  one-fourth  cents  per  one  hundred  pounds, 
for  all  over  six  hundred  pounds  ;  and  eight  cents  per  load  for  all  less  than 
six  hundred  pounds.  The  scales  were  located  on  the  northerly  side  of 
Winter  Street,  opposite  the  foot  of  Pleasant  Street,  where  they  remained 
until  about  184 — ,  when  they  were  removed  to  their  present  site,  — imme- 
diately adjoining  the  town  pump,  on  the  northerly  side. 

'■^  Bartlett's  Journal. 

t  It  would  seem  as  if  such  a  list  must  have  been  regularly  kept  long  before  this,  but  the  above  is  the 
first  mention  we  find  of  such  a  thing  in  the  town  records. 

t  "  Nat  Bradley's  Tavern  "  stood  on  the  lot  next  north-west  of  the  present  South  Church,  and  was  at 
that  time  the  principal  stage  house  in  the  village.  Landlord  Bradley  was  one  of  the  handsomest  and 
most  popular  hosts  in  all  the  region  round  about.  Weighing  about  250  lbs.;  very  neat  and  particular  in 
his  dress ;  which  was  always  close  up  with  the  fashion ;  lively,  social,  gentlemanly ;  he  always  appeared 
to  feel  well  himself,  and  had  the  happy  tact  of  making  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  share  in  his 
good  humor.  After  his  death,  the  tavern  was  for  many  years  kept  by  Moody  Chase.  In  182-,  the  house 
was  removed  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Winter  and  Pleasant  streets,  where  it  is  still  occupied  as  a 
dwelling  house,  by  Wm.  Smiley,  Esq. 

60 


474  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILl. 

In  May,  of  tLe  above  year,  a  mail  stage  commenced  running  "between 
Haverhill  and  Newburyport,  and  has  continued  its  regular  trips  until  the 
present  time. 

The  committee  chosen  to  settle  with  the  selectmen,  overseers,  and  town 
treasurer,  for  1803,  recommended  that  in  future,  an  •'annual  finance 
statement  "  should  be  made  to  the  town  at  its  March  meetings,  which  was 
agreed  to,  and  since  that  time  such  a  statement  has  been  regularly  made, 
and  a  committee  chosen  annually  to  audit  the  accounts  of  these  of&cers, 
and  make  their  report  to  the  next  succeeding  annual  March  meeting. 

In  1804,  the  Fourth  of  July  was  first  j-jr/W/c/y  observed  in  this  town  as 
a  National  Anniversary,  and  was  celebrated  in  a  most  enthusiastic  and 
patriotic  manner.  The  militia,  under  Captain  Huse,  paraded  the  streets 
with  fife  and  drum  ;  a  collation  was  served  up  on  the  "  parade  ground  ;=■' 
and  a  splendid  dinner  provided  at  "  Harrod's  Hotel,"  followed  by  patriotic 
toasts.  This  appears  to  have  been  the  first  public  celebration  of  Indepen- 
dence Day  in  the  town.  We  learn,  from  tradition,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
that  part  of  the  East  Parish  near  the  old  meeting-house,  feeling  hardly 
able  to  join  in  the  celebration  "up  town,"  got  up  one  on  their  own  hook, 
at  Mr.  Woodman  Chase's.  Their  bill  of  fare,  to  which  each  family  con- 
tributed, in  the  genuine  pic-nic  style,  included  one  whole  roast  pig,  and 
turtle  soup.f  The  principal  families  at  the  Hocks  joined  in  the  up-town 
celebration. 

In  The  Observer,  for  the  same  month,  (July)  we  find  an  advertisement 
of  Slater  &  Co.,  Kehoboth,  Mass.,  to  the  efi"ect  that  they  had  appointed 
an  agent  in  this  town  to  sell  their  "cotton  yarn."  A  few  weeks  later, 
(August)  Ezekiel  Hale  informs  the  public,  through  the  same  channel,  that 
he  has  established  "  a  Cotton  Yarn  Manufactory  "  in  this  town,  and  oflfers 
the  yarn  for  sale  "to  those  who  wish  to  make  their  own  cotton  cloth." 
From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarn  in  this  town 
was  nearly  cotemporaneous  with  its  first  manufacture  in  the  country.  The 
same  may  also  be  said  of  duck,  potash,  and  of  the  wholesale  manufacture 
of  shoes.  From  the  same  paper,  we  learn  that,  in  October  of  the  above 
year,  the  making  of  "  cut  nails  "  was  commenced  in  the  town,  by  Sawyer 
&  Cross,  "  at  their  shop  a  few  rods  east  of  Bradley's  Tavern."  They 
were  also  blacksmiths. 

In  October,  of  the  same  year,  on  petition  of  Bailey  Bartlett,  and  others, 
a  committee  Avas  chosen,  of  which  Mr.  Bartlett  was  chairman,  to   draft  a 

*  The  parade  ground  wns  in  the  rear  of  the  old  meeting-house,  on  the  common, 

t  Made  from  a  large  turtle  caught  by  Daniel  Johnson,  who  personally  superintended  the  preparation  of 
the  soap. 


HISTORY   OP  HAVERHILL.  475 

code  of  By-Laws  for  tlie  town.  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  lield  in  Decem- 
ber, the  committee  reported  the  following  code,  which  were  adopted.  They 
were  the  first  code  of  by-laws  adopted  by  the  town.  AVe  copy  them  from 
the  Haverhill  Museum,  of  March  5  th,  1805,  (Vol.  1,  No,  14)  :  — 

BY-LAWS 

FOR    THE 

TOWN    OF     HAVEEHILL, 

In  the    County  of  Essex,   and  Commonwealth  of  JIassachiisetts. 

Passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants,  Dec.  10,  1804,  and  approved  by 

the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 


Sec.  1.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  person  or  persons  shall  presume  to  make  any 
bonfires,  or  set  on  fire  any  wood,  straw,  shavings,  or  other  combustible 
matter,  by  night  or  by  day,  in  any  street,  lane  or  alley,  or  in  any  public  or 
private  yard  in  the  compact  part  of  this  town,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeit- 
ing and  paying  the  sum  of  one  dollar. 

Sec.  2.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  person  or  persons  shall  carry  fire  from 
any  house  or  place  to  any  other  house  or  place,  in  the  compact  part  of  this 
town,  except  in  some  vessel  sufficiently  covered  to  secure  the  fire  from 
being  driven  about  by  the  wind,  or  scattered  by  the  way,  under  the  pen- 
alty of  forfeiting  and  paying  a  sum  riot  exceeding  one  dollar,  nor  less  than 
fifty  cents.  And  it  is  further  ordered,  That  no  person  or  persons  shall 
presume  to  smoke  any  pipe  or  segar  or  have  or  use  any  pipe  or  segar  while 
on  fire,  in  any  street  or  lane  in  this  town,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting 
and  paying  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifty  cents,  nor  less  than  twenty-five 
cents. 

Sec.  3.  It  is  ordered,  That  the  Selectmen,  on  complaint  being  made  to 
them,  or  any  one  of  them,  or  upon  their  own  knowledge  of  any  defective 
chimney  or  hearth  in  this  town,  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  duly  examined, 
and  repaired,  if  it  can  be  done  conveniently,  or  otherwise  to  be  taken 
down  and  demolished  ;  and  the  owner  or  owners  of  such  chimney  or  chim- 
nies,  if  they  neglect  to  take  them  down  and  repair  the  same,  for  the  term 
of  one  week  after  an  order  of  the  Selectmen  (duly  certified  by  the  Town- 
Clerk  and  entered  on  the  town  book)  has  been  served  on  him  her  or  them 
shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  three  dollars.  And  the  Selectmen,  for  the 
time  being,  shall  have  full  power  and  authority,  and  they  are  hereby  re- 
quired to  order  and  direct  the  same  chimney  or  chimnies  to  be  repaired  or 
taken  down  and  abated  as  a  common  nuisance ;  and  the  owner  or  owners  of 


476  HISTORY   OF  HAVERHILL. 

Buch  chimney  or  cbimnies  shall  pay  and  satisfy  the  whole  expense  and 
charges  of  abating  such  nuisances,  to  be  recovered  as  the  other  penalties. 

Sec.  4.  It  is  ordered,  That  if  any  chimney  shall  take  fire  through  foul- 
ness, and  blaze  out  at  the  top,  except  when  it  rains  or  snows,  or  when  the 
houses  are  covered  with  snow,  the  owner  or  owners  of  the  house,  to  which 
such  chimney  belongs,  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  one  dollar :  Pro- 
vided nevertheless,  that  no  person  shall  be  subject  to  this  penalty,  who  has 
caused  his  chimney  to  be  swept  or  fired,  for  the  purpose  of  cleaning  the 
same,  within  two  months  from  the  time  of  its  taking  fire  as  aforesaid. 
And  it  is  further  ordered.  That  no  person  shall  fire  his  or  her  chimney, 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  except  in  a  calm  time,  or  when  it  shall  actually 
rain  or  snow,  and  between  the  time  of  sun-rising  and  twelve  o'clock  at 
noon,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of  one  dollar. 

Sec.  5.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  person  or  persons  shall  hereafter  project 
any  stove  funnel  through  the  top  or  side  of  any  wooden  building,  unless 
the  same  be  securely  suiTOunded  by  brick  work  or  iron ;  and  no  stove 
shall  be  placed  in  any  store,  or  other  building,  without  a  double  hearth 
under  the  same,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of 
two  dollars  for  the  first  ofi"ence,  and  the  sum  of  one  dollar  for  every  week, 
so  long  as  such  offence  shall  continue,  after  being  duly  notified  by  the 
Selectmen  or  any  officer  of  police. 

Sec.  6.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  cooper,  within  this  town,  shall  fire  or 
burn  any  cask  in  any  shop,  warehouse,  or  other  place  than  in  a  sufficient 
brick  or  stone  chimney,  made  safe  and  convenient  for  that  purpose,  on 
pain  of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of  one  dollar  for  each  oflfence. 

Sec.  7.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  person  shall,  on  any  pretense,  carry  a 
lighted  candle  or  lamp  into  any  barn  or  stable  in  this  town,  unless  in 
a  good  secure  lanthorn,  on  pain  of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of  one 
dollar  for  each  and  every  such  oflFense.  A7id  it  is  furt/ier  ordered,  That 
no  person  shall  smoke,  have,  or  use  any  lighted  segar  or  pipe,  in  any  barn 
or  stable,  or  within  the  yard  of  any  barn  or  stable,  in  this  town,  on  pen- 
alty of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of  fifty  cents  for  each  and  every 
such  offense. 

Sec.  8.  It  is  ordered,  That  for  the  future  no  person  or  persons  shall 
keep  in  their  dwelling  house,  shop,  or  store,  within  the  limits  of  this  town, 
jjiOYC  than  twenty-five  pounds  of  gun-powder,  (which  quantity  shall  be 
kept  in  a  tin  or  copper  cannistcr,  with  a  secure  top)  on  penalty  of  paying 
five  dollars  for  each  offence. 

Sec.  9.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  person  shall  place  and  leave,  or  cause  to 
be  placed  and  left,  in  any  street  or  lane  in  this  town,  any  wood,  bark. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  477 

timber,  boards,  shingles,  clapboards,  scantling,  shavings,  stones,  bricks, 
casks,  tubs,  crates,  boxes,  dirt,  or  any  kind  of  rubbish,  or  other  articles, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  carriages  in  the  public  way, 
for  the  space  of  two  hours,  on  penalty  of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of 
fifty  cents  for  each  and  every  such  offence,  and  the  like  penalty  for  every 
twelve  hours  after  the  owner  has  been  notified  by  the  Selectmen  or  Inspec- 
tor of  Police  to  remove  the  same.  Provided  nevertheless,  that  any  person 
wishing  to  repair  any  building,  adjoining  any  street  or  highway  in  this 
town,  may  give  notice  to  the  Selectmen  of  such  intention,  who  shall  set  off 
and  allot  such  portion  of  the  street  or  highway  adjoining  thereto  as  they 
shall  judge  necessary,  leaving  in  all  parts,  if  possible,  sufficient  room  for 
carts  and  carriages  to  pass  notwithstanding  ;  and  such  person  may  lay  and 
leave,  in  the  place  alloted  as  aforesaid,  all  the  materials  necessary  for  such 
building,  and  shall  not  be  liable  to  the  above  forfeiture  therefor,  during 
such  reasonable  time  as  may  be  necessary  for  erecting  or  repairing  said 
building. 

Sec.  10.  Whereas  great  inconvenience  and  hazard  are  occasioned  by 
loads  of  wood,  butchers'  carts,  and  other  carts  and  waggons,  standing  in 
and  obstructing  the  streets  and  public  ways  in  this  town :  to  prevent  which 
in  future.  It  is  ordered,  That  some  suitable  person  or  persons  be  annually 
appointed  in  public  town  meeting,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  prevent  all 
such  obstructions,  and  see  that  a  free  passage  be  constantly  kept  open  in 
the  streets  and  ways  aforesaid;  and  whoever  shall  offend  against  this 
regulation,  by  continuing  either  of  the  aforementioned  obstructions  in  the 
streets  or  ways  aforesaid,  after  being  notified  and  directed  to  remove 
the  same  by  either  of  the  persons  appointed  as  aforesaid,  shall  forfeit  and 
pay  the  sum  of  fifty  cents,  to  be  recovered  by  complaint  on  oath  to  any 
Justice  of  the  Peace  within  this  county. 

Sec.  11.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  horse  or  horse  kind  shall  be  turned  out 
loose,  or  suffered  to  go  at  large,  or  to  go  to  water,  without  a  suitable  per- 
son to  lead  him,  within  the  compact  part  of  this  town,  under  the  penalty 
of  paying  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each  and  every  such  offence. 

Sec.  12.  It  is  ordered.  That  no  person,  except  the  militia  on  muster 
days,  while  under  arms,  and  by  command  of  their  officers,  shall  fire  any 
gun,  pistol,  squib,  cracker,  or  other  thing,  charged  in  whole  or  in  part  with 
gun-powder,  in  any  of  the  streets,  lanes,  or  public  ways  in  the  compact 
part  of  this  town,  or  so  near  the  same  as  to  affright  any  horse,  or  in  any 
way  to  affright,  injure  or  annoy  any  person  whatever,  on  penalty  of  for- 
feiting and  paying  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents. 


478  HISTORY  or  haverhill. 

Sec.  13.  It  is  ordered.  That  no  person  or  persons  shall  climb  behind 
any  chaise  or  other  carriage,  passing  in  this  town,  without  the  consent  of 
the  owner,  on  penalty  of  forfeiting  and  paying  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
cents  for  each  offence.  * 

Sec.  14.  It  is  ordered,  That  no  person  shall,  in  any  street,  lane,  or 
alley,  or  other  public  place,  or  near  any  dwelling  house  in  this  town,  be 
guilty  of  rude,  indecent,  or  disorderly  conduct,  or  insult  or  wantonly  im- 
pede any  passenger,  or  sing  or  repeat  any  lewd,  obscene,  or  profane  songs, 
or  write  or  cause  to  be  written  any  obscene  words  on  any  fence,  wall,  or 
other  building,  or  speak,  utter,  or  repeat  any  lewd,  obscene,  or  profane 
words,  or  wantonly  injure  and  deface  any  fence,  wall,  or  other  buildings, 
or  any  sign-post  or  sign,  by  cutting,  scratching,  or  daubing  the  same  with 
paint  or  other  matter,  or  wantonly  cut  or  injure  any  tree  standing  in  the 
streets  or  highways  of  this  town,  or  rob  any  garden  of  fruit  or  vegetables, 
or  injure  any  trees,  shrubs,  or  bushes  growing  in  such  garden,  or  without 
permission  from  the  owner  climb  on  or  over  the  fences  thereof,  or  aid, 
abet,  or  advise  the  commission  of  any  of  the  aforesaid  acts,  under  the  pen- 
alty of  forfeiting  and  paying  a  sum  not  exceeding  two  dollars,  nor  less 
than  twenty-five  cents,  to  be  recovered  by  a  complaint  on  oath  to  some 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  county. 

Sec.  15.  It  is  ordered,  That  hereafter  no  vaults,  vats,  cisterns,  cellars, 
or  wells  shall  be  left  open,  unless  the  same  be  enclosed  by  a  sufiicient 
fence,  curb,  or  guard,  on  penalty  of  paying  fifty  cents  for  the  first  week, 
and  fifty  cents  for  every  week  it  shall  remain  open,  after  being  notified  by 
the  Selectmen  or  officer  of  police  to  inclose  or  cover  the  same. 

Sec.  16.  It  is  ordered.  That  proper  persons,  of  good  moral  characters, 
shall  be  annually  appointed  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  to  inspect  and  inform 
of  the  breach  of  any  of  these  orders  or  by-laws,  this  day  here  voted 
and  ordered  ;  and  the  persons  so  appointed  shall  be  called  the  Inspectors 
of  the  Police. 

Sec.  17.  It  is  ordered,  That  parents,  guardians,  and  masters  shall  be 
deemed  accountable  for  all  penalties  and  forfeitures  which  their  children, 
wards,  apprentices,  or  servants  shall  or  may  forfeit,  by  any  of  the  fore- 
going regulations. 

Sec.  18.  It  is  ordered,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Inspectors  to 
cause  all  these  by-laws  and  orders  to  be  strictly  complied  with,  and 
to  prosecute  for  all  penalties  arising  under  them,  either  from  their  own 
knowledge  or  fi'om  information  given  them  by  others 

Sec.  1 9.  It  is  hereby  voted  and  ordered.  That  all  and  every  the  fine  and 
fines,  for  any  breach  or  breaches  of  these  town  orders  or  by-laws,  except- 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHIH.  479 

ing  as  "before  provided,  may  be  recovered  by  action  of  debt,  before  any 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  county,  by  any  Inspector  or  Inspectors  of  the 
Police,  or  any  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  ;  one  half  to  go  to  and  for 
the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  town,  and  the  other  half  to  the  Inspector  or 
other  person  who  shall  prosecute  for  the  same.  And  such  prosecution 
shall  be  commenced  within  three  months  from  the  commission  of  the 
offense,  and  not  afterwards. — To  prevent  all  dispute  concerning  the  com- 
pact part  of  this  town,  it  is  hereby  ordered,  that  the  limits  thereof  shall 
be  co-extensive  with  the  bounds  of  the  first  parish. 

Among  the  town  officers  chosen  in  1805,  we  find  seven  "Inspectors  of 
Police."  The  overseers  of  the  poor  were  this  year,  for  the  first  time, 
voted  compensation  for  their  services  as  such  ;  four  ounces  of  powder  were 
voted  to  each  soldier  annually  for  use  on  muster  days ;  and  a  powder 
house  was  ordered  to  be  built."'  The  latter  was  a  small  brick  structure, 
about  eight  feet  square,  and  was  placed  on  the  north  side  of  "  Powder 
House  Lane,"  (now  called  "White  Street,  between  Portland  and  Hun- 
tington Streets,)  and  will  be  remembered  by  many  of  our  readers.  It 
was  removed  about  1845,  when  the  present  one,  on  Golden  Hill,  was 
erected. 

The  town  seem  to  have  had  a  decided  hostility  to  the  erection  of  any 
bridges  below  them,  as  we  find  that  they  remonstrated  against  the  erection 
of  everyone  of  them.  This  year,  (1805)  their  Eepresentative  was  in- 
structed to  oppose  the  petition  for  the  Plum  Island  bridge.  Their  great 
objection  was,  that  such  a  bridge  would  hinder  the  passage  of  boats  going 
to  and  from  the  salt  marshes  for  hay.  Two  years  later,  they  remonstrated 
against  the  building  of  a  bridge  at  Amesbury  Ferry,  and  also  against 
"  shortening  the  arch"  of  the  bridge  at  Andover. 

The  24th  of  May,  1807,  will  long  be  remembered  in  the  history  of 
Haverhill,  as  the  day  on  which  occurred  one  of  those  sudden  and  terrible 
catastrophes  which  now  and  then  cast  their  dark  shadows  over  a  whole 
community. 

On  Saturday,  the  23d,  a  brig  was  launched  at  one  of  the  yards  in  the 
village,  and  a  party  of  the  men  employed  in  the  yard  assisted  in  getting 
it  down  the  river.     They  were  returning  the  next  day,  in  a  scow,  in  the 

o  In  1794,  when  a  war  with  France  seemed  imminent,  the  town  voted  to  each  non-commissioned  officer 
and  soldier  who  should  enlist,  if  called  into  actual  service,  enough  to  make  their  pay  eight  dollars  per 
month.  In  ISOl,  the  town's  stock  of  military  supplies  consisted  of  two  narrow-axes,  four  pick-axes,  one 
hundred  pounds  powder,  fifteen  gun-locks,  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  leaden  balls,  and  six  hundred 
and  twenty-six  flints.    In  1809,  the  stock  of  powder  was  hut  thirty-three  pounds. 


480  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

midst  of  one  of  the  most  violent  north-east  storms  ever  known  on  the  river, 
and  when  a  short  distance  above  the  Rocks'  Bridge,  the  boat  run  un- 
der and  capsized,  and  six  out  of  the  eleven  in  it  were  drowned.  Their 
names  were  Matthew  Pettingill,  Samuel  Blanchard,  John  Foss,  William 
Hoyt,  Benjamin  Cole,  and  Joshua  Weed,  and  all  were  heads  of  families. 
Mr.  Cole  was  found  the  same  day ;  four  were  found  the  next  Saturday, 
and  on  the  Sunday  following,  the  body  of  Mr.  Weed  was- taken  up.  They 
were  all  brought  into  the  village  and  buried  on  the  Sabbath,  the  first  four 
in  the  forenoon  and  Mr.  Weed  in  the  afternoon.  It  was  suiely  a  solemn 
day.  The  names  of  the  survivors  were  Moses  Kimball,  Joseph  Kimball, 
Joseph  Wells,  Nathaniel  Soley,  and  Nicholas  Colby.  After  the  boat  cap- 
sized, Colby,  who  was  a  good  swimmer,  succeeded  in  getting  these  four 
upon  the  bottom  of  the  scow,  which  barely  kept  afloat.  He  tried  hard  to 
save  Hoyt,  who  clung  to  him,  while  beneath  the  surface,  with  a  death 
grasp,  but  finding  his  strength  rapidly  failing,  he  was  obliged  to  exert  his 
whole  remaining  force  in  tearing  himself  from  the  drowning  man  ;  and, 
having  nearly  exhausted  himself  in  his  eiforts,  Colby  endeavored  to  per- 
suade Moses  Kimball,  who  could  swim,  to  swim  ashore  and  find  help,  as 
it  was  evident  the  wreck  could  not  long  be  kept  afloat.  But  Kimball's 
brother  positively  forbid  his  making  the  attempt.  Finding  all  entreaty 
unavailing,  Colby  at  length  resolved  to  make  the  attempt  himself,  though 
scarce  expecting  to  be  able  to  reach  the  land,  and  bidding  them  good-bye, 
he  struck  out  for  the  shore.  John  Ingersoll,  of  the  Kocks'Tillage,  a 
young  man  lately  returned  from  sea,  observing  the  severity  of  the  storm, 
and  having  a  curiosity  to  see  its  effect  upon  the  river,  was  that  morning 
walking  along  the  shore,  when  he  came  suddenly  upon  a  man  feebly  cling- 
ing to  a  rock  near  the  water's  edge.  It  was  Colby,  too  much  exhausted  to 
drag  himself  out  of  the  water,  or  even  to  speak  aloud.  With  gi'cat  diffi- 
culty, the  brave  man  explained  the  perilous  situation  of  his  companions. 
Ingersoll  immediately  ran  to  the  village  below,  gave  the  alarm,  and,  after 
trying  in  vain  to  induce  some  one  to  assist  him  in  the  attempt,  embarked 
alone  in  a  small  skiff,  and  after  great  peril  succeeded  in  finding  and  sav- 
ing the  four  persons  on  the  wreck  !  Surely  the  names  of  Nicholas  Colby 
and  John  Ingersoll  well  deserve  an  honorable  place  in  our  history.  They 
have  it,  and  may  their  noble  example  never  be  forgotten  by  their  posterity. 
Up  to  this  time,  (ISOS)  with  the  exceptions  already  noticed,  the  poor 
of  the  town  had  been  supported  in  families,  though  from  time  to  time  in- 
vestigations were  made  to  ascertain  whether  that  was  the  most  economical 
plan  for  the  town.  From  a  report  made  in  1801,  it  appears  that  ten  per- 
sons were  wholly  supported  by  the  town,  and  several  others  assisted.     The 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  481 

cost  of  supporting  the  former  varied  from  fifty  cents  to  one  dollar  and 
seventeen  cents  per  week.  The  total  expenses  for  the  poor  that  year  was 
eight  hundred  and  twelve  dollars.  In  1808,  a  committee  was  chosen  "  to 
devise  some  diiferent  method  of  supporting  the  poor."  The  result  was, 
that  they  were  "  let  out  to  Ezekiel  Hale,"  and  he  was  voted  "Master  of 
the  Work  House."  The  selectmen  were  then  made  overseers  of  the  poor. 
Under  this  plan,  the  expenses  run  up  to  $1,540,35,  the  same  year;  and 
at  the  next  annual  meeting  a  separate  board  of  overseers  were  again  chosen 
and  the  manner  in  which  the  poor  should  be  supported,  whether  "  by  keep- 
ing them  together,  or  otherwise,"  was  left  with  the  overseers.  For  a  few 
years  after  this,  they  were  kept  together  in  a  house  hired  for  that  purpose, 
but  in  1814,  the  plan  was  given  up,  the  "Poor  House  Stock  &  Utensils," 
(valued  at  $50)  were  sold,  and  the  old  plan  of  boarding  them  in  private 
families  was  again  resumed. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  September,  1808,  a  committee  was  chosen  to 
draft  a  "respectful  petition  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  praying 
him  to  suspend  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the  Embargo  Act."  The  President 
replied,  under  date  of  September  21st. 

As  early  as  January,  1805,  a  bill  was  passed  by  Congress,  forbidding, 
under  severe  penalties,  armed  vessels  to  leave  the  United  States.  The 
policy  of  the  government  was  to  maintain  peace  by  avoiding  collisions, 
rather  than  by  asserting  rights  ;  but  finally,  measures  were  adopted  with 
a  view  to  punish  the  agressors ;  which  in  their  practical  effects,  did  more 
damage  to  the  commerce  of  the  Eastern  States  than  all  the  confiscations  of 
England  and  the  continental  powers  combined.  The  first  of  these  meas- 
ures was  the  Embargo  Act,  in  1807,  by  which  vessels  were  forbidden  to 
go  to  any  foreign  port  whatever.  For  contravention  of  this  act,  the  own- 
ers and  shippers  were  liable  to  a  suit  for  double  the  value  of  the  vessel 
and  cargo,  and  the  master  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $1000  for  every 
offence  ;  and  his  oath  was  henceforth  inadmissible  before  any  collector  of 
the  United  States.  Thus  both  the  export  and  import  trade  were  killed  at 
one  blow. 

Against  this  highly  oppressive  act,  Haverhill,  and  many  other  towns, 
memorialized,  and  with  such  effect,  that  in  March,  1809,  the  embargo  was 
repealed,  though  all  trade  and  intercourse  with  France  and  England  were 
interdicted. 

The  year  1808  seems  to  have  been  selected  for  a  general  rebuilding 
and  repairing  of  bridges  in  the  town.  The  Haverhill  Bridge  was  rebuilt 
this  year.  Instead  of  three,  it  was  rebuilt  with  four  arches,  supported 
61 


482  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

by  three  massive  stone  piers,  the  stones  of  which  are  firmly  fastened  with 
iron.  The  draw,  which  should  have  been  continued  over  the  channel,  was 
placed  close  to  the  Haverhill  shore,  and  reduced  to  twenty-eight  feet  in 
width,  —  a  circumstance  now  much  regretted,  and  likely  to  call  for  some 
change  ere  many  years.  But  few  bridges  can  compare  with  this  for  dura- 
bility, or  strength.  The  immense  masses  of  ice  that  are  annually  borne 
down  the  river  with  tremendous  force,  have  no  other  effect  upon  the  noble 
structure  than  to  cause  a  slight  tremulous  motion. 

Little  Eiver  bridge  was  also  rebuilt  this  year,  and  several  others,  at  an 
expense  to  the  town  of  more  than  $2,000. ••= 

In  1809,  the  right  to  fish  in  the  several  streams  in  the  town,  were  sold 
at  vendue,  and  this  continued  to  be  annually  done  so  long  as  the  privileges 
were  worth  purchasing,  f 

The  following,  which  we  copy  from  the  Merrimack  Intelligencer,  of  this 
place,  under  date  of  July  22,  1809,  shows  that  weather  was  as  un- 
manageable fifty  years  ago,  as  at  present :  — 

"  Eain.  —  We  believe  the  oldest  person  living  never  knew  two  such  severe 
storms,  in  the  month  of  July,  as  we  have  witnessed  these  two  weeks  past. 
In  consequence  of  the  great  rains  that  have  fallen,  our  river  has  already 
risen  to  an  unusual  height,  and  still  continues  j;ising ;  and  we  apprehend 
much  injury  may  be  done  in  the  country,  especially  as  it  happened  at  a 
season  when  the  farmer  most  needs  the  warm  influences  of  the  sun." 

The  wai'rants  for  the  annual  town  meetings  at  this  time  run  "  to  such 
as  pay  one  single  tax  besides  the  poll  or  polls  assessed,  equal  to  two-thirds 
of  a  single  poll  tax  ; "  and  for  the  meetings  to  choose  Eepresentatives, 
&c.,  they  were  directed  to  all  male  inhabitants  of  twenty-one  years  old 
and  upwards,  possessing  a  freehold  estate  of  an  annual  income  of  at  least 
three  pounds,  or  any  estate  of  the  value  of  sixty  pounds. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1810,  the  train-band  applied  to  the  town  to 
increase  their  allowance  of  powder,  for  muster  days,  but  the  town  seems 
to  have  considered  four  ounces  a  sufficient  amount  for  such  sport,  and  re- 
fused to  increase  it. 

The  Haverhill  Light  Infantry  was  organized  on  the  26th  of  May,  and 
Jesse  Harding  was  elected  Captain.    One  of  the  articles  of  its  constitution 

o  Little  Eiver  bridge  cost  $1,827.49 ;  and  Creek  Bridge  $346.84.  The  town  debt,  in  March,  1809,  was 
$1,431.12. 

t  In  1814,  there  were  four  privileges  sold,  viz. :  —  atEzekiel  Hale's  bridge,  at  Thomas  Dnston's  meadow, 
at  Enoch  Bradley's  mill-pond,  and  a  privilege  near  John  Carleton,  Jr.'s.  The  total  amount  paid  for 
them  was  fifty-four  dollars.  It  was  a  part  of  the  contract  that  the  town's  people  were  to  be  supplied  for 
their  own  use,  at  twenty-five  cents  per  hundred.  In  1815,  the  privileges  sold  for  $91.35;  in  1816,  $46.25  ; 
in  1817,  $36.25  ;  in  1820,  $21.33. 


BISTORT   OP   HAVERHILL.  483 

directed  tliat,  if  any  of  its  members  should  be  removed  by  death,  bis  body 
should  be  consigned  to  the  grave  with  military  honors.  On  the  6th  of  May, 
1823,  an  elegant  standard  was  presented  to  the  Company  by  the  ladies  of 
the  village,  through  the  hands  of  Miss  Polly  Dow,  accompanied  with  a 
pertinent  address. 

Mirick,  in  speaking  of  the  company  in  1832,  says : -^  "  There  are  but 
few  independent  Companies  in  the  Commonwealth  whose  military  conduct 
is  more  praiseworthy,  and  whose  evolutions  are  more  correct.  The  Com- 
pany is  furnished  with  tents  and  every  other  necessary  requisite  for  a 
fatigue  march.  In  1831,  it  established  an  armory,  at  an  expense  of  over 
five  hundred  dollars ;  and  the  accoutrements  are  there  kept  in  the  neatest 
and  most  perfect  order." 

The  armory  referred  to  was  located  in  the  fourth  story  of  the  Bannister 
Block,  directly  over  the  Essex  Banner  office.  The  company  disbanded  in 
1841.  Their  successors,  the  "  Hale  Gruards,"  fully  sustain  the  high  mili- 
tary reputation  of  the  town.'-* 

The  ship-building  business  of  the  town  appears  to  have  reached  its  high- 
est point  this  year.  Nine  vessels  were  built,  which  is  the  largest  number 
built  in  any  one  year,  so  far  as  we  can  learn. 

In  August,  a  stage  commenced  running  between  Haverhill  and  Salem, 
making  two  trips  per  week.  Morse  &  Fox  were  the  px'oprietors.  This 
line  continued  to  run  until  the  opening  of  direct  railroad  communication 
between  the  two  places. 

At  a  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  in  1811,  a  petition  was  received 
from  David  Chase,  and  others,  to  allow  Thomas  Johnson  "  to  take  water 
out  of  the  Great  Pond,  so-called,  to  said  Johnson's  Mill,"  but  the  request 
was  not  acted  upon.  The  proposition  was  to  tap  the  pond  at  its  north- 
easterly point,  -—  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Kenoza  House. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  of  the  same  year,  a  Bradford  seine  caught  seven 
hundred  and  fifty-five  shad,  at  one  haul,  which  was  said  to  have  been  the 
greatest  haul  for  the  forty  years  previous.  It  is  almost,  if  not  quite, 
within  the  bounds  of  truth  to  say,  that  the  above  number  is  nearly  as 
many  as  one  of  our  seines  now  average  for  a  whole  season. 

In  the  Merrimack  Intelligencer,  of  February,  1812,  we  find  the  follow- 
interesting  item :  — 

"  The  Kussian  Brick  Stoves  have  recently  been  introduced  in  Salem, 
and  promise  to  make  a  great  saving  in  the  important  article  of  fuel.     A 

°  Since  the  above  was  written,  tiie  company  have  dropped  the  first  part  of  their  name,  and  are  now 
known  simply  as  "  The  Guards." 


484  HISTORY   OF   IIAVEEHILI, 

handsome  one  has  been  built  in  the  Essex  Bank,  two  in  a  meeting  house^ 
and  others  in  private  buildings.  They  were  introduced  by  Capt  Towne^ 
from  Revel." 

The  introduction  of  the  above  kind  of  stoves  seems  to  have  directed 
attention  to  the  importance  of  improvement  in  the  prevalent  modes  of 
heating  buildings,  and  we  find  that  it  was  not  long  before  the  inventions 
of  ingenious  Yankees  completely  eclipsed  the  uncouth  Eussian  apparatus, 
in  every  respect.  The  introduction  of  cast-iron  stoves  for  simple  warming 
purposes,  was  soon  followed  by  stoves  designed  not  only  for  warming  dwel- 
lings, but  for  cooking  purposes.  The  latter  were  at  first  rather  expensive 
luxuries,  and  could  only  be  afforded  by  the  most  wealthy  people.  The 
first  cooking  stove  in  the  East  Parish,  was  purchased  by  Dr.  Weld  ;  the 
second  by  Colonel  John  Johnson.  They  cost  ^75  each,  and  though  not 
very  large,  were  each  a  good  lift  for  four  men.  Cooking  stoves  could 
hardly  be  said  to  have  been  common,  until  about- 1830. 

The  first  musical  society  in  the  town,  of  which  we  can  find  any  mentioU;^ 
was  organized  in  April,  1812,  J.  Hovey,  Secretary.  It  was  called  the 
"  Haverhill  Musical  Society,"  and  its  object  was  stated  to  be  "to  improve 
in  Sacred  Music."-''  The  first  singing-school  appears  to  have  been  kept 
by  Samuel  W.  Ayer,  in  the  old  first  parish  school-house,  commencing  in 
December  of  the  same  year.-}- 

The  year  1813  opened  with  the  gloomy  pi'ospect  of  a  second  war^with 
England.  Continued  depredations  upon  our  commerce,  impressment  of 
American  seamen,  and  insults  to  our  flag,  had  forced  home  the  unwelcome 
conviction  that  our  honor  requii-ed  a  resort  to  arms. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  CongTcss  passed  a  ninety  days  embargo  act,  and 
vigorous  measures  were  adopted  to  protect  our  national  rights.  In  May^ 
a  recruiting  rendezvous  was  opened  in  this  town,  at  Greenleaf's  Tavern, 
and  "  men  of  Patriotism,  Courage,  and  Enterprise,"  were  called  upon  ta 
enlist  in  the  United  States  service.  On  the  19th  of  June,  war  was  for- 
mally declared.  Though  there  was  a  strong  feeling  of  opposition  to  the 
war,  our  town  seems  to  have  considered  it  their  duty  to  sustain  the  gen- 
eral government  in  the  matter,  and  at  a  meeting  called  a  few  weeks  later, 
(July  20)  it  was  voted  to  give  -such  of  the  inhabitants  as  should  enlist, 
while  in  actual  service,  ten  dollars  per  month,  including  the  wages  allowed 
by  the  general  government.  How  many  persons  enlisted  in  this  town,  we 
are  unable  to  say,  but  the  number  was  quite  large,  f 

o  The  Society  was  in  existence  in  1814,  and  perhaps  later. 

t  Ayer  kept  in  the  same  place  the  next  year. 

J  The  Massachusetts  Muster  Rolls,  for  the  War  of  1813,  are  now  at  Washington.  The  Secretary  of  the 
Commonwealth  has,  however,  been  instructed  to  take  measures  to  have  them  returned,  and  we  hope  that 
they  will  ere  long  be  again  deposited  in  our  State  Archives. 


HISTORY   OF   HATERHH,!,.  485 

During  the  next  two  years,  the  war  was  prosecuted  with  varying  suc- 
cess ;  but  in  the  summer  of  1814,  more  vigorous  measures  were  adopted. 

On  the  25th  of  July,  1814,  Colonel  John  Johnson  (of  East  Haverhill) 
received  orders  to  draft  from  his  regiment--^  a  sergeant,  corporal,  and  thir- 
teen privates,  to  march  to  Newburyport  immediately,  armed  and  equipped, 
with  blankets  and  three  days  provisions.  The  names  of  those  drafted  at 
this  time  from  the  three  companies  of  regular  militia  in  this  town,  we  are 
not  able  to  give.  From  the  Light  Infantry  company,  one  person  was 
drafted,  James  H.  Duncan,  who  hired  a  substitute.  This  company  had 
already  voted,  unanimously,  to  march  with  full  ranks,  whenever  called 
upon. 

September  9  th,  Colonel  Johnson  received  the  following  orders :  — 
"Brigade  Orders 

Newbury  Sept  9,  1814. 

Pursuant  to  General  orders  of  the  6  th,  and  Division  orders  of  this  day, 
you  will  hold  the  regiment  under  your  Command  in  constant  readiness  to 
march  at  a  moment's  warning,  &  every  man  must  furnish  himself  with  a 
good  knapsack  &  Blankets,  before  Inspection. 

You  will  order  the  Company  of  Light  Infantry  belonging  to  your 
regiment,!  to  march  immediately  to  Boston,  completely  armed  and  equip- 
ped.    On  their  arrival  at  Boston,  they  will  be  furnished  with  rations. 

You  will  also  order  out  your  regiment  for  Inspection  by  Companies,  on 
Tuesday,  the  13  th  inst,  at  2  oclk  P  M,  and  all  deficiencies  must  be  imme- 
diately supplied. 

You  will   appoint  regiment  and  order  company   alarm   posts  to   be 

appointed  where  it  has  not  already  been  done,  and  in  all  respects  carry 

into  execution  the  Division  orders  Inclosed. 

Pr  order  of  Gen  Stickney, 

T\     -J  T>    V  J    )  Brig  Qr  Master 
ColJohnson  David  Peabody  |     2d  B.  2d  D. 

5th  Eegt." 

The  above  orders  were  received  on  Saturday  evening,  (September  10th) 

and  the  members  of  the  Light  Infantry  were  immediately  notified  to 

assemble  on  the  "Church  green"  at  the  close  of  the  afternoon  services  the 

next  day.     They  met  accordingly,  and  decided  to  take  carriages  as  far  as 

CJiarlestown.     Early  on  Monday  morning,  the  company  paraded  with  full 

ranks,  and  marched  to  the  Bradford  meeting-house,  where  they  had  car- 

*  Colonel  Johnson's  regiment  consisted  of  the  companies  of  Infantry  in  Haverhill  and  Methuen, 
t  The  Haverhill  Light  Infantry. 


48G 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILI.. 


riages  in  waiting  to  convey  them  to  Ctarlestown.  On  arriving  at  the  lat- 
ter town,  they  immediately  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  South  Boston, 
their  place  of  destination.  As  the  company  passed  up  State  Street,  their 
fine  martial  bearing  won  the  highest  compliments  from  the  crowds  which 
lined  the  street,  and  cheers  upon  cheers  greeted  them.  They  received  the 
credit  of  being  the  best  disciplined  volunteer  company  called  out. 

Below  we  give  the  names  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  company : 
"  Company  roll  of  Capt.   Samuel  W.  Duncan's  Company  of  Light  In- 
fantry, in  the  fifth  Kcgiment  Second  Brigade  and  Second  Division. 

John  Atwood         "^ 
Frederic  S.  Ayer    1  ggj.gg„jjta 
Leonard  Messor      |        ° 
Saml  Gardner  Jun  j 


Samuel  W.  Duncan  Capt, 
Kathan  Burrell  Lieut. 
Thos  Newcomb  Ensign, 
Nathaniel  Emerson 
Joseph  Coffin 
Saml  M.  Johnson 
Phineas  Carleton-' 
William  White 
Peter  Smith 
Nathan  Emerson 
Jere  Stick ney  2d 
Ephraim  E.  Lake 
Ezekiel  Hale  Jr 
Samuel  Hale 
Christopher  Hale 
William  Townsend 
Isaac  Averill 


Musicians 

John  Davis 
John  Folansbee 
James  H.  Duncanf 
Henry  Briggs 
Henry  Emerson 
Bailey  Bartlett  Jr 
Thomas  West  Jr 
John  Nesmith 
John  Trumbull 
Calvin  W.  Howe 


Eufus  P.  Hovey 
Joseph  Merrick 
William  Swett 
Caleb  S.  Cushion 
Thomas  M.  Greenough 
Dudley  Porter  3d 
Samuel  Noyes 
Eleazer  A.  Porter 
Wm  P.  Loring 
Samuel  Curwen. 


Andrew  Frink 

During  their  stay  in  South  Boston,  the  company  were  quartered  in 
a  brick  house  between  the  bridge  and  the  "Heights."  They  remained 
in  service  until  October  30th,  when  they  marched  home,  arriving  in  Hav- 
erhill the  next  day. 

The  same  day  that  the  Light  Infantry  marched  for  South  Boston,  a  town 
meeting  was  held,  and  the  town  generously  and  patriotically  voted  to  pur- 
chase arms  and  equipments  for  all  those  of  the  militia  who  should  be 
ordered  into  actual  service,  and  who  were  unable  to  purchase  for  them- 
selves. Surely  we  may  be  pardoned  if  we  again  point  to  the  earnest, 
consistent,  and  never  faltering  devotion  of  our  town  to  the  work  of 
achieving,  and  sustaining,  our  National  Indej^endence.  As  at  the  first,  so 
at  the  last,  they  were  ready,  at  every  call,  to  sacrifice  their  treasure  and 
their  lives,  for  their  country's  liberty  and  honor.  Though,  as  we  have 
said,  many  of  its  inhabitants  condemned  this  second  war  with  England,  as 

°  Carleton  did  not  march  with  his  company,  but  paid  his  fine. 

t  Duncan  having  akeady  been  drafted,  and  furnished  a  substitute,  did  not  march  with  his  company. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL,  487 

uncalled  for,  and  ill-advised ;  and  though  towns  all  about  it  had  passed, 
and  were  passing,  resolutions  of  censure  and  disapproval ;  yet  no  sooner 
had  a  call  been  made  for  soldiers,  than  the  town  met  at  a  short  twenty-four 
hours  notice,  and  generously  voted,  in  substance,  that  no  marCs  poverty 
shoidd  bar  his  patriotism  ! 

A  few  days  after  the  Light  Infantry  were  ordered  out,  an  order  came 
(September  19)  for  a  detachment  of  the  militia  "to  march  instantly  to 
Beverly."     The  following  named  immediately  marched  :  — 

From  the  company  of  Captain  Daniel  Appleton,  Jr.,  were 
John  Chamberlin,  Corporal     George  Cogswell  Kobert  W,  Eaton. 

"William  George  Charles  Pike 

From  the  company  of  Captain  Amos  Ordway,  were 
Hazen  Kimball,  Sergt  Thomas  Wood  John  Simons. 

John  Underbill,  Corp  Benjamin  Mills 

From  the  company  of  Joseph  "Webster  3d,  were 
David  Currier  Sergt  John  Atwood  Jonathan  Corliss. 

Amos  Wheler 

The  most  vigorous  measures  were  adopted  for  the  defence  of  our  sea-coast. 
Alarm  posts  were  established  in  every  town,  at  which  the  companies  were 
to  assemble  on  the  prospect  of  any  immediate  danger,  and  in  case  of  an 
invasion,  those  nearest  were  to  toll  a  bell ;  on  which  the  militia  were  to 
appear,  perfectly  armed  and  equipped.  Many  British  armed  vessels  were 
from  time  to  time  seen  hovering  on  the  coast,  and  added  not  a  little  to  the 
general  excitement  and  alarm. 

The  news  of  Napoleon's  abdication,  and  the  success  of  the  allies,  was 
soon  after  followed  by  the  intelligence  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  con- 
cluded between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,"'  and  caused  great 
rejoicing  among  all  classes.  Business  soon  resumed  its  natural  channels, 
and  prosperity  again  smiled  through  the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land. 

That  the  news  of  the  peace  gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  Hav- 
erhill, plainly  appears  from  the  following  account  of  their  celebration  of 
the  event.  We  copy  it  from  the  Merrimack  Intelligencer,  a  newspaper 
published  in  town  at  the  time.  The  celebration  took  place  February  22d, 
1815:  — 

"  Celebration  of  the  Peace.  —  On  the  24:th  of  December  last  a 
Treaty  of  Peace  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  was  conclu- 
ded at  Ghent,  by  the  British  and  American  Commissioners ;  on  the  28th 
of  the  same  month  it  was  ratified  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain,  and  on 

•  The  treaty  was  ratified  by  the  President  February  17, 1815. 


488  HISTORY   OF   HATERHILL. 

the  18th  of  the  present  month  received  the  signature  of  the  President 
of  the  U.  States.  His  Proclamation  announcing  the  complete  ratification 
of  the  Treaty  on  both  sides,  reached  this  place  on  Tuesday,  the  21st.  This 
put  to  flight  the  fears  and  doubts  which  some  had  entertained,  in  regard 
to  the  reception  the  Treaty  might  meet  with  at  Washington. 

The  grateful  tidings  were  welcomed  by  loud  and  repeated  huzzas  ;  by 
the  peal  of  bells  and  the  thunder  of  Artillery  and  Musketry.  The  coun- 
tenances of  our  citizens  were  universally  brightened  with  joy.  Wednesday 
being  the  anniversary  sally  of  that  glorious  day  which  gave  to  the  Ameri- 
can people  their  political  Saviour,  was  unanimously  fixed  upon  for  the 
purpose  of  commemorating  the  inexpressibly  auspicious  event  which  has 
so  suddenly  diffused  a  cheering  light  over  the  clouded  aspect  of  our  coxm- 
try.  At  sunrise  bells  and  cannon  began  to  speak  our  joy  ;  and  excepting 
short  intervals,  continued  their  animating  eloquence  through  the  day. 
Flags  were  flying  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  —  the  stores  were  gener- 
ally shut  —  and  the  inhabitants  one  and  all,  gave  themselves  to  pleasure. 
At  10  o'clock  a  procession  was  formed  at  the  Bridge,  and  arranged  by  the 
Marshals  of  the  day.  Majors  Duncan,  AYhite,  and  Harding,  in  the  fol- 
lowing order :  • 

First  Marshal, 

Haverhill  Light  Infantry 

attended  with  a  Band  of  Music, 

Magistrates  of  the  Town, 

Justices  of  the  Peace, 

Clergy, 

Military  Officers, 

Marshal, 

Citizens, 

Marshal. 

The  Procession  having  first  moved  through  the  street  parallel  to  the 
river  proceeded  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Dodge's  Meeting  House,  where  the  Treaty 
of  Peace  was  read  to  a  crowded  and  attentive  assembly,  and  the  throne  of 
Grace  successively  addressed,  in  a  solemn  and  interesting  manner,  by  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Dodge  and  the  Eev.  Mr.  Bachelder,  rendering  thanksgiving  and 
praise  to  the  Almighty  Director  of  human  events  that  he  had  gi'aciously 
permitted  our  distressed  country  to  repose  from  the  tumult  and  horrors  of 
war. 


mSTOET   OS   HATEHniliL.  489 

Tlie  audience  was  gratified  also  with  the  performance  of  several  pieces 
of  music  happily  selected  for  the  occasion.  After  religious  services  the 
procession  returned  to  the  bridge,  where  some  diificult  evolutions  were 
handsomely  performed,  and  a  feu,  de  joie  fired  by  the  Light  Infantry. 

In  the  evening  the  town  exhibited  one  universal  blaze  of  splendor. 
Almost  every  house  and  store  in  town,  and  the  dwelling  houses  of  Mr. 
Chadwick  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  were  brightly  illuminated. 

In  many  windows  the  lights  were  so  disposed  as  to  form  distinct  and 
beautiful  figures.  AVhere  all  was  excellent  it  is  difficult  to  discriminate  ; 
but  were  we  to  decide,  we  should  say  that  the  houses  of  Major  Duncan, 
Dr.  Saltonstall,  Sheriff  Bartlett,  and  Hon.  Leonard  "NMiite,  were  particu- 
larly distinguished  for  their  brilliancy  and  beauty.  Numerous  beautiful 
transparencies,  with  appropriate  mottoes  and  decorations,  were  exhibited 
in  various  places.  The  streets  were  constantly  thronged  with  people. 
During  the  evening,  a  highly  illuminated  structure  having,  for  its  base,  a 
large  arch  bearing  the  inscription  "  Peace^'  in  large  capitals,  —  and  this 
arch  surmounted  by  several  small  towers  rising  and  diminishing  to  a  point, 
—  and  from  every  part  declaring  in  '  expressive  silence '  the  sentiments  of 
the  people,  was  borne  through  the  streets,  accompanied  by  a  band  of 
music.  The  lights  were  extinguished  at  nine  o'clock,  and  the  evening  was 
closed  with  the  display  of  fireworks  from  the  Bridge." 
62 


490  HISTORY   or   HAVERHILL^ 


CHAPTER  XXVL 
1815  TO  1840. 


A  HISTORY  of  tte  rise  and  progress  of  the  shoe  manufacturing  business^ 
in  this  town,  includes,  to  a  very  great  extent,  the  history  of  tlie  town 
itself,  from  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  until  the  present  time.  But  as  it 
seems  most  proper  that  we  should  consider  this  branch  of  our  town's  in- 
dustry by  itself,  we  propose,  in  this  and  the  next  chapter,  to  make  note 
only  of  such  other  matters  as  seem  worthy  of  special  mention  in  a  work 
of  this  kind  and  extent ;  and,  in  the  chapter  immediately  following,  give 
our  attention  exclusively  to  the  business  and  business  growth  of  the  towrt 
during  the  period  above  mentioned. 

The  Merrimack  Intelligencer,  for  Februaiy  — ,  1815,  notes  the  death  of 
John  Green,  "  the  oldest  man  in  town." 

In  1815,  the  "  old  Ferry  Way  "  was  laid  out  as  a  ptiblic  town  landing, 
about  fourteen  rods  in  width.  The  same  year  the  East  Parish  central 
school  district  was  erected,  making  in  all  seven  school  districts  in  the 
town,  viz. :  one  each  in  the  First  and  North  Parishes,  three  in  the  West 
Parish,  and  two  in  the  East  Parish.  The  year  previous,  each  district  was 
required  to  choose  a  clerk,  to  keep  a  regular  record  of  its  proceedings. 

The  large  pile  of  buildings  known  as  the  Bannister  Block,  were  erected 
this  season.  The  two  western  stores  were  owned  by  David  How,  the  next 
two  by  James  Duncan,  Esq.,  and  the  remainder  by  Wm.  By  Bannister, 
Esq.,  of  Newbiiryport.  The  twenty  inch  brick  walls,  and  massive  floor 
timbers  of  these  stores,  present  a  striking  contrast  when  compared  with 
the  light  and  elegant  structures  of  more  recent  times. 

One  ship,  The  Thorn,  was  launched  this  year.  She  had  been  sleeping 
on  the  stocks  nearly  all  the  time  of  the  war.  After  the  war,  the  only  ves- 
sels built;  in  town,  were  those  built  at  the  yard  above  the  bridge.  Previous 
to  the  war,  there  were  three  ship-yards  in  the  village  in  successful  opera- 
tion, and  a  large  number  of  persons  were  employed  in  the  various  branches 
of  the  business.  David  Webster  built  for  many  years  in  the  yard  nearly 
opposite  the  cemetery  ;  Barnard  Goodridge  in  the  yard  where  the  house  of 
the  late  Hon,  Leonard  White  now  stands ;  and  a  Mr.  Kendrick  nearly 


HISTORY  OF   HAVERHILL.  491 

opposite  the  foot  of  How  Street.  The  last  vessel  built  at  the  lower  yard, 
was  by  Nicholas  Colby,  for  Moses  Gale,  shortly  before  the  war.  The  last 
one  built  just  below  the  bridge,  was  TAe  Thorn,  launched  in  1815,  and 
which  had  been  on  the  stocks  for  a  long  time.  It  was  built  by  Mr.  Good- 
ridge,  who  afterward  took  the  yard  above  the  bridge.  From  this  time, 
until  1840,  the  last  named  yard  was  the  only  one  in  town,  and  during 
the  most  of  that  time  was  in  active  operation.  From  about  1835,  the 
business  was  carried  on  by  Captain  William  Caldwell,  who  built  in  that 
time  five  vessels.  The  last  one  built  by  him,  (and  which  was  the  last  one 
'in  the  town,)  was  the  North  Bend,  measuring  about  four  hundred  tons, 
and  launched  November  19th,  1840."  The  last  vessel  built  at  Cottle's 
Creek,  was  probably  the  one  built  by  Thomas  Cottle,  in  1752.  The  last 
built  at  the  Eocks'  Village,  was  about  the  year  1800,  or  perhaps  a  little 
earlier. 

Although  but  few  vessels  have  been  built  in  this  town  since  the  war  of 
1812,  large  quantities  of  ship  timber  have,  until  within  a  few  years,  been 
annually  sent  from  here  to  supply  the  yards  of  Salisbury,  Newburyport, 
and  other  places.  Small  quantities  continue  to  be  annually  sent  down  the 
river,  but  the  supply  is  nearly  exhausted,  and  the  business  must  soon 
cease  altogether. 

The  23d  of  September,  1815,  will  long  be  remembered  for  the  violence 
of  a  gale  since  called  the  "  September  Gale."  It  commenced  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  this  town,  and  continued  till  two  in  the  after- 
noon. The  air  was  filled  with  the  limbs  of  trees,  leaves,  and  a  salt  spray 
blown  from  the  Ocean,  which  encrusted  the  east  side  of  the  buildings,  and 
there  remained  for  some  days.  The  water  in  the  river  tasted  extremely 
brackish  ;  and  the  east  side  of  many  trees  which  withstood  tho  fury  of  the 
gale,  were  killed  with  the  salt  spray,  as  is  supposed. 

Many  of  our  readers  will  doubtless  recollect  the  vivid  poetic  description 
of  this  memorable  gale,  which  appeared  soon  after.     The  following  speci- 
men verses  are  all  we  can  afi"ord  room  for  in  this  place  :  — 
"  It  chanced  to  be  our  Washing  Day  ;  — 

The  clothes  were  all  a  drying ; 
The  stormy  winds  came  through  the  lines, 
And  set  'em  all  a  flying. 

I  saw  the  shirts  and  petticoats 

Go  riding  off  like  witches  ; 
That  day  I  lost,  —  ah,  how  I  wept  — 

I  lost  —  ni7/  Sundai/  breeches." 


*  Capt.  Caldwell  was  for  many  years  one  of  our  most  active  and  enterprising  business  men.    He  died 
in  January,  \iiZ,  aged  59. 


492  HISTORY  0-p  nAVERniH. 

As  early  as  1797,  the  attention  of  the  towns  hordering  on  the  Merri- 
mack was  directed  to  the  obstructions  in  the  rirer,  which  interfered  with 
its  navigation  above  this  village  ;  and  a  subscription  was  started  for  the 
purpose  of  rendering  the  river  navigable  for  boats  and  rafts  as  far  as  Paw- 
tucket  falls.  Newburyport  subscribed  upwards  of  $1,200,  and  this  town 
and  others  united  in  the  project,  but  the  full  importance  of  the  plan  seems 
not  to  have  been  realized,  and  the  scheme  was  abandoned.  About  the 
year  1815,  the  subject  was  again  agitated,  and  it  was  proposed  to  cut  a 
canal  from  Hunt's  Falls  (Pawtucket  Falls)  to  the  little  Eiver  in  this 
town.  The  merchants  of  Newburyport  and  of  this  town  took  hold  of  the 
matter  in  earnest,  and  in  May,  1816,  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained 
for  a  company,  under  the  name  of  "  Proprietors  of  an  Association  for 
Clearing  and  Locking  the  Falls  in  the  river  Merrimac."  A  survey  was 
made  by  Laomi  Baldwin,  and  it  was  found  that  there  was  only  about 
forty  to  forty-two  feet  fall  between  the  two  points.  The  estimated  cost 
was  $240,000.  A  subscription  was  opened  which  finally  reached  about 
$130,000,  and  for  several  years  the  enterprise  was  pushed  forward  vigor- 
ously. But  finding  it  impossible  to  raise  the  sum  necessary  by  subscrip- 
tions, a  proposition  was  made  to  establish  a  bank,  and  invest  $100,000  of 
its  capital  in  the  proposed  canal.  For  this  purpose,  application  was  made 
to  the  General  Court,  in  1826,  for  a  charter,  under  the  name  of  The  Canal 
Bank  ;  but  the  Middlesex  canal  drew  the  favor  of  the  Legislature  from 
the  object,  and  thus  a  large  portion  of  the  inland  trade  was  diverted 
from  its  most  natural  channel,  to  build  up  Boston.  Had  the  plan  suc- 
ceeded, it  was  expected  that  Haverhill  would  have  become  a  large  manu- 
facturing city,  and  Newburyport  a  place  of  extensive  commercial 
importance. 

The  summers  of  1816  and  1817  were  unusually  cold,  and  were  followed 
by  very  early  frosts,  by  which  most  of  the  small  corn  crop  was  destroyed.-' 

In  the  fall  of  1816,  a  violent  wind  passed  over  some  of  the  neighbor- 
ing towns,  and  over  the  westerly  part  of  this.  The  house  of  Ladd 
Haseltine  was  demolished,  and  his  son,  Jonathan,  was  killed  by  the  falling 
chimney.  Some  other  buildings  were  also  blown  down,  many  others  dam- 
aged, and  fences  and  trees  prostrated. 

In  the  spring  of  1818,  occurred  one  of  the  most  remarkable  freshets 
recorded  in  the  history  of  the  Merrimack  towns.  The  snow  had  been 
suddenly  melted  by  a  violent  rain,  and  the  water  rushed  down  the  valley 

«  A  Mr.  Walker,  of  Penehain,  Vt.,  being  lost  in  the  woods  on  the  8th  of  June,  and  lying  out  through 
the  night,  was  so  severely  frost  bitten  as  to  require  the  amputation  of  oue  of  his  great  toes  ! 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  493 

of  the  Merrimack  with  the  greatest  fury,  tearing  tip  the  ice,  which  was 
nearly  two  feet  thick,  with  the  noise  and  convulsions  of  an  earthquake. 
Driven  into  immense  dams,  the  ice  rolled  and  flew  about  in  every  possible 
direction.  The  river  was  raised  twenty-one  feet  above  common  high  water 
mark ;  the  country  around  inundated ;  buildings  were  removed,  and  de- 
stroyed ;  cattle  and  sheep  drowned  ;  and  ruin  spread  on  every  side.  The 
noble  bridge  across  the  Merrimack  at  the  Eocks'  Village,  became  a  total 
wreck,  and  its  fragments  were  soon  lost  to  sight  in  the  angry  and  resist- 
less flood.  The  appalling  sublimity  of  "the  great  freshet  of  1818,"  will 
never  be  forgotton  by  those  who  witnessed  its  desolating  march. 

In  1818,  the  town  treasurer  was  made  collector  of  taxes,  and  discounts 
were  allowed  for  voluntary  payments  to  him,  similar  to  those  made  at  the 
present  time.  After  the  taxes  were  made  out  and  delivered  to  the  treas- 
urer, he  was  to  advertise  the  fact,  and  all  who  voluntarily  paid  their  tax 
within  thirty  days,  were  allowed  a  discount  of  six  per  cent.  ;  those  who 
paid  within  sixty  days,  were  allowed  four  per  cent. ;  and  on  those  paid 
within  one  hundred  and  twenty  days,  the  discovmt  was  two  per  cent. 
Those  not  paid  within  one  hundred  and  twenty  days,  were  passed  over  to 
the  collector,  who  was  obliged  to  collect  them  within  three  months,  or  pay 
them  himself. 

The  same  year.  Pleasant  Street  was  laid  out;  and  "Pecker's  Lane" 
widened.  Winter  Street  was  then  known  as  "  the  back  road  to  Hale's 
Mills." 

In  March,  (1818)  a  stage  company  was  organized  in  town,  under  the 
name  of  "  The  Haverhill  and  Boston  Stage  Company,"  with  a  capital  of 
$-1,200,  and  went  into  immediate  operation.  In  1831,  their  capital  had 
increased  to  $28,900.  It  continued  until  the  opening  of  railroad  commu- 
nication with  Boston,  in  1837,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  "  The 
Northern  and  Eastern  Stage  Company."  The  introduction  of  the  easy 
and  rapid-moving  railway  car,  with  its  tireless  "  iron  horse,"  soon  super- 
ceded, to  a  large  extent,  the  lumbering  stage-coach,  with  its  horses  of 
flesh  ;  and  the  latter  rapidly  withdrew  beyond  the  reach  of  its  powerful 
rival,  — as  the  red  man  withdrew  from  the  presence  of  the  "  pale  face," 
—  to  find  a  temporary  resting-place  around  the  borders  of  the  higher 
civilization. 

As  we  have  already  seen,  the  attention  of  the  town  had  frequently  been 
directed  to  the  importance  of  finding  out  the  most  consistent  and  econom- 
ical plan  for  supporting  their  poor,  and  several  methods  had  been  tried, 
and  abandoned.  In  1817,  the  subject  again  came  up  for  consideration,  and 
a  committee  was  chosen  to  consider  the  propriety  of  purchasing  or  hireing  a 


494  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

poor-bouse.  The  matter  continued  in  abeyance  until  1820,  when  tbe 
town  voted  to  purchase  the  farm  of  Thomas  Cogswell,  situated  about  a 
mile  aud  three-fourths  east  of  the  bridge,  for  that  purpose.  The  price 
paid  was  $1,500,  and  a  further 'sum  of  $500  was  appropriated  for  stock 
and  utensils.  Various  additions  and  improvements  have  from  time  to  time 
been  made  to  the  land  and  buildings,  until  our  "  Town  Farm"  is  now 
among  the  best  in  the  Commonwealth. 

Previous  to  1820,  taxes  were  abated  only  in  town  meetings,  but  in  that 
year  the  assessors  and  selectmen  were  invested  with  power  to  abate  such 
as  they  deemed  it  just  and  proper  should  be  abated.  The  same  power  is 
still  vested  in  the  assessors. 

About  the  same  time  the  selectmen  were  annually  granted  power  to 
draw  jurymen,  without,  as  before,  calling  a  town  meeting  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

From  the  report  of  a  committee,  chosen  to  re-bound  what  is  now  called 
Main  Street,  we  learn  that  it  was  at  this  time  (1820)  known  as  "  Broad 
Street."  The  name  of  "  Water  Street  "  appears  to  have  been  applied  to 
the  whole  of  the  river  street  from  Little  Eiver  bridge  to  Mill  Brook. 
Little  Piivcr  Bridge  was  designated  as  "  West  Bridge.""  Among  the 
names  of  streets  at  this  time,  we  find  How  Street,  Primrose  road.  Pecker 
road,  Sargeant's  road,  and  Jew  Street. 

In  1820,  a  convention  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  State 
Constitution.  The  delegates  from  this  town  to  the  convention,  were, 
Bailey  Bartlett,  Moses  Wingate,  and  Charles  White, 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1821,  was  celebrated  in  quite  a  patriotic  manner 
by  the  citizens  of  this  town.  A  procession  was  formed  at  Masonic  Hall, 
on  Water  Street,  and  marched  to  "Eev.  Mr.  Dodge's  Meeting  House," 
where  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read  by  James  Duncan,  Esq., 
and  an  oration  delivered  b}'^  James  H.  Duncan,  Esq.  After  the  exercises 
at  the  meeting-house,  the  procession  re-formed,  and  marched  to  "  Kendall's 
Hotel,"  where  a  bountiful  dinner  was  properly  disposed  of,  followed  by 
patriotic  toasts.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  display  of  fireworks,  the 
programme  for  which  we  copy  in  full  from  the  Haverhill  Gazette  of  June 
30th,  1821:  — 

"  In  the  evening  there  will  be  a  display  of  Fireioorks  in  front  of  the 
Kev.  Mr.  Dodge's  Meetinghouse,  to  -commence  at  9  o'clock,  in  the  follow- 
ing order: — Part  1st.      Pockets.      A  AVheel.     A  Shower  of  Pockets. 


o  Little  River  was  fonnerly  called  West  Eiver,  in  distinetion  from  the  principal  stream  in  the  East 
Parish,  which  was  known  as  East  River.  The  name  Little  River  appears  to  have  been  taken  from  the 
Indian  deed  of  the  town,  where  it  is  used  to  distinsiiish  this  stream  from  the  Great  River. 


HISTORY  OF   HAVERHItL.  495 

Cupid's  escape  from  a  Hornet's  nest.  Eockets.  Part  2d.  A  "WheeL 
Kockets.  A  Wheel.  A  Shower  of  Eockets.  Cupid's  escape  from  a 
Hornet's  nest." 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  a  clock  was  placed  in  the  tower  of  the 
First  Parish  meeting-house.  When  the  new  edifice  was  erected,  in  1837, 
the  clock  was  repaired  and  placed  in  its  tower,  at  the  town's  expense,  where 
it  continued  to  mark  the  passing  hours  until,  with  the  building  itself,  it 
was  consumed  by  fire,  January  1,  18-17. 

In  1821,  the  Second  Baptist  Society  was  organized,  and  a  neat  and 
commodious  house  of  worship  erected  the  following  year. 

In  1823,  the  First  Universalist  Society  was  organized,  and  two  years 
latei%  a  new  brick  meeting-house  was  erected  for  their  use,  on  Summer 
street. 

In  1824,  a  brick  chapel  was  erected  for  the  Christian  Society,  on  Wash^ 
ington  square,  and  completed  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 

An  indication  of  the  growth  of  the  town  about  this  time,  is  also  found 
in  the  number  of  new  streets  laid  out  and  accepted.  In  1824,  How, 
Pleasant,  Spring,  and  Stage  streets  were  accepted ;  and  Summer  street 
extended  to  Kent's  lane.  What  is  now  Stage  street  was  formerly  known 
as  Colby's  lane,  from  a  Mr.  Colby,  a  tanner,  who  lived  on  the  south-east 
corner  of  the  street.  His  tan-yard  was  a  few  rods  up  the  street,  on  the 
east  side.  John  Woodman  succeeded  Colby  in  his  business,  and  continued 
to  use  the  yard  until  he  purchased  the  Mill  street  property,  'after  which 
the  pits  were  taken  up,  and  the  place  transformed  into  a  garden. 

After  the  Eocks'  Bridge  was  carried  away,  in  1818,  the  town  leased  the 
old  ferry  at  that  place  to  Col.  John  Johnson,  at  a  rent  of  $44  a  year. 
The  town  of  West  Newbury  also  leased  the  ferry  to  other  parties,  claim- 
ing at  least  an  equal  share  in  it  with  this  town.  After  considerable 
negotiation  and  delay,  the  matter  was  finally  settled,  in  1825,  by  each 
town  leasing  its  right  to  the  same  person. 

In  1825,  the  Haverhill  bridge  was  repaired  and  covered  ;  since  which 
time  it  has  undergone  but  little  change,  excepting  the  addition  of  an  out- 
side foot-path  on  the  east  side,  some  improvements  in  the  draw,  and  the 
insertion  of  extra  timbers  in  the  arches. 

In  February,  1826,  a  remarkable  influenza  prevailed  in  many  of  the 
towns  in  New  England,  and  even  in  the  middle  and  southern  States.  In 
this  town,  many  whole  families  were  confined  to  their  houses.  The  editor 
of  the  Gazette,  for  February  25,  reports  that  four  of  his  printers  were  on 
the  sick  list,  and  the  paper  was  only  got  out  through  the  assistance  of  a 
hand  from  Boston.     In  Newburyport,  it  was  estimated,  three  out  of  every 


496  ttlSTOilY   OF   IlAVERUILli. 

five  families  were  more  or  less  afflicted ;  and  in  Boston,  at  least  tlirec 
thousand  persons  were  suffering  from  the  disorder. 

The  proposition  for  a  division  of  Essex  County  was  again  agitated  about 
this  time,  and,  in  April,  1826,  this  town  took  a  formal  vote  upon  the 
matter.  Although  two  hundred  and  forty-one  votes  were  cast  in  town  fot 
a  Governor  that  year,  only  sixty-four  votes  were  polled  upon  the  above 
proposition,  and  but  nine  of  that  small  number  were  in  favor  of  a  division. 
The  county  was  not  divided. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  July,  1826,  the  people  of  the  town  were  not 
a  little  excited  by  the  reports  of  several  well  known  persons  that  a  "  wild 
man  "  had  been  seen  in  the  woods  in  the  town,  who  always  fled  when 
discovered.  Supposing  that  it  must  be  a  man  named  Andrew  Frink,  who 
had,  about  two  weeks  previously,  suddenly  disappeared,  in  a  fit  of  insan- 
ity, and  for  whose  recovery  a  general  turn-out  and  search  of  the  town  had 
been  already  made,  a  large  hunting  party  was  made  up,  and  after  a  long 
search,  and  great  exertions,  succeeded  in  finding  and  capturing  the  man. 
He  proved  not  to  be  Mr.  Frink,  but  literally  a  wild  man  of  the  woods. 
It  was  supposed  from  his  appparance  that  he  was  some  unfortunate,  who, 
having  perhaps  met  with  disappointment  in  life,  had,  in  a  fit  of  insanity, 
fled  from  society. '••' 

On  Wednesday,  August  1st,  of  the  same  year,  there  was  a  great  fall  of 
hail  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town.  It  appeared  as  if  two  clouds  met 
at  the  Great  Pond,  and  then  swej^t  round  by  the  East  Parish  meeting- 
house leaving  a  track  of  about  one  mile  wide,  in  which  the  ground  was 
literally  covered  with  hail.  The  trees,  corn,  and  grass  were  badly  dam- 
aged, and  several  persons  severely  pelted  with  the  hail-stones.  Some  idea 
of  the  quantity  of  hail  that  fell  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  eight 
days  afterward,  Mr  Daniel  Johnson  picked  up,  from  a  heap  then  two  and 
a  half  feet  high,  a  basket  of  the  hail-stoues,  and  carried  them  to  the  vil- 
lage for  exhibition.  The  pile  was  found  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  from  which 
the  stones  had  rolled  against  the  fence.  When  first  seen  the  pile  was  so 
high  as  to  cover  the  fence.  Heaps  of  the  hail  were  visible  eleven  days 
afterward;  although  exposed  to  the  full  heat  of  an  August  sun. 

In  1826,  two  maiden  ladies,  Lydia  and  Abigail  Marsh,  both  natives 
and  residents  of  the  town,  gave  half  an  acre  of  land,  on  the  north  side 
of  what  is  now  AVinter  Street,  as  a  site  for  an  Academy.  The  fine  brick 
structure  now  occupied  for  our  High  School  was  at  once  erected,  and  was 

o  The  l)ody  of  Mr.  Frink  was  found,  about  six  weeks  after  his  disappearance,  in  "  Snow's  Brook," 
(Fishing  River)  about  two  miles  north-west  from  the  village.  As  he  disappeared  while  in  the  delirium  of 
a  fever,  it  was  supposed  that  he  stumbled  and  full  into  the  brook,  and  was  too  weak  to  rise  again. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  497 

formally  dedicated  on  the  30tli  of  April,  1827,  and  opened  as  an  Academy. 
Among  the  dedicatory  exercises,  were  an  oration  by  Hon.  Leverett  Salton- 
stall,  of  Salem,  and  an  original  ode,  by  John  Gr.  Whittior,  of  this  town. 
The  building  is  two  stories  high,  sixty-two  feet  in  length,  thirty-three  feet 
in  breadth,  has  a  cupola,  and  is  furnished  with  a  superior  toned  bell. 
The  Institution  was  incorporated  the  same  year,  and  from  that  time,  until 
1841,  continued  in*  successful  operation.  In  the  latter  year,  the  First 
District  High  School  was  organized,  and  the  Academy  building  leased  for 
its  use. 

This  mention  of  the  Academy,  and  its  plain  but  really  elegant  building, 
will  dou,btless  awaken  a  variety  of  emotions  among  our  readers.  Many  will 
remember  the  pleasant  scenes  and  incidents  of  their  academic  years,  and 
their  eye  will  moisten  as  they  think  of  the  havoc  which  Old  Time  has 
made  among  their  class-mates.  Some  were  called  early  to  rest ;  others 
battled  manfully  for  a  time  among  the  temptations,  cares,  and  checkered 
fortunes  of  life,  but  one  by  one  they  have  sunk  exhausted  by  the  wayside, 
and  but  a  straggling  few  remain  to  drop  a  tear  to  their  memory.  The  large 
and  pleasant  Hall  of  the  Academy  was  for  many  years  a  favorite  place 
for  exhibitions,  balls,  lectures,  and  religious  meetings.  Some  will  there- 
fore associate  the  name  with  the  fascinations  and  fleeting  pleasures  of  the 
dance ;  while  others  will  remember  it  as  the  place  where  their  soul  first 
held  communion  with  its  God.  And  so,  whether  the  reminiscence  be 
pleasant  or  painful,  hundreds  whose  eye  shall  meet  this  page,  will  pause 
to  recall  the  scenes  they  have  witnessed,  and  the  hours  they  have  passed, 
in  the  old  Academy. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1827,  a  change  was  made  in  the  plan 
hitherto  adopted  in  relation  to  the  school  committees.  Instead  of  having 
large  committees  in  each  of  the  school  districts,  a  General  School  Commit- 
tee, consisting  of  seven,  was  chosen,  and  each  district  was  authorized  and 
directed  to  choose  their  own  Prudential  Committee.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting,  the  last  part  of  this  proposition  was  reconsidered,  and  it  was 
decided  that  the  Prudential  Committees  should  also  be  chosen  by  the  town. 
One  was  thereupon  chosen  for  each  district. 

In  the  Gazette  for  November  24th,  of  the  above  year,  we  find  a  notice 
of  the  death,  in  Providence,  E.  I.,  of  Captain  William  Baker,  a  native  of 
this  town.  Baker  worked  with  Mr.  Hall,  the  distiller,  in  Cole  Lane  (now 
Portland  Street)  Boston,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Eevolution,  and  was 
the  first  one  who  obtained  information  of  the  intended  British  expedition 
to  Concord.  With  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Hall,  he  caused  the  first  infor- 
mation to  be  given  in  the  country,  by  Adjutant  Danvers  (or  Devens).  The 
63 


498  HISTORY   OP  HAVERHILL. 

next  montli,  Baker  entered  tte  Continental  Service.  He  vrag  su'bseqTiently 
treveted  as  a  captain.  He  retired  from  the  service  in  1780,  and  toward 
the  latter  part  of  his  life,  was  assisted  by  a  pension. 

The  carrier  of  the  Gazette,  in  his  address  to  his  patrons,  January  1st, 
1828,  informs  them  that 

"  Shad  Parish  still  continues  much  the  same  ; 

The  unwearied  ghost  still  watches  Country  Bridge, 

Or  stalks,  w^ith  chattering  teeth  and  eyes  of  flame, 

From  his  old  station,  up  to  Peter's  Ridge." 

*'  Shad  Parish  was  long  a  sort  of  nickname  for  the  East  Parish,  on  ac- 
count of  the  large  quantities  of  shad  caught  within  its  limits.  "  Peter's 
Eidge"  was  the  residence  of  "Black  Peter,"  a  negro,  and  the  favorite 
route  of  a  certain  ghost  that  many  of  our  readers  have  doubtless  heard  of, 
was  "  from  Country  Bridge  to  Peter's  Eidge." 

The  first  Temperance  Society  formed  in  this  town, — upon  the  principle 
of  Total  Abstinence  from  intoxicating  liquors,  —  was  organized  on  the 
5th  of  February,  1828,  under  the  name  of  The  Society  for  the  promotion 
of  Temperance  in  Haverhill  and  vicinity.  The  circumstances  attending 
its  formation  were  as  follows :  — 

In  the  summer  of  1827,  a  Eev.  Mr.  Hewit  delivered  a  discourse  on  the 
subject  of  intemperance,  to  a  large  audience,  in  the  "First  Congrega- 
tional "  (First  Parish)  meeting-house  in  this  town.  This  discourse  excited 
considerable  interest  and  enquiry  concerning  the  proposed  plan  of  refor- 
mation. In  the  December  following,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Edwards  preached  in 
the  same  place  and  on  the  same  subject ;  and  added  much  to  the  feeling 
that  had  been  previously  elicited.  Not  long  after,  two  individuals,  Isaac 
E.  How,  Esq.,  and  William  Savory,  incidentally  held  a  conversation  on 
the  evils  which  this  part  of  the  community  was  suffering  in  consequence 
of  drinking  ardent  spirits,  and  finally  concluded  that  it  was  best  to  make 
an  attempt  to  form  a  Temperance  Society  in  the  town  and  vicinity.  After 
some  consideration,  they  decided  to  have  a  meeting  called  on  the  next 
Sabbath  evening,  at  the  large  chamber  of  Mr.  Jonathan  K.  Smith,  (the 
usual  place  for  the  evening  religious  meetings  of  the  Baptist  Church)  pro- 
vided the  latter  could  be  obtained  for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Smith  readily 
granted  the  request.  Mr.  How  then  wrote  a  notice,  the  purport  of  which 
was,  that  all  those  in  Haverhill  and  vicinity,  who  might  be  disposed  to 
adopt  some  measures  for  the  promotion  of  temperance,  were  requested  to 
meet  in  Mr.  Smith's  chamber,  on  Sabbath  evening,  December  23d,  1827. 
This  notice  Mr.  Savory  carried  to  the  editor  of  the  Gazette,  A.  W.  Thayer, 
Esq.,  who  readily  consented  to  insert  it  in  his  paper  for  two  weeks  in  sue- 


aiStORY   Off   HAVERHILL.  499 

"Cession.  The  proposition  appeared  to  be  well  received.  Kev.  Mr.  Keely^ 
the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church,  advised  his  church  to  attend  the  pro- 
posed meeting,  and  gave  notice  that  it  would  supercede  the  usual  evening 
meeting. 

When  the  appointed  time  came,  gentlemen  assembled  from  Haverhill 
and  Bradford ;  and,  at  a  proper  tiAe,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Peny,  of  Bradford, 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Thayer  was  appointed  secretary.  After 
an  interchange  of  opinions,  a  variety  of  resolutions  were  adopted,  among 
which  was  one  declaring  that  it  was  expedient  to  form  a  temperance 
society.  A  committee  was  thereupon  appointed  to  report  a  constitution  at 
a  subsequent  meeting,  and  an  adjournment  was  made  for  one  week.  At 
the  next  meeting  a  constitution  was  reported  and  adopted,  and  the  first 
Tuesday  in  February  was  fixed  upon  •  as  the  time  when  the  constitution 
should  be  signed  and  the  society  organized.  Eev.  Mr.  Perry  was  invited 
to  prepare  an  Address  for  the  occasion.  When  the  time  arrived,  all  then 
present  who  desired  to  do  so,  (some  fifteen  or  twenty)  signed  the  constitu- 
tion, and  the  following  board  of  oificers  were  then  chosen :  •— 

Kev,  Grardner  B.  Perry,  President ;  Eev.  Dudley  Phelps,  Vice  Presi- 
dent; Mr.  Abijah  W.  Thayer,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Deacon  Caleb  B. 
Le  Bosquet,  Mr.  Benjamin  Emerson,  2d,  Mr.  Isaac  Morse,  and  Eliphalet 
Kimball,  Esq.,  Coimcil;  and  Captain  Ezekiel  Hale,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Andrew 
W.  Hammond,  Auditors. 

After  the  choice  of  ofl&cers,  they  repaired  to  the  Baptist  Church,  where 
Eev.  Mr.  Perry  delivered  his  address.  Nineteen  persons  signed  the  pledge 
the  same  evening. 

The  first  Anniversary  Address  before  the  Society,  was  delivered  by  Eev. 
Mr.  Phelps,  February  8,  1829,  and  the  second,  by  Charles  Otis  Kimball, 
February  7,  1830.=  -= 

The  formation  of  this  society,  and  the  discussions  and  inquiries  which 
followed  its  operations,  caused  no  little  interest,  and  even  excitement,  in 
the  town ;  and  aroused  a  vigorous  opposition  to  the  movement.  In  conse- 
•quence  of  the  bold  and  uncompromising  stand  taken  by  the  secretary, 
Mr.  Thayer,  in  his  Gazette,  the  circulation  of  that  paper  rapidly  fell  from 
•one  thousand  down  to  six  hundred  copies  weekly.  But  still  the  work 
went  on. 

March  2i,  1831,  the  "  Youth's  Temperance  Association  of  Haverhill 
and  Bradford,"  was  organized,  and  thirty-seven  signed  the  constitution 
the  same  evening.  Elias  T,  Ingalls  was  chosen  President,  and  Moses  R 
Whittier,  Secretary. 

o  A  society  was  formed  upon  the  same  plan  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town,  January  24,  1830,  upon 
■which  occasion  Eev.  Mr.  Phelps  deliyered  an  address  in  the  Second  Baptist  Church, 


600  niSTOET   OP   HAVEKHILt. 

In  1833,  the  friends  of  the  temperance  movement  nominated  a  list  of 
town  officers,  and  by  printing  the  votes  on  hlue  paper,  literally  compelled 
every  voter  to  "  show  his  colors  "  at  the  polls. 

Three  years  later,  the  large  rum  distillery  then  owned  by  Captain  Wm. 
Caldwell,  was  sold  to  Alfred  Kittredge,  Esq.,  who  took  possession  on  the 
3d  of  March,  and  put  out  the  fires  the  same  night.  In  1840,  he 
erected  the  range  of  stores  known  as  the  "  Kittredge  Block,"  on  the  same 
site.  Nearly  all  the  bricks  used  in  the  construction  of  the  entire  block 
of  five  stores  were  made,  on  the  spot,  from  the  clay  found  around  the  vats 
of  the  old  distillery.  AVell  might  the  editor  of  the  Gazette  declare  that 
a  "  great  change  "  had  taken  place  in  the  public  sentiment  since  the  dis- 
tillery was  erected,  but  a  few  years  before.  Two  years  still  later,  (1842) 
strong  temperance  resolutions  were  adopted  in  the  annual  town  meeting ; 
the  selectmen  were  instructed  not  to  grant  any  licen'ses  for  the  sale  of 
ardent  spirits  ;  and  a  special  committee  of  five  was  chosen  to  visit  all  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  traffic,  and  endeavor  to  persuade  them  to  abandon  it. 
If  they  persisted,  prosecution  was  to  follow.  Such  were  some  of  the  rich 
fruits  of  the  humble  movement,  set  on  foot  by  two  humble  individuals. 

In  182S,  the  steamer  Merrimack^  Captain  Wm.  Haseltine,  —  the  first 
steamboat  on, the  river,  —  commenced  running  between  Haverhill  and 
Newburyport.  The  first  trip  was  made  from  Haverhill,  Tuesday,  Ajiril 
8th,  1828.  Fare  to  Newburyport,  fifty  cents.  The  Merrimack  was  built, 
and  mostly  owned  in  this  town ;  and  was  fitted  with  Wadsworth's  Safety 
Steam  Engine,  the  first  one  of  the  kind  put  in  any  boat.  It  continued 
running,  though  quite  irregularly,  for  several  years,  when  the  enterprise 
was  abandoned. 

The  Merrimack  Bridge,  connecting  the  Eocks'  Village  with  West-New- 
bury,  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1828.  It  is  built  on  Towne's  system. 
It  is  900  feet  in  length,  and  is  supported  by  four  stone  piers,  and  two 
abutments,  each  extending  some  distance  from  the  shore.  It  has  four 
defensive  piers,  or  sterlings,  extending  some  distance  above,  and  a  draw. 
The  bridge  is  built  wholly  of  plank,  except  the  floor  timbers,  and  is,  we 
believe,  one  of  the  earliest  built  upon  that  plan. 

About  this  time  the  town  found  itself  without  any  regular  place  for 
holding  its  meetings.  The  First  Parish,  in  1827,  had  voted  to  charge  the 
town  in  future  thirty  dollars  a  year  for  the  use  of  their  meeting-house  ; 
but  having  had  the  free  use  of  it,  and  its  predecessors,  since  the  Parish 
was  first  organized  (ninety-eight  years)  the  town  refused  to  pay  it,  and  at 
the  next  meeting  ordered  the   selectmen  to  provide  some   other  place. 


HISTORY   OP   riAVERHILt.  50l 

Accordingly,  the  September  meeting  (1828)  was  teld  in  the  West  Parish 
meeting-house  ;  and  the  November  meeting  was  held  in  the  meeting-house 
of  the  East  Parish.  This  "boxing  the  compass"  was  not,  however, 
generally  satisfactory,  and  it  was  voted  that  all  future  meetings  should  be 
held  in  the  First  Parish,  provided  the  selectmen  could  procure  a  suitable 
place.  They  next  met  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  then  in  the  Christian 
Union  chapel,  then  in  the  Univcrsalist  meeting-house,  again  in  the  First 
Parish,  then  in  Academy  Hall,  and  finally,  vibrated  between  the  vestry  of 
the  Unitarian  (or  First  Parish)  church,  and  the  above-named  chapel, 
until  a  Town  Hall  was  erected,  in  1847. 

In  1829,  the  Haverhill  Institution  for  Savings  was  organized,  and 
commenced  business  in  October  of  the  same  year.  For  a  more  particular 
account  of  this  excellent  Institution,  see  the  appendix  to  this  volume. 

July  14th,  of  the  same  year,  the  Infant  School  Society/  was  organized. 
Mrs.  James  H.  Duncan,  Mrs.  Eufus  Longley,  Mrs.  Isaac  E.  How,  mana- 
gers ;  and  Miss  Eebecca  Smith,  instructress.  The  object  of  the  society  was 
to  provide  a  suitable  place,  and  instruction,  for  those  too  ^young  to  be 
admitted  to  the  then  ungraded  schools.  In  this  they  were  successful.  A 
neat  and  convenient  building  was  erected  for  their  use,  where  the  Town 
Hall  now  stands,  and  the  school  continued  to  flourish  for  many  years.  It 
was  supported  by  moderate  tuition  fees,  and  private  subscriptions. 

The  Haverhill  Lyceum,  the  first  organization  of  the  kind  in  the  town, 
was  formed  February  25,  1830,  with  James  H.  Duncan,  Esq.,  President, 
James  Gale,  Esq.,  Eecording  Secretary,  and  Isaac  E.  How,  Esq.,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary.  The  object  of  the  association  was,  to  provide  for  an 
annual  course  of  lectures,  upon  literary  and  scientific  topics,  to  be  deliv- 
ered before  the  members.  The  courses  usually  consisted  of  ten  or  twelve 
lectures  each,  the  expenses  of  which  were  defrayed  by  the  sale  of  tickets 
of  admission.  The  price  of  the  latter  was  usually  one  dollar  per  course 
of  lectures.  The  Lyceum  was  kept  up,  with  but  few  interruptions,  until 
the  organization  of  the  Haverhill  Athenaeum,  in  1852.  The  latter  organ- 
ization, and  its  successor,  the  Haverhill  Library  Association,  have  continued 
to  furnish  an  annual  course  of  popular  lectures  to  the  present  time. 

In  March,  1830,  John  G.  Whittier,  then  editor  of  the  Essex  Gazette^ 
in  this  town,  issued  proposals  to  publish  a  History  of  Haverhill,  in  one 
volume,  of  two  hundred  pages,  duodecimo,  price  eighty-seven  and  one-half 
cents  per  copy.  If  the  material  swelled  the  volume  above  two  hundred 
pages,  the  price  was  to  be  one  dollar  per  copy.  Friend  Whittier  soon 
found  that  the  amount  of  labor  required  to  compile  the  work,  and  the 


502  HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILt. 

limited  encouragement   oflFered,  were  too  serious  obstacles  to  be  easily 
surmounted,  and  tbe  project  was  abandoned. 

In  June,  1831,  B.  L.  Mirick,  then  a  young  man  employed  in  the  store 
of  Mr.  John  Dow,  as  clerk,  issued  a  prospectus  for  a  History  of  the  town. 
The  book  was  to  contain  two  hundred  pages,  and  the  price  fixed  was  one 
dollar  per  copy.     It  was  published  the  following  March. 

Mirick's  History  of  Haverhill  was  a  small  sized  octavo  volume,  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  pages,  embellished  with  a  single  engraving,  —  a 
lithographic  view  of  Haverhill  —  and,  although  gotten  up  with  evident 
haste,  and  under  the  pressure  of  other  engagements,  it  was  alike  creditable 
to  the  compiler  and  the  town.  It  was  published  by  A.  W.  Thayer,  at  the 
office  of  the  Essex  Gazette.  It  is,  however,  but  just  to  add,  that  Mirick 
found  a  large  part  of  the  material  used  by  him,  already  prepared.  Friend 
Whittier  had  collected  a  large  amount  of  valuable  matter,  which  was 
readily  placed  in  his  hands,  and  the  excellent  Historical  Sketch  of  Haver* 
hill, — prepared  by  Leverett  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  for  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  and  published  with  their  proceedings,  in  1816,  —  left 
him  comparatively  little  to  do,  except  to  arrange  the  material,  and  super- 
intend its  publication. 

Mirick  was  a  man  of  considerable  literary  talent,  and  wrote  some 
excellent  poetry.  In  1 832,  he  was  for  a  few  months  editor  of  the  Middlesex 
Telegrojjh,  at  Lowell,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business, 
in  Boston,  and  subsequently  in  Bangor,  Maine. 

In  1830,  in  answer  to  an  order  of  the  General  Court,  the  selectmen 
were  directed  to  have  a  correct  survey  made  of  the  town.  This  was  done 
the  following  year,  and  in  1832,  James  Gale,  Esq.,  published  an  excellent 
lithographic  map  of  the  town,  from  this  official  survey.  The  size  of  the 
map  was  eighteen  by  twenty-nine  inches,  — -  being  drawn  on  a  scale  of 
one  hundred  rods  to  an  inch.  It  was  the  first  map  of  the  town  ever 
published. 

In  the  summer  of  1831,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  greatly 
alarmed  on  account  of  the  ravages  of  mad-dogs  in  the  neighboring  towns, 
and  other  parts  of  the  State.  So  serious  appeared  the  danger,  that  a  town 
meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  matter ;  but  no  definite  action  was 
taken,  and  the  excitement  soon  subsided. 

The  death  of  Joseph  Morse,  of  this  town,  which  occurred  September 
26,  1831,  under  very  peculiar  circumstances,  seems  to  call  for  a  special 
notice  in  this  place. 

Mr.  Morse  was  a  man  about  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  of  nervous  tem- 
perament, and  rather  tender  constitution  of  body.     He  had  for  a  long 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHII,!..  603 

time  Tbeen  afflicted  with  palpitation  of  the  heart,  which  was  greatly 
aggravated  by  the  least  excitement,  or  unusual  exercise.  For  several 
years  he  labored  under  a  heavy  despondency  of  mind,  —  believing  that  he 
had  "committed  the  unpardonable  sin," — from  which  he  at  last  emerged, 
and  for  about  a  year  before  his  death,  he  was  in  an  exceedingly  happy 
and  joyous  frame  of  mind.  A  short  time  before  his  death,  he  informed 
his  brother  that  he  should  live  but  a  short  time,  and  rehearsed  the  manner 
in  which  "it  had  appeared  to  him  "  that  he  should  die.  He  said  that  he 
would  be  called  upon  to  raise  the  draw  of  the  bridge,"  to  permit  a  vessel 
to  pass  up,  and  should  bleed  to  death  in  the  act.  Nothing  could  persuade 
him  that  this  was  only  the  picture  of  a  disordered  imagination.  He  knew 
it  woxdd  he  so.  Early  in  the  morning  of  September  26th,  a  schooner, 
commanded  by  Captain  Newcomb,  of  this  town,  approached  the  bridge, 
and  sounded  a  horn,  as  a  signal  for  the  draw  to  be  raised.  Mr.  Morse 
was  seen  to  hurry  on  to  the  bridge,  and  make  preparations  for  raising  it. 
But  before  he  had  commenced  the  actual  raising,  he  was  heard  to  say, 
"I'm  dying;"  and  on  looking  up,  those  on  board  the  vessel  distinctly 
saw  the  blood  pouiing  from  his  mouth  in  a  large  stream.  Before  assist- 
ance could  reach  him,  he  was  dead.  In  the  excitement,  he  had  evidently 
ruptured  one  of  the  larger  blood-vessels,  —  already,  probably,  extensively 
diseased. 

In  1832,  great  alarm  was  felt  in  the  town,  on  account  of  the  awful 
ravages  of  the  cholera  in  the  country.  The  excitement  and  anxiety  at 
length  became  so  great,  that  a  special  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  28th 
of  July.  At  this  meeting,  a  health  committee  of  seven  persons  was  chosen 
with  power  to  visit  places,  remove  nuisances,  establish  a  hospital  if  neces- 
sary, and  furnish  disinfectants.  The  latter  were  to  be  furnished  citizens 
at  cost.  If  the  cholera  actually  appeared  in  the  town,  the  committee 
were  authorized  to  send  a  physician,  at  the  town's  expense,  to  some  place 
where  the  plague  was,  or  had  been,  to  learn  the  best  modes  of  treatment. 
Eesolutions  were  also  passed,  urging  and  requesting  all  persons  to  discon- 
tinue for  a  time  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  unless  ordered  or  advised  by  a 
physician.  Happily  the  town  was  passed  over  by  the  terrible  plague. 
One  or  two  persons  experienced  slight  attacks,  but  none  died. 

In  the  summer  of  1833,  President  Jackson  paid  a  visit  to  New  England 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  the  honors  that  so  justly  belong  to  that 
exalted  station.  As  he  was  expected  to  visit  Salem,  Lowell,  Concord,  and 
other  places  in  the  vicinity,  a  strong  desire  was  manifested  to  secure  a 

*  Mr.  Morse  was  toll-keeper  at  the  Rocks'  Bridge. 


504  HISTORY   OV   HAVERHILL. 

similar  honor  for  this  town.  Accordingly,  June  20tli,  a  town  meeting  was 
called,  and  Ira  Noyes  and  Edwin  Harriman  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
extend  a  formal  invitation  to  the  President  to  include  Haverhill  in  the 
list  of  favored  places.  The  selectmen,  and  twelve  others,  were  made  a 
committee  of  arrangements  for  the  reception,  and  six  were  chosen  to  assist 
them.  The  President  accepted  the  invitation,  and  the  citizens  vied  with 
each  other  in  efforts  to  put  their  houses  and  streets  in  holiday  array  for 
the  occasion.  Triumphal  arches  were  erected,  flags  and  banners  prepared, 
buildings  decorated,  and  everything  done  that  ingenuity  could  devise,  or 
money  secure,  that  it  was  thought  would  add  to  the  interest  and  attrac- 
tions of  the  reception. 

Almost  at  the  last  hour,  and  while  the  whole  town  were  on  the  tiptoe 
of  pleasant  expectation,  news  came  that  the  President  had  been  taken  sud- 
denly ill  at  Salem,  and  had  consequently  so  changed  his  route,  that  he 
could  not  visit  Haverhill !  It  was  a  sad  disappointment  to  the  good  peo- 
ple of  the  town,  and  it  was  some  time  ere  they  could  realize  the  unwel- 
come fact  that  all  their  pains  had  been  taken  for  nought. 

About  this  time,  the  subject  of  railway  communication  with  Boston 
began  to  receive  attention.  The  great  importance  and  convenience  of 
such  a  communication  was  obvious.  The  completion  of  a  railroad  from 
Andover  to  the  Boston  and  Lowell  railroad,  at  AVilmington,  was  already 
made  certain,  and  brought  the  matter  directly  home  to  the  capitalists 
and  business  men  of  Haverhill.  The  first  meeting  upon  the  subject, 
was  held  at  the  Eagle  House,  January  7th,  1834,  —  Hon.  James  H. 
Duncan,  Chairman,  Alfred  Kittredge,  Esq.,  Secretary.  The  meeting 
decided  that  the  road  ought  to  be  extended  from  Andover  to  Haverhill, 
and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  explore  the  route,  procure  a  scientific  survey, 
and  petition  the  Legislature  for  a  charter.  The  enterprise  was  pushed 
forward  with  vigor.  In  the  fall  of  1835,  the  work  of  grading  between 
Andover  and  Haverhill  commenced  ;  in  August,  183G,  the  cars  commenced 
running  between  Andover  and  Wilmington  ;  and  on  the  26th  of  October, 
1837,  the  road  was  formally  opened  to  the  Merrimack,  at  Bradford."  The 
latter  was  an  occasion  of  great  rejoicing  in  this  town.  It  was  celebrated 
by  a  free  ride  of  the  stockholders  over  the  road,  and  a  splendid  collation 
at  Academy  Hall,  followed  by  the  usual  variety  of  lively  and  interesting 
sentiments  and  speeches,  f 

o  The  road  was  opened  to  East  Kingston  in  December,  1839,  and  soon  after  to  Portland. 

t  Believing  that  it  will  even  now  be  read  with  interest,  and  will  be  found  more  and  more  interesting, 
as  time  shall  multiply  its  changes  and  improvements,  we  give  in  full  the  "  Stage  Register  "  for  Ilaverhill, 
as  published  just  previous  to  the  opening  of  the  railroad  connecting  it  with  Boston  :  — 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  505 

The  first  Anti-Slavery  Society  in  this  town,  was  organized  April  3d, 
1834.  Hon.  Gilman  Parker,  President;  A.  W.  Thayer,  Eecording  Secre- 
tary ;  and  John  Gr.  Whittier,  Corresponding  Secretary.'-'  This  was  not 
long  after  followed  by  the  organization  of  a  Female  Anti-Slavery  Society, 
andj  still  later,  by  the  organization  of  similar  bodies  in  other  parts  of  the 
town.  The  movement,  however,  met  with  considerable  opposition,  as  may 
be  judged  from  the  fact  that,  in  1835,  an  anti-slavery  meeting  was  broken 
up  in  the  town  by  a' mob !     The  circumstances  were  these:  — 

A  Eev.  Mr.  May,  an  "  Abolitionist  Lecturer,"  occupied  the  desk  of  the 
First  Parish  society  on  a  Sabbath  afternoon,  in  August,  1835,  and,  having 
engaged  the  Christian  Union  Chapel  for  the  purpose,  was  to  deliver  an 
anti-slavery  lecture  at  that  place  in  the  evening.  The  evening  meeting 
was  entirely  broken  up,  by  a  mob  outside,  who  threw  sand,  gravel,  and 
small  stones,  against  the  windows,  breaking  the  glass,  and  by  their  hoot- 
ings,  and  other  noises,  frightened  the  female  portion  of  the  audience,  and 
led  to  the  fear,  on  the  part  of  all,  that  more  serious  assaults  would  follow, 
if  the  meeting  was  continued.  It  was,  therefore,  summarily  dissolved. 
It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  that  the  latter  course  was  adopted,  as  a  loaded 
cannon  was  then  being  drawn  to  the  spot,  to  add  its  thunderings  to  the 
already  disgraceful  tumults  of  that  otherwise  quiet  Sabbath  evening ! 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1835,  was  observed  at  the  Eocks'  Village,  in  a 
most  enthusiastic  manner,  by  the  "  Democratic  Ecpublicans."  A  proces- 
sion, escorted  by  the  Haverhill  Light  Infantry,  marched  to  the  Second 

"STAGE  REGISTER, 

"  The  Haverhill  and  Boston  Accommodation  stage.  —  This  stage  leaves  Haverhill  every  Monday 
Wednesday  and  Friday  at  8  o'clock,  a.  m.,  and  arrives  at  Boston  at  1  o'clock  p.  m.  Returning,  leaves  the 
city  every  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday,  at  2  1-2  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  arrives  at  Haverhill  same 
evening. 

"  Boston  Mail  stage  leaves  Boston  every  day  in  the  week,  Sunday  excepted,  at  half  past  seven  o'clock 
a.  m.,  and  arrives  in  Haverhill  at  12.  Returning,  leaves  Haverhill  every  day  at  1  o'clock,  p.  m.,  and 
arrives  in  Boston  same  evening. 

"  Salem  stage  leaves  Haverhill  for  Salem  every  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday  at  1  o'clock  p.  m. 
Returning,  leaves  Salem  for  Haverhill  every  Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday  at  7  o'clock  a.  m.,  and 
arrives  in  Haverhill  between  11  and  12. 

"  Newhuryport  stage  leaves  Newburyport  for  Haverhill  every  day  at  9  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  arrives  1-2 
past  11.     Returning!  leaves  Haverhill  every  day  at  1  o'clock,  and  arrives  in  Newburyport  at  4. 

"Lowell  and  Methiien  stage  leaves  Haverhill  every  day  at  1  o'clock,  and  arrives  at  half  past  4.  Re- 
turning, leaves  Lowell  everyday  at  8  o'clock  a.  m.  and  arrives  in  Haverhill  at  half  past  11. 

"Exeter  and  Dover  stage  leaves  Haverhill  every  day  at.  12  o'clock  for  Dover  and  arrives  at  6  p.  m. 
Returning,  leaves  Dover  at  7  1-2  o'clock,  and  arrives  in  Haverhill  at  1  o'clock  p.  m.  every  day. 

"  Concord  Stage  leaves  Haverhill  Mondays,  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  at  12  o'clock,  and  arrives  at 
Concord  same  evening.  Returning,  leaves  Concord  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Saturdays,  at  7  a.  m.,  and 
arrives  in  Haverhill  at  1  p.  m." 

°  The  Essex  County  Anti-Slavery  Society  was  formed  June  10th,  1834  —  Rev.  Gardner  B.  Perry, 
President,  and  John  G.  Whittier  Corresponding  Secretary.  The  American  Anti-Slavery  Society  was 
organized  in  May,  1833. 

63 


606  HISTORY   OF  nATERHILL. 

Baptist  meeting-liouse,  wtere  an  oration  was  deliverecl  loy  J.  W.  Mansnr, 
of  Lowell,  followed  by  a  dinner  under  an  arbor  near  the  bank  of  the  beau- 
tiful MeiTimack.  In  the  central  village,  the  occasion  was  noticed  by  the 
"Young  Men's  Temperance  Lyceum."  An  address  was  delivered  in 
the  First  Parish  meeting-house,  by  Erastus  Brooks,  Esq..  followed  by  a 
public  dinner. 

In  the  summer  of  1835,  the  brick  factory  on  Winter  Street  was  erected 
by  Ezekiel  Hale,  Jr.,  &  Son.  The  building  is  ninety-five  feet  in  length, 
by  thirty-four  feet  in  breadth,  and  four  stories  in  height.  It  was  built 
adjoining  the  old  factory,  which  was  of  the  same  height,  and  fifty-nine 
feet  in  length,  by  twenty-seven  feet  in  breadth.  The  whole  was  intended 
to  run  sixteen  hundred  spindles,  turn  out  six  hundred  yards  of  superior 
scarlet  flannel  per  day,  and  give  employment  to  about  thirty  persons.  The 
factory  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  Messrs.  Stevens  &  Co.,  (who  pur- 
chased it  in  1855)  and  employs  about  forty  persons,  turning  out  about 
eight  thousand  yards  of  excellent  flannel  per  week. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  the  town  voted  to  build  a  •'  Work  House  "  at  the 
town  farm.  It  was  to  be  twenty  feet  square,  and  two  stories  in  height, 
with  three  strong  rooms,  or  cells,  (ceiled  with  three-inch  oak  plank)  on 
the  ground  floor,  and  two  rooms  in  the  second  story,  suitable  for  workshops. 
It  was  erected  the  following  winter,  at  a  cost  of  $708,80.  At  the  same 
time,  a  committee  was  chosen  to'  petition  the  General  Court  for  a  general 
or  special  act,  empowering  the  overseers  of  the  poor  to  commit  to  the  work- 
house all  persons  who  receive  any  assistance  from  the  town,  or  any  of  their 
families.  Such  an  act  was  passed,  and  from  time  to  time,  persons  have 
been  committed  in  accordance  with  its  provisions.  The  number  of  such 
committals  has,  however,  always  been  small,  and  we  believe  that  for  sev- 
eral years  past  none  whatever  have  been  made. 

In  January,  183G,  the  First  Uhiversalist  Society  raised  their  first  bell, 
making  the  fourth  church -bell  then  in  the  village.  Previous  to  about  this 
time,  the  First  Parish  bell  had  been  regularly  rung  daily,  at  twelve  o'clock, 
M.,  and  nine  o'clock,  P.  M.  This  was  an  old  custom,  and,  for  aught  we 
know,  was  introduced  into  New  England  along  with  the  first  church-bell. 
It  is  still  kept  up  in  very  many  New  England  towns  and  cities.  Even  in 
Boston,  the  familiar  tone  of  the  "  Old  South  "  bell  may  still  be  daily 
heard  above  the  din  of  the  busy  streets,  calling  the  multitude  from  labor, 
to  their  mid-day  refreshment.  In  this  town,  the  daily  ringing  of  the  bell 
was  regularly  kept  up  until  about  the  time  we  have  mentioned,  after  which 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  507 

it  was  done  a  part  of  the  time  only,  until,  about  1848,  it  was  discontinued 
altogether,  mucli  to  the  regret  of  many  who  cherish  the  "  good  old  cus- 
toms of  our  fathers." 

In  November,  1836,  Summer  Street  was  extended  from  Kent  to  Mill 
Streets ;  and  Webster  Street  was  laid  out.  Both  were  accepted  by  the 
town. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  a  census  of  the  town  was  taken,  by  the  assessors, 
from  which  it  appears  that  there  was  then  a  population  of  four  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  twenty-six  in  the  town.  The  whole  number  of  polls 
was  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  four.  The  village  contained  a  popu- 
lation of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-one,  with  eight  hundred 
and  thirty-one  polls ;  the  East  Parish  six  hundred  and  nipety-seven  popu- 
lation, and  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  polls ;  the  West  Parish  a  population 
of  seven  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-three 
polls ;  and  the  North  Parish  a  population  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-one, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  polls.  This  was  an  increase  since  1830, 
of  eight  hundred  and  fourteen  in  population,  and  four  hundred  and  fortj- 
two  polls. 

When,  in  1828,  the  town  was  refused  the  longer  free  use  of  the  First  Par- 
ish meeting-house,  the  question  arose,  to  whom  belongs  the  land  where  the 
First  Parish  meeting-house  now  stands?  A  committee  was  chosen  by 
the  town  to  investigate  the  point.  The  result  of  their  investigations  left 
the  matter  in  doubt.  Finally,  in  1836—7,  the  parish  decided  to  replace 
their  old  meeting-house  by  a  new  and  more  imposing  structure,  and  made 
a  proposition  to  release  all  claim  to  the  "  common,"  in  exchange  for  the 
Marsh  lot,  just  north  of  it.  The  matter  came  before  the  town  at 
their  meeting  jn  May,  1837,  and  $1,000  was  appropriated  toward  purchas- 
ing the  claim,  that  the  place  might  be  laid  out  as  a  common  forever.  The 
above  estate  was  purchased,  at  a  cost  of  $2,750,  the  buildings  sold  for 
$1,000,  and  the  balance  was  made  up  by  individual  subscription. 

James  H.  Difncan,  Esq.,  was  made  chairman  of  a  committee  to  carry 
out  the  vote  of  the  town,  and  to  his  exertions  and  liberality  we  are  largely 
indebted  for  our  present  beautiful  common.  The  following  vote  of  the 
Parish,  passed  June  5,  1837,  shows  the  conditions  upon  which  the  quit- 
claim was  made :  — 

"  Voted,  That  the  Parish  will  sell,  by  quit-claim  deed,  to  the  Town  of 
Haverhill,  for  the  use  of  the  Town,  as  an  ornamental  common,  not  to  be 
built  on,  the  land  of  the  Parish  heretofore  used  as  their  meetinghouse  lot ; 
reserving  all  the  stones  and  brick  on  the  same,  on  full  and  plain  conditions, 
expressed  in  the  deed,  limiting  the  use  of  the  said  land,  for  the  purpose 


508  HISTORY    OF    nAVERniLL. 

of  an  ornamental  common,  and  providing  for  the  said  deed  "being  void,  and 
the  land  reverting  to  the  Parish,  if  any  building  or  buildings  ■whatever, 
shall,  either  by  the  said  town  or  any  person  or  body,  ever  be  placed  or 
suffered  to  remain  on  said  land,  or  on  any  of  the  land  situate  between  any 
part  of  the  said  land  and  the  Marsh  lot,  so  called,  lying  a  few  rods  north- 
erly of  the  land  so  deeded  to  the  Town." 

The  Parish  immediately  commenced  the-  erection  of  an  elegant  church 
edifice  on  the  new  lot ;  and  at  the  next  annual  meeting,  the  town  chose  a 
committee  to  level  the  common,  and  otherwise  improve  it.  It  was  several 
years,  however,  before  the  work  of  enclosing  and  embellishing  it  was  fully 
completed  ;  and  to  the  active  and  energetic  labors  of  the  ladies  of  the 
town  must  be  accorded  a  large  part  of  the  credit  due  for  its  final  accom- 
plishment. 

At  the  annual  March  meeting  in  1837,  the  town  voted  to  receive  its 
share  of  the  surplus  revenue  then  about  to  be  divided  among  the  several 
States.  The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  had  passed  an  Act  author- 
izing its  proportion  of  the  surplus  to  be  divided  among  the  several  towns 
in  the  State,  upon  the  same  conditions  that  Congress  had  authorized  its 
distribution  among  the  several  States.  At  the  above  meeting  the  town 
accepted  the  conditions,  and  chose  a  committee  to  devise  some  appropriate 
plan  for  the  disposition  of  the  money.  At  the  adjourned  meeting,  the 
committee  submitted  the  following  report:  — 

*'  The  committee  chosen  at  the  last  meeting  '  to  recommend  a  disposition 
of  the  portion  of  the  surplus  Revenue  that  may  belong  to  the  town '  have 
attended  to  that  duty  and  Eeport, 

That  the  probable  amount  of  the  Town's  proportion  of  said  surplus 
Eevenue  will  be  nearly  Twelve  Thousand  Dollars.  That  it  is  payable  in 
four  quarterly  instalments,  two  of  which  will  be  soon  receivable,  and  the 
remaining  two  in  July  and  October  next.  That  as  a  condition  of  receiving 
the  money,  the  Town  must  give  a  certificate  of  Deposite  binding  the  town 
for  a  repayment  of  the  same  or  any  part  thereof,  when  required,  and  that 
by  the  Act  of  the  Legislature,  the  Town  must  apply  the  money,  or  the 
interest  on  the  same  to  those  public  objects  of  expenditure,  for  which 
Towns  may  now  lawfully  raise  and  appropriate  monc}^  and  to  no  other 
purpose.  And  as  the  Towji  is  now  indebted  to  the  amount  of  nearly  seven 
thousand  dollars,  your  committee  recommend,  first,  that  three  thousand 
dollars  of  said  deposite  money  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  Town's 
debts.  Second,  that  one  thousand  dollars  of  the  same  be  i*e-loaned  on 
interest  to  the  First  School  District  in  Haverhill,  to  enable  their  building 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  509 

committee  to  pay  for  the  School  House  lately  erected  by  said  District. 
And  lastly,  in  order  to  secure  a  safe  and  productive  investment  of  said 
deposite  money,  your  committee  recommend  that  the  residue  of  said  depos- 
ite  money,  including  the  future  instalments,  and  the  sum  recommended  to 
be  loaned  to  said  School  District,  when  repaid,  be  invested  in  the  stocks 
of  the  Merrimack  and  Haverhill  Banks  at  the  lowest  rate  at  which  shares 
can  be  purchased,  and  that  the  interest  of  all  the  amount  invested  on 
interest,  be  annually  apportioned  by  the  Selectmen  to  the  several  School 
Districts  for  the  support  of  cojnmon  schools,  according  to  the  number  of 
scholars  in  each  school  district  between  the  ages  of  four  and  sixteen  years. 
And  to  carry  into  effect  the  foregoing  recommendations,  your  committee 
propose  the  following  votes.     All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

13y  order  of  the  committee, 

James  H.  Duncan, 

Haverhill,  April  8th,  1837.  Chairman." 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  its  recommendations  adopted. 

The  necessity  of  an  official  and  well  understood  name  for  each  of  the 
several  streets,  now  that  the  town  was  rapidly  increasing  in  population, 
and  new  streets  were  being  frequently  laid  out,  was  too  apparent  to  escape 
attention;  and  we  accordingly  find  that,  at  the  annual  meeting  in  ISoS, 
a  committee  was  chosen  to  name  them.  The  following  is  copied  from  the 
records  of  April  16th,  of  the  same  year:  — 

"  Voted  That  the  report  of  the  Committee  chosen  April  2d,  1838,  to 
name  the  several  streets  in  the  village,  be  accepted,  as  amended,  which  is 
as  follows,  viz. 

AYater  St.,  From  the  Great  Bridge  to  Gage's  corner,  or  Plain  Gate. 

Front  St.,''-  From  the  Great  Bridge  to  Little  River  Bridge. 

Washington  St.,  From  Little  Paver  Bridge  to  West  Parish  line,  by  Daniel 
SiWer's  house. 

Main  St.,  From  the  Great  Bridge  to  the  State  line  near  Plastow  meeting- 
house. 

Summer  St.,  From  Main  to  Mill  St.  near  Col.  Woodman's  Mill. 

Broad  St.,f  From  Main  St.  by  the  Street  Pump  to  Derry  St.  over  the  Stone 
Bridge. 

DeiTy  St., J  From  Little  Eiver  Bridge  to  corner  of  Derry  road  west  of 
Moses  Poor's  house. 

*  Changed  May  2d,  to  Merrimack  street. 

t  Changed  May  2d,  to  Winter  street. 

t  Changed  May  2d,  to  Essex  street  (from  Little  River  Bridge  to  the  foot  of  the  hill.) 


510  HISTORY   OP   UAVERIIILL. 

Bradford  St.,  From  Water  St.  near  Mrs  Whittier's  Brick  house,  to  the 

Chain  Ferry. 
Mill  St.,  From  Water  St.,  by  Col.  Woodman's  Mill  to  Fond  St. 
Jew  St.,  From  Derry  Street  by  the  brick  yard,  and  Aaron  Carlton's  house, 

to  New  Hampshire  line. 
Cross  St.,  From  Water  St.  to  Mill  St. 
Kent  St.,  From  Water  St.  crossing  Summer  St.  to  Pond  St. 
Stage  St.,  From  AVater  St.  by  Merrimack  Bank  to  Summer  St. 
Green  St.,  From  AVater  St.  by  Nathan  Webster's  Hat  Factory  to  Sum* 

mer  St. 
Pecker  St.,  From  Front  St.  by  the  Baptist  Vestry  to  Broad  St. 
How  St.,  From  Front  St.  to  Broad  St.  west  of  the  Baptist  meeting  house. 
Portland  St.,  From  Broad  St.  to  White  St.- 

Pleasant  St.,  From  Broad  St.  to  Pecker  St.  by  Benj  Kimball's  house. 
High  St.,  From  Derry  St.  to  Washington  St.  at  top  of  the  Hill. 
Primrose  St.,  From  Broad  St.  to  Main  St.  near  Mrs  Duston's  house. 
White  St.,  From  Broad  St.  to  Main  St. 
Pond  St.,  From  Main  St.  by  Capt.  John  Ayer's  to  Bridge  at  the  great 

Pond. 
Webster  St.,  From  Summer  St.  to  Pond  Street. 
Dow  St.,  From  Main  St.  crossing  Webster  St.  to  Kent  St. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted.! 
Haverhill,  April  16th,  1838.  Moses  Wingate,  chairman.'* 

In  the  fall  of  1838,  Mr.  Moses  E.  Emerson,  of  this  town,  advertised, 
that  on  the  19th  of  November,  he  should  commence  going  to  Boston  in 
the  cars  every  morning,  returning  in  the  evening,  for  the  purpose  of  trans* 
acting  any  business  entrusted  to  him.  This  was  the  beginning  of  what 
has  now  become  an  important  and  extensive  business,  — the  "  Express  '* 
business.  E.  C.  Thompson  &  Co.,  now  employ  three  messeug^s,  (making 
three  trips  daily  each  way)  two  horses  and  drivers  in  Haverhill,  and  three 
horses  and  two  drivers  in  Boston. 

In  1839,  Ezekiel  Hale,  Jr.,  petitioned  the  town,  for  liberty  to  erect  a 
flume  at  the  outlet  of  the  Great  Pond,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  water 
in  reserve  to  supply  his  factory  during  the  dry  season  of  the  year.  He 
had  already  expended  upwards  of  seven  hundred  dollars  in  widening  and 
deepening  tlie  bed  of  tlie  stream  leading  from  the  pond  to  Little  Kiver, 
and  erecting  flumes ;  and  now  wished  to  hold  the  surplus  water  of  the 

*  Portland  street  wns  accepted  at  the  March  meeting  of  the  same  year. 
t  School  street  was  accepted  the  following  year. 


HISTORY   OP  HAVERHILL.  511 

pond  under  KIs  own  control.  The  town  gave  Lim  a  quit-claim  of  its  right 
to  erect  such  a  flume,  and  to  flow  the  pond,  on  condition  that  he  erected  a 
suitable  bridge  and  causeway  at  the  outlet  of  the  pond,  and  seciired  the 
town  from  all  costs  and  damages  arising  from  such  flowage.* 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1839,  was  celebrated  by  a  large  party  at  the  Great 
Pond  ;  and  by  the  First  Universalist  Society,  at  Plug  Pond.  The  day  was 
further  noticed,  by  a  national  salute  of  twenty-six  guns,  and  the  ringing 
of  bells,  at  sunrise,  noon,  and  sunset,  and  a  display  of  fireworks  in  the 
evening.  Previous  to  this,  it  had  for  many  years  been  the  practice,  —  in 
addition  to  bonfires,  dragging  burning  tar-barrels  through  the  streets,  &c., 
• — to  throw  "  fire-balls  "  back  and  forth  through  the  streets,  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  Fourth  of  July.f  But  this  year,  on  petition  of  many  of  the 
citizens  of  the  village,  the  town  voted  to  prohibit  the  use  of  not  only  fire- 
balls, but  crackers,  and  squibs. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  1839,  Eev.  Wm.  Miller,  — whose  predictions 
that  the  year  1843  would  witness  the  destruction  of  the  world  by  fire, 
had  already  awakened  a  deep  interest  in  other  places.  —  visited  this  town, 
and  preached  a  course  of  lectures  upon  his  startling  topic,  in  the  Christian 
Union  Chapel.  The  earnest  manner  of  the  preacher,  the  apparent  plausi- 
bility of  his  interpretations  of  scripture,  and  the  awful  sublimity  of  the 
subject,  caused  him  to  be  listened  to  by  large  audiences,  with  deepest  in- 
terest. In  January,  (1810)  he  delivered  a  second  course -upon  the  same 
subject,  which  deepened  the  impression  already  made,  and  led  to  a  general 
religious  awakening  in  the  town.  In  the  following  April,  there  were,  at 
one  time,  four  series  of  protracted  meetings  being  held  in  the  village.  At 
the  Union  Evangelical  Church  (Winter  Street)  such  a  meeting  commenced 
on  the  oth  of  April,  and  was  continued  every  evening,  and  a  part  of  the 
time  every  afternoon,  for  some  two  months.  In  the  height  of  the  excite- 
ment, several  persons  were  thrown  into  a  trance  state,  and  the  meetings 
were  repeatedly  continued  until  near  the  morning's  dawn.  Scenes  such 
as  were  witnessed  in  that  place  during  these  memorable  weeks,  are  beyond 
the  power  of  description,  and  will  probably  never  be  repeated  in  all  their 
wild  extravagance. 

*  In  1814,  Ezekiel  Hale  (senior)  petitioned  the  town  for  permission  to  erect  a  Lock  at  Little  River 
Bridge,  "  so  as  to  float  lumber  to  his  mill."  The  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  reported  fav- 
orably, but  the  town  refused  to  grant  the  desired  permission.  In  1826,  Mr.  Hale  applied  to  the  General 
Court  for  permission  to  make  a  canal  "from  Hale's  Mill  pond,  by  the  Little  River,  to  the  Merrimack." 
The  prayer  was  granted,  and  the  canal  was  made,  but  never  used.  It  was  intended  for  the  purpose  of 
running  logs  and  lumber  between  the  Merrimack  and  Mr.  Hale's  saw  mill,  which  was  located  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream  from  the  present  flannel  factory. 

t  These  fire  balls  were  balls  of  cotton,  soaked  in  spirits  of  turpentine,  and  thrown  back  and  forth  with 
Sloved  hands,  while  bnrning. 


512  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

From  the  official  "  census  of  Pensioners,"  for  1840,  we  find  that  there 
were  but  six  then  living  in  this  town.  These  were  James  Walker,  aged 
90  ;  David  How,  84  ;  Daniel  Bradbury,  77  ;  James  Simpson,  83  ;  Daniel 
Silver,  77  ;  Daniel  Clough,  77. 


HISTOUT   OF   HATEEHILL.  613 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 


1840  TO  1860. 


The  large  increase  in  the  population  of  the  town,  in  the  years  immedi- 
ately preceding  that  in  which  our  chapter  opens,  created  a  demand  for 
more  extensive  and  perfect  school  accommodations  in  the  central  district 

In  the  year  1838,  a  small  wooden  building  was  erected  upon  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  School  Street  school-house,  to  afford  school  accommodations 
for  the  increasing  population  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  village.  Similar 
buildings  were  also  erected  during  the  same  year  in  the  westerly  part  of 
the  village,  — one  on  High  Street,  and  one  on  Washington  Street.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  the  old  building  at  the  head  of  the  common  was  the  only 
public  school-house  in  the  village. 

The  School  Street  house  had  two  rooms,  —  one  for  a  Primary  and  the 
other  for  a  Grammar  School,  —  with  an  average  attendance  of  about  forty 
pupils  each.  The  Grammar  department  was  under  the  care  of  Isaac 
Ames,  Esq.,=--=  for  a  short  time,  and  for  several  years  was  taught  by  a  suc- 
cession of  teachers,  all  of  whom  retained  the  situation  for  a  short  time, 
with  the  exception  of  Mr.  John  B.  Carrick,  who  taught  successfully  for 
several  years,  until  failing  health  obliged  him  to  resign  his  charge.  He 
died  while  the  dews  of  early  manhood  were  fresh  upon  him,  beloved  and 
honored  by  his  pupils,  as  an  affectionate  and  faithful  instructor. 

The  house  was  remodeled  in  1847,  by  throwing  both  rooms  into  one,  for 
the  Grammar  School,  and  fitting  up  a  room  in  the  basement  for  a  Primary 
department.  This  proved  to  be  an  injudicious  measure,  as  the  basement 
room  was  damp  and  unhealthy,  and  the  upper  room  too  small  for  the  large 
increase  of  attendance  in  that  department.  The  old  building  was  there- 
fore sold,  and  removed,  in  1855,  and  the  present  spacious  and  substantial 
structure  erected,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $15,000.  The  building  is  of  brick, 
with  free-stone  trimmings,  and  granite  foundation  ;  eighty  feet  in  length 
by  fifty  in  breadth  ;  two  stories  in  height,  —  with  a  fine  basement  for 
play-rooms  in  stormy  weather.  The  building  is  divided  into  six  school- 
rooms, and  a  spacious  hall,  with  ample  entries,  and  closets  for  clothing, 

•  Now  Judge  of  Probate  and  Insolvency  for  the  County  of  Suffolk. 

65 


514  niSTORY   OF   nAVERniLL. 

connected  with  each  room.  The  rooms  arc  light,  spacious,  and  well  venti- 
lated, and  furnished  with  all  the  modern  imjirovements  and  convenicn- 
cics.  Ample  play-grounds,  ornamented  with  shade-trees,  are  connected 
with  the  building.  The  house  was  dedicated  Jane  17,  1 8") G,  with  appro- 
priate exercises  by  the  pupils,  addresses  by  gentlemen  of  the  General 
School  Committee,  and  singing  an  original  hymn.  The  school  is  estab- 
lished upon  the  graded  system,  consisting  of  the  primary,  Intermediate, 
and  Grammar  divisions,  each  division  being  sub-divided  and  occupying  a 
separate  room.  Children  five  years  of  age  'are  admitted  to  the  Primary 
room  where  they  remain  until  fitted  for  the  next  grade. 

This  school  has  been  under  the  care  of  Dr.  John  Crowell,  as  principal, 
for  several  years,  assisted  by  five  female  teachers,  with  an  attendance  of 
about  three  hundred  pupils." 

Since  the  present  building  has  been  occupied,  nearly  five  hundred  dol- 
lars have  been  raised  by  the  eiforts  of  the  teachers  and  scholars,  and  ap- 
propriated in  purchasing  a  fine  piano,  and  several  beautiful  engravings  for 
the  hall,  and  planting  shade-trees  in  the  yards. 

As  early  as  1835,  the  population  of  the  town  had  reached  the  number 
fixed  upon  by  the  commonwealth  for  the  establishment  of  a  High  School, 
and  a  proposition  to  that  eifect  was  made,  but  was  indefinitely  postponed. 

In  1840,  the  subject  of  a  High  School  again  came  before  the  town  for 
definite  action.  A  committee  was  thereupon  chosen  to  consider  thp  matter 
and  report.  At  the  September  meeting,  the  committee  reported,  that  the 
town  was  liable  to  indictment  unless  they  established  a  High  School,  or 
acceptct  the  act  of  the  previous  Legislature,  which  released  all  towns 
from  establishing  such  a  school,  provided  they  expended  twenty-five  per 
cent,  more  on  their  district  schools  than  they  had  previously  raised  for  that 
purpose.  The  committee  recommended  the  latter  course,  which  was  agreed 
to,  and  $700  additional  was  appropriated  for  the  purpose. 

The  next  year,  the  First  District  voted  to  establish  a  High  School,  and 
the  Academy  building  was  hired  for  the  purpose.  The  first  examination 
for  admission  to  the  school  was  held  at  the  latter  place,  April  2Sth  and 
29th,  1841,  and  the  school  went  into  immediate  operation. 

The  same  year  (1841)  the  town  accepted  the  act  of  the  General  Court 
establishing  a  "  fire  department,"  and  the  fire  companies  and  wardens  were 

°  Since  the  above  was  written,  Dr.  Crowell  has  resijrned  his  position  as  principal  of  this  flourishing 
school,  and  again  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Dr.  C.  was  admirably  qualified  for  the  positioa 
he  so  long  filled,  and  to  him  belongs  a  large  share  of  the  credit  due  fur  the  high  position  occupied  by  thi» ' 
school. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  515 

immediately  re-organized,  agreeably  to  said  act."  The  town  also  voted  to 
pay  tlie  firemen  "for  sta3dag  over  night  at  the  Stage  Street  fire,"  the  pre- 
vious October,  — when  the  steam  mill  of  Noyes  &  Dunbar,  and  the  house 
and  shop  of  Lyman  Worthen,  were  totally  destroyed.  This  was  the  first 
instance  of  payment  to  the  firemen  in  the  town  for  their  services,  except 
the  allowance  of  their  annual  poll  tax,  as  previously  mentioned.  At  the 
same  time,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  pay  them  for  any  similar  ser- 
vice the  ensuing  year,  at  their  discretion. 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1841,  was  noticed  in  town  by  a  grand  Temperance 
Celebration,  under  the  direction  of  the  "  H^erhill  Washingtonian  Soci- 
ety," which  had  been  recently  organized,  and  was  then  in  vigorous  opera- 
tion. 

The  "Washingtonian  movement,  which  originated  with  a  few  obscure  men 
in  Baltimore,  in  IS-tO,  spread  rapidly  over  the  whole  country,  and  was  the 
means  of  rescuing  thousands  from  a  drunkard's  grave.  This  town  was  an 
early  sharer  in  the  happy  fruits  of  that  movement,  and  not  a  few  who  read 
these  pages  haA^e  cause  for  gratitude  that  they  were  brought  within  the 
charmed  circle ;  while  a  still  greater  number,  around  whose  pathway  the 
dark  shadows  of  intemperance  were  silently  but  surely  gathering,  will 
bless  the  day  that  rescued  some  dear  friend  from  the  fearful  snares  which 
entangled  him. 

Many  persons  wilPremember  the  exciting  scenes  and  discussions  in  Con- 
gress, about  the  time  of  which  we  now  write,  upon  "  the  right  of  petition." 
While  the  free  and  unrestrained  right  of  the  people  to  petition  their  repre- 
sentatives in  Congress  assembled,  was  claimed  on  the  one  hand,  it  was  not 
only  denied  on  the  other,  but  the  dissolution  of  the  Union  was  threatened 
if  petitioning  upon  the  subject  of  slavery  was  persisted  in.  These  threats, 
while  they  alarmed  many,  provoked  the  just  indignation  of  others.  The 
writer  well  remembers  frequent  and  warm  discussions  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  the  place  where  he  was  then  employed,  and  the  repeated  and 
earnestly  expressed  wish  of  one  ardent  believer  in  "  free  speech,  "f  that 
these  hypocritical  threats  might  be  rebuked  by  petitions  from  the  North, 
praying  for  the  very  thing  so  fiercely  threatened  by  members  froin  the 
South.  Acting  upon  the  hint,  as  we  have  no  doubt,  Benjamin  Emerson,  2d, 
who  was  fi'equently  present  at  these  discussions,  drew  up  such  a  petition, 
which  was  signed  by  forty-four  persons,  and  duly  forwarded  to  the  Hon. 

°  The  next  j-ear,  the  town  accepted  the  code  of  By-Lawa  adopted  by  the  Engineers. 
t  Deacon  Tappan  Chase. 


616 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILI,. 


John  Quincy  Adams,  the  fearless  and  uncomproiaising  defender  of  the  right 
called  in  question.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  petition :  -^ 

"  To  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  The  undersigned,  citizens  of 
Haverhill,  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  pray  that  you  will 
immediately  adopt  measures,  peaceably,  to  dissolve  the  Union  of  these 
States. 

First,  Because  no  Union  can  be  agreeable  or  permanent,  which  does 
not  present  prospects  of  reciprocal  benefit. 

Second,  Because  a  vast  pmportion  of  the  resources  of  one  section  of  the 
Union  is  annually  drained  to  sustain  the  views  and  course  of  another  sec- 
tion without  any  adequate  return. 

Third,  Because  (judging  from  history  of  past  nations)  this  Union  if 
persisted  in,  in  the  present  course  of  things,  will  certainly  overwhelm  this 
whole  nation  in  utter  destruction. 


Benj  Emerson  2d 
John  P.  Montgomery 
Osgood  G.  Boynton 
Elisha  Hutchinson 
Franklin  Currier 
Edward  E.  Dike 
Elijah  S.  Tozier 
Wm  Hale 
Joseph  Flanders 
Alfred  S.  Parmlee 
George  0.  Harmon 
N.  P.  Dresser 
James  Harmon 
Otis  W.  Butters 
John  Philbrick 


Wm  H.  Noyes 
Edwin  A.  Sargent 
Herman  Kimball 
"Washington  Johnson 
Thomas  Ball 
Joseph  B.  Spiller 
J.  Henry  Johnson 
Francis  Butters,  jr 
Sewell  E.  Jewett 
Willibee  H.  Currier 
Daniel  Brickett 
Cornelius  Jenness 
Wm  N.  Davis 
Ezekiel  Hale,  jr 


Samuel  Stuart 
Samuel  Plumer 
Nathaniel  Foot 
Leonard  Parker 
Francis  Butters 
Geo.  F.  Bailey 
Elbridge  G.  Davis 
Alfred  Gage 
Truman  M,  Martin 
Oliver  H.  F.  Delaware 
B.  Greeley 
Nathan  AVebster 
Charles  Fitch 
John  L.  Head." 


Tappan  Chase 

On  the  24: th  of  January,  1842,  Mr.  Adams  presented  the  petition  in 
the  national  House  of  Ecpresentatives,  and  moved  its  reference  to  a  special 
committee,  with  instructions  to  report  an  answer  to  the  petitioners.  An 
exciting  scene  followed.  Mr.  Hopkins  asked  if  it  was  in  order  to  move 
to  burn  the  petition  in  presence  of  the  House  ;  Mr.  Wise,  (of  Va.,)  asked 
if  it  was  in  order  to  move  to  censure  any  member  who  presented  such  a 
petition;  and  Mr.  Gilmer,  (of  N.  C.,)  offered  a  resolution  censuring  Mr. 
Adams  for  presenting  it.  After  an  exciting  discussion,  the  House  abruptly 
adjourned.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  next  four  days  was  spent  in  discuss- 
ing resolutions  offered  by  Jlr.  Marshall,  (as  a  substitute  for  Mr.  Gilmer's) 
declaring  that  "a  proposition  to  the  representatives  'to  dissolve'  the 
Union,  is  a  high  breach  of  privilege,  contempt  offered  to  the  House,  a 
proposition  to  commit  perjury,  and  involves  the  crime  of  high,  treason  ; 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  517 

that  John  Q.  Adams,  in  presenting  a  petition  praying  the  dissolution  of 
the  Union,  has  offered  the  deepest  indignity  to  the  House,  and  insult  to 
the  people  of  the  United  States  ;  "  and  "  that  John  Q.  Adams  might  well 
be  held  to  merit  expulsion  from  the  national  councils,"  for  offering  such  a 
petition.  On  the  29th,  the  resolutions  were  "  postponed  for  the  present ; " 
and  February  oth,  the  whole  subject  was  tabled,  by  a  large  majority. 

In  view  of  recent  developments,  and  the  present  condition  of  our 
national  affairs,  we  have  deemed  the  history  of  the  "Haverhill  Disunion 
Petition"  entitled  to  a  place  on  the  pages  of  this  work,  and  have  therefore 
given  it.  As  we  distinctly  understood  it  at  the  time,  the  petition  was 
intended  as  a  rebuke  for  what  were  believed  to  be  hollow  threats  of  dis- 
union, and  its  effect  certainly  seems  to  have  proved  the  shrewdness  of  the 
petitioners. 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1842,  was  celebrated  by  the  "  Washington  Street 
Washington  Total  Abstinence  Society,"  by  a  procession  to  the  common, 
where  an  address  was  delivered  by  Charles  T.  Woodman,  Esq.,  followed 
by  a  collatiorii  at  the  same  place. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1843,  it  was  voted  to  divide  the  "  sur- 
plus revenue"  equally  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  each  giving  his 
individual  note  to  the  town,  promising  to  return  the  sum  received  by  him, 
on  demand.  Th^s  was  in  direct  violation  of  the  terms  upon  which  the 
town  itself  held  the  money,  and  an  injunction  was  immediately  issued, 
restraining  them  from  making  such  a  distribution.  A  meeting  was  there- 
upon called,  (June  5)  and  it  was  voted  to  apply  the  interest  of  the  fund  to 
the  support  of  the  schools  in  town. 

The  Anniversary  of  the  National  Independence  was  celebrated  in  1843, 
by  a  Ladies'  Levee,  on  the  vacant  lot,  corner  of  Summer  and  Stage  Streets, 
the  proceeds  of  which  were  applied  "  for  the  benefit  of  the  Poor."  The 
day  was  also  observed  by  the  Sabbath  School  connected  with  the  Second 
Baptist  Society,  in  a  procession,  an  address  by  Rev.  Benj.  Wheeler,  of 
Plaistow,  and  a  collation  on  the  banks  of  the  Merrimack. 

The  subject  of  temperance  still  continued  to  occupy  a  prominent  place  in 
the  public  mind,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  in  1844,  the  town  passed  reso- 
lutions similar  to  those  it  adopted  in  1842. 

Though  the  common  was  purchased  and  leveled  several  years  previous  to 
this  time,  it  was  not  yet  suitably  enclosed  and  laid  out.  But  in  1844,  the 
ladies  of  the  village  took  hold  of  the  matter,  and,  in  September  of  that 
year,  held  a  levee,  at  the  Academy  Hall,  to  provide  funds  for  that 
purpose.  The  effort  was  successful,  and  the  public  spirited  maids  and  mat- 
rons are  fully  entitled  to  this  honorable  mention  for  their  seasonable 
Bervices  in  improving  this  beautiful  pari;. 


618  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

In  1845,  a  new  temperance  organization  was  introduced  into  town, 
under  the  form  of  a  semi-"  secret  society,"  known  as  "  The  Independent 
Order  of  Rcchabites."  A  "  Tent  "  was  formed  here  in  the  early  part  of 
that  year,  and  so  rapid  was  the  increase  of  its  members,  that  in  August 
the  large  hall  in  Duncan's  Building,  Main  Street,  was  leased,  and  dedica- 
ted to  their  use.  'Jh3  new  organization  continued  to  flourish  for  a  few 
years,  when  it  rapidly  fell  into  decay,  and  soon  ceased  to  exist. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Eechabitcs,  the  Washingtonian 
Society  had  ceased  to  be  an  active  body,  and  it  soon  after  became  extinct. 
In  October,  of  the  same  year,  an  eiFort  was  made  to  revive  the  interest  in 
the  Washingtonian  plan,  by  organizing  a  new  society,  under  the  name  of 
the  "  Pentuckct  Total  Abstinence  Society,"  but  it  proved  to  be  short 
lived. 

The  same  year,  another  of  the  so-called  "secret,"  societies  was  intro- 
duced into  the  town.  September  4th,  "Mutual  Eelief  Lodge"  of  the 
"Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows"  was  instituted,  and  on  the  17th  of 
October,  the  hall  over  the  lecture-room  of  the  Centre  Congregational  Society, 
on  Vestry  Street,  was  dedicated  to  their  use.  The  new  order  took  vigorous 
root,  and  flourished  for  several  years.  It  is  still  living,  and  by  means  of 
its  brotherly  aid  in  sickness,  and  the  liberal  appropriations  from  its  fund 
to  the  "  widow  and  orphan,"  is  quietly  difi'using  its  genial  influence  to  no 
small  extent. 

In  August,  of  the  same  year,  a  new  burial  ground  was  laid  out  on 
the  north,  and  immediately  adjoining,  the  first  one  laid  out  in  the  town. 
It  was  purchased  by  a  company,  and  was  dedicated  April  2 1st,  1846, 
under  the  name  of  "  Linwood  Cemetery."  It  was  tastefully  laid  out  and 
embellished,  and  is  now  among  the  neatest  and  pleasantcst  places  of  the 
kind  in  New  England. 

The  wide  contrast  between  the  neat  and  orderly  appearance  of  the  new 
cemetery,  and  the  neglected  and  dilapidated  condition  of  the  old  burying- 
ground  immediately  adjoining  it,  naturally  excited  a  desire  to  see-  the 
latter  improved  and  cared  for.  In  this  improvement,  as  ii*the  case  of 
the  old  common,  the  ladies  were  the  most  active  and  zealous  workers. 
Foremost  among  them  were  Mrs.  (Jeremiah)  Stickney,  and  Mrs.  (Rufus) 
Longley.  Enlisting  the  aid  and  sympathy  of  others,  a  levee  was  held 
April  10th,  1845,  which  proved  highly  successful;  contributions  were 
solicited,  and  freely  bestowed ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  next  two  years, 
more  than  one  thousand  dollars  was  raised  and  expended  in  beautifying 
and  improving  that  ancient  burial-place.  A  neat  granite  monument  was 
erected  to  the  memory  of  the  beloved  Eolfe  and  his  family  ;  the  old  wooden 


HISTORY   OF   HATEEHILt.  519 

fence  in  front  was  exchanged  for  one  of  iron,  and  that  upon  the  sides  gave 
place  to  the  more  appropriate  and  durable  hedge ;  and  every  part  of  the 
grounds  felt  the  magic  touch  of  woman's  hand.  The  homely  and  ancient 
name,  "  Burying-Ground,"  was  exchanged  for  that  of  "Pentucket  Ceme- 
tery," by  which  name  it  will  ever  after  be  known. 

In  June,  1 8-1:6,  the  steamer  Lawrence,  a  side-wheel  boat,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fort}'  feet  long,  and  built  at  Newburyport  expressly  for  the  route, 
commenced  running  between  that  place  and  Haverhill.  She  proved  to  be 
too  large  and  unwieldy  for  the  purpose,  and  after  running  two  seasons, 
was  sold  to  parties  in  Connecticut.  June  6th,  1848,  a  new  stern-wheel 
steamer,  of  the  same  name,  also  built  for  the  Merrimack,  at  Waterville, 
Maine,  made  her  first  appearance  at  Haverhill,  and  the  same  day  went  up 
as  far  as  the  new  city  of  Lawrence.  This  was  the  first  and  last  trip  made 
by  a  steamboat  so  far  up  the  river.  The  intention  about  that  time,  was, 
to  clear  the  river  above  this  place,  so  as  to  allow  light  draft  steamboats  to 
make  regular  trips  between  Newburyport  and  Lawrence.  With  that  view, 
the  legislature  had  granted  (April,  1848)  an  act  of  incorporation  to 
James  R.  Nichols,  James  H.  Carlton,  and  others  of  this  town,  under  the 
name  of  the  "  Pentucket  Navigation  Co.,"  giving  them  the  exclusive  right 
to  navigate  the  Merrimack,  between  Ha-verhill  and  Lawrence,  by  steam- 
boats, for  twenty-five  years,  provided  they  made  it  so  navigable  within 
five  years.  TLe  only  impediment  to  such  navigation,  was  the  rapids  in 
this  town,  known  as  Mitchel's  Falls,  to  clear  a  channel  through  which  it 
was  estimated  would  cost  only  about  five  thousand  dollars.  But  for  want 
of  sufiicient  inducement  to  warrant  even  that  outlay,  the  project  was 
abandoned. 

Besides  the  steamboats  mentioned,  several  others  ran  transiently  be- 
tween Newburyport  and  this  town,  at  various  times,  from  1848  to  1854. 
Their  names  were,  the  Sarah,  California,  Merrimac,  Ohio,  C.  B.  Stevens, 
Narragansett,  and  Grace  Darling.  The  latter  was  owned  by  Haverhill 
men,  and  was  put  upon  the  route  in  August,  1854.  The  opening  of  the 
Georgetown  railroad,  about  this  time,  diverted  the  travel  to  so  large  an 
extent  in  that  direction,  that  the  steam  navigation  of  the  river  was  given 
up  in  the  fall  of  the  year  last  mentioned,  and  will  never,  in  all  probability, 
be  again  resumed. 

In  October,  1847,  a  society  was  organized  in  this  town,  under  the  name 
of  the  "  Fraternity  of  Shenstones."  The  object  of  the  society,  was,  to 
provide  means  for  setting  out  and  taking  care  of  "  ornamental  trees,  in 
the  streets,  squares,  and  other  public  places  in  the  town."  Isaac  Ames, 
Esq.,  was  chosen  President,  and  Thomas  M.  Hayes,  Esq.,  Secretary  and 


520  HISTORY    OF    HAVERniLL. 

Treasurer.  The  fee  for  membership  was  one  dollar  per  year.  The  name 
was  adopted  in  honor  of  an  English  gentleman,  who,  many  years 
before,  labored  zealously  for  a  similar  purpose  in  his  own  country.  Through 
the  exertions  of  the  Shenstones,  many  hundred  trees  were  from  time  to 
time  set  out,  which  have  already  become  a  beautiful  "  ornament "  to  moro 
than  one  street  in  our  village.  A  large  share  of  the  credit  which  justly 
belongs  to  that  society  for  their  thoughtfulness,  good  taste,  and  large  suc- 
cess, is  due  to  the  efforts  of  its  originator,  and  first  Secretary.  Though 
long  since  laid  beneath  the  sod,  the  beautiful  trees  he  planted,  and  watched 
with  so  much  tenderness  and  interest,  will  long  remind  us  that  he  lived 
not  in  vain. 

The  subject  of  a  Town  House,  or  Town  Hall,  began  to  be  agitated  soon 
after  the  town  found  itself  obliged  to  hire  a  place  for  its  meetings,  in 
1828.  In  May,  1831,  a  meeting  was  called  for  the  special  purpose  of  con- 
sidering the  matter,  but  the  town  voted  not  to  build.  Two  years  later,  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  see  about  a  site  for  such  a  building,  and  the  prob- 
able cost,  but  nothing  definite  was  done,  and  the  next  year  the  committee 
was  discharged.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1835,  the  town  voted  to  build 
a  Town  House,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  sec  about  a  site,  &c.  Two 
years  later,  a  proposition  was  made  to  purchase  the  Christian  Union 
Chapel,  on  Washington  Square  but  it  was  not  accepted.  Another  two 
years  came  and  went,  and  the  subject  of  building  such  a  structure  again 
came  before  the  town,  but  was  indefinitely  postponed.  Here  the  matter 
rested  until  the  annual  meeting  in  1847,  when  the  town  voted  to  erect  a 
suitable  building  for  their  use,  on  the  "  south  part  of  the  Harrod  lot,  so 
called,"  at  an  expense  of  eight  thousand  dollars.  A  steeple  was  to  be 
placed  upon  the  building,  provided  a  clock  and  bell  were  provided  by  priv- 
ate subscription.  A  plan  was  presented  and  agreed  upon,  for  a  building 
seventy-six  feet  long,  forty-two  feet  wide,  and  twenty-six  feet  high  above 
the  cellar.  The  latter  was  to  be  seven  and  one-half  feet  deep  in  the 
clear.  The  work  was  immediately  commenced,  and  the  building  com- 
pleted early  in  the  following  year.  Though  the  town  adopted  a  plan,  with 
the  express  understanding  that  parties  had  offered  to  erect  a  building 
according  to  that  plan  for  $8,000,  the  actual  sum  expended  was  $16,382.44. 
The  clock  and  bell  were  purchased  as  proposed,  —  by  private  subscrip- 
tions, —  and  the  proceeds  of  a  public  levee. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1848,  the  town  voted  to  allow  the  county  the 
free  use  of  the  hall  for  the  County  Courts,  if  the  latter  should  be  removed 
from  Ipswich  to  Haverhill.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  hall  should  be 
kept  exclusively  for  the  use  of  the  town,  except  that  it  might  be  let  "  for 


HISTORY   01"   HAVERHILL.  521 

sucli  lectures  or  meetings  as  shall  in  the  best  judgment  of  the  Selectmen 
have  a  tendency  to  improve  the  morals  and  intelligence  of  the  citizens." 
Subsequently,  the  selectmen  were  invested  with  the  full  control  of  the 
hall. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  appear  before  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  aid  of  the  petitioners  for  a  railroad  from  Newburyport  to 
Bradford.-'  It  was  also  voted  that  future  town  meetings  should  be  warned 
by  publishing  the  warrant  in  each  of  the  newspapers  in  town  two  weeks, 
and  posting  a  copy  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk.  This  has  continued  to 
be  the  practice  to  the  present  time.  At  the  same  time  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  superintend  the  laying  out  of  the  Common,  and  the  setting  out 
of  trees. f  The  hay-scales  w^re  ordered  to  be  removed  from  the  Common, 
and  they  were  accordingly  transferred  to  their  present  location.  A  safe 
was  purchased  for  the  better  protection  of  the  town  records ;  and  the  first 
two  books  of  the  records  were  ordered  to  be  copied.  The  latter  task  was 
performed  in  a  most  faithful  and  beautiful  manner,  by  Mr.  Josiah  Keely. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  proposition  was  made  for  the  town  to  pay  the 
difference  between  the  cost  of  a  five-inch  and  an  eight-inch  iron  pipe,  from 
the  Eound  Pond  to  the  top  of  the  hill  on  Main  Street,  —  The  Acqueduct 
Company  being  about  to  re-place  the  old  logs  with  an  iron  pipe  of  the  for- 
mer diameter.  The  subject  was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  subsequently 
reported  in  favor  of  the  town's  paying  the  difference  between  a  five  and  a 
sja;-inch  pipe,  which  was  agreed  to,  and  the  present  six-inch  pipe  was 
accordingly  substituted. 

In  December,  (18th)  of  the  same  year,  a  town  meeting  was  called  to 
consider  the  expediency  of  placing  a  restriction  upon  the  keeping  of  dogs. 
It  was  voted  that  dogs  should  not  run  at  large  without  a  muzzle,  and  the 
town  clerk  was  authorized  to  pay  one  dollar  for  every  dog  killed,  not  so 
muzzled,  provided  no  man  was  to  be  paid  for  killing  his  own  dog.  This 
regulation  proved  to  be  too  stringent  for  practical  execution,  and,  Decem- 
ber 30th,  another  dog  meeting  was  held,  when  the  above  vote  was  re-con- 
sidered. J 

c  The  committee  were  Alfred  Kitredge,  J.  H.  Duncan,  W.  R.  Whittier,  Rufus  Longley.  and  Caleb 
Hersey. 

t  The  committee  were  Wm.  Taggart,  J.  H.  Duncan,  AVm.  Merrill,  Wm.  D.  S.  Chase,  and  Thos.  N. 
Chase. 

X  Gov.  Banks,  in  his  annual  address  to  the  General  Court,  in  1860,  ventured  the  opinion,  that  there 
were  more  dogs  than  sheep  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  We  are  inclined  to  believe  that  the  estimate 
is  a  reasonable  one  ;  and  also  that  their  extermination  would  be  a  positive  blessing  to  the  State.  The 
loss  of  a  single  life  by  hydrophobia,  now  fearfully  common,  will  more  than  outweigh  the  good  done  by  all 
the  dogs  in  the  Commonwealth  in  a  generation, 

66 


522  ITISTORY    OF    nAVERHILL. 

In  1848,  "  Primrose  Lane"  waa  widened  and  straightened,  and  elevated 
to  the  dignity  of  a  street ;  and  in  the  following  year,  Emerson,  Vestry, 
and  Cross  Streets,  were  formally  accepted  by  the  town. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  erection  of  a  small  school-house  on 
"Washington  Street,  in  1838.  In  1843,  the  school  was  changed  to  a  Gram- 
mar School.  In  1845,  the  building  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of 
twenty  feet  in  length,  but  the  rapid  growth  of  that  section  of  the  village 
soon  outstripped  even  that  liberal  addition,  and,  in  1849,  the  building  was 
removed,  to  give  place  to  the  present  neat  and  substantial  brick  structure. 
The  present  school  building  is  thirty-eight  by  sixty  feet,  and  two  stories 
high.  The  first  floor  is  used  for  a  primary,  and  the  second  for  a  grammar 
school.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  upwards  of  three  thousand  dollars. 
The  school  was  for  several  years  in  charge  of  Luther  Emerson,  of  this 
town.  It  is  now  under  the  eflicient  direction  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Smith,  to  whose 
earnest  efforts  we  are  largely  indebted  for  its  present  excellent  standing. 
The  old  school  building  was  subsequently  removed  to  White  Street,  near 
Portland  Street,  where  it  is  still  occupied  for  a  jgrimary  school. 

There  were  at  this  time  in  the  district  five  primary,  and  four  grammar 
schools,  besides  the  High  school.  The  amount  paid  by  the  district  for 
their  support  in  1848,  was  $3,164,86.  The  average  weekly  cost  per 
scholar,  based  upon  actual  attendance,  was,  nine  cents  and  four  mills  for 
primary;  fifteen  cents  for  the  grammar;  and  thirty  cents  for  the  High 
school. 

In  the  early  part  of  1850,  the  small-pox  broke  out  in  the  western  part 
of  the  town,  and  for  a  time  raged  fearfully.  It  was  confined  principally 
to  the  northern  part  of  the  West  Parish.  In  School  District  No.  2,  there 
were  between  thirty  and  forty  cases,  several  of  them  fatal.  The  loathsome 
disease  was  introduced  into  the  parish  by  a  young  lady,  on  a  visit  from 
Boston. 

About  this  time,  the  town  began  to  make  large  appropriations  for  its 
Eire  Department.  We  have  already  noticed  the  organization  of  the  de- 
partment, in  1841.  In  1843,  the  town  voted  to  build  a  house  for  the 
hook  and  ladder  company  ;  in  1848,  a  new  engine  was  purchased  for  com- 
pany No.  1,  and  a  new  engine  house  was  built  for  them  the  next  year ; 
in  1849,  the  old  engine  of  company  No.  4  was  exchanged  for  a  new  one, 
and  a  new  engine  was  purchased  for  company  No.  2;  in  1851,  a  new 
machine  was  procured  for  company  No.  3,  and  a  new  and  commodious 
house  erected  for  their  use.  At  the  same  time,  it  was  voted  to  pay  the 
firemen,  (or,  as  they  were  then  called,  "  engine-men,")  five  dollars  each, 
annually,  and  twenty-five  cents  per  hour  each,  for  labor  at  fires  —  alarms 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  523 

to  be  considered  as  one  hour  each,  if  the  engine  was  taken  from  the  house. 
In  1853,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  sell  the  engine  house  on  Pleas- 
ant Street,  (about  midway  between  Fleet  and  Winter  Streets,  on  the  south 
eide,)  "  and  the  three  Fire  Engines  therein."  Other  and  liberal  expendi- 
tures have  beon  made  from  time  to  time  for  the  purchase  of  machines, 
buildings,  &c.,  until  we  now  have  a  fire  department,  which,  for  character 
and  efficiency  is  second  to  that  of  no  town  in  the  Commonwealth.  There 
are  now  four  companies,  ■ —  three  in  the  central  village,  and  one  at  the 
Eocks'  Village,  —  each  supplied  with  excellent  machines,  and  commodious 
buildings  for  their  exclusive  accommodation.  Besides  these,  we  have  a 
•"Hook  and  Ladder  Company,"  (organized  in  1860)  well  supplied  with 
appropriate  carriages  and  materials,  and  the  occupants  of  a  fine  building, 
erected  for  their  special  use,  on  Fleet  Street. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1852,  the  town  voted  to  place  the  highways 
of  the  town  under  the  general  superintendence  of  one  person,  who  was  to 
be  appointed  by  the  selectmen.  This  plan  proved  to  be  decidedly  unpop- 
ular, and  after  one  year's  trial  it  was  abandoned. 

In  1853,  the  town  appropriated  $300  toward  the  expenses  of  celebrating 
the  Fourth  of  July.  This,  we  believe,  is  the  only  instance  in  which  such 
an  appropriatipn  has  been  made  by  the  town ;  the  usual  course  having 
been  to  raise  money  for  the  purpose  by  private  subscription. 

The  same  year,  the  streets  of  the  village  were  for  the  first  time  lighted 
by  gas  —  a  gas  company  having  been  previously  organized  in  the  town, 
and  in  successful  operation.'-'' 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1854,  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions, oflFered  by  Hon.  J.  H.  Duncan,  were  adopted :  — 

"  The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Haverhill,  in  annual  Town  Meeting 
assembled,  having  seen  with  mingled  emotions  of  surprise,  indignation, 
and  grief,  that  a  provision  has  been  introduced  into  the  bill  creating  the 
Nebraska  Territory,  designed  to  repeal  that  section  of  the  Act,  known  as 
the  •  Missouri  Compromise,'  by  which  slavery  was  forever  prohibited  in 
all  that  part  of  the  territory  acquired  from  France,  North  of  36°  30',  ex- 
cept that  contained  in  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  that  the 
same  has  passed  one  House  of  Congress ;  do,  in  the  exercise  of  their  rights 
as  Freemen,  solemnly  and  earnestly  protest  against  the  passage  of  that 
provision ; 

Because,  it  is  an  uncalled  for  and  unnecessary  violation  of  a  solemn 
compact,  made  as  a  condition  of  the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a  slave 
state,  which  has  been  held  sacred  for  thirty-four  years  ; 

o  The  gas  works  of  the  company  are  located  on  the  south  side  of  Winter  Street,  adjoining  Little  River, 
and  on  the  east  side  of  the  latter,  . 


524  HISTORY    OF   IIATERIIILL. 

Because,  it  is  a  flagrant  breach  of  faith  with  the  free  states,  by  whicli 
the  slave  states,  having  secured  their  part  of  the  compact,  woixld  deprive  the 
free  states  of  their  rightful  share  of  its  benefits  ; 

Because,  it  is  a  gross  departure  from  the  policy  of  the  founders  of  the 
Eepublic,  which  was  to  limit  and  restrain,  with  a  view  to  its  final  extinc- 
tion, and  not  to  foster  and  extend,  slavery  ; 

-Because,  the  passage  of  this  provision  will  destroy  all  faith  in  compacts 
and  compromises  made  in  Congress,  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  and  while 
it  justifies  the  friends  of  freedom  to  take  all  measures,  not  forbidden  by 
the  Constitution,  to  curtail  and  restrain  slavery,  and  the  slave  power,  it 
invites,  and,  without  cause,  provokes  renewed  and  interminable  agitation, 
which  will  threaten  the  permanency  of  the  Union.     Therefore 

Jicsolved,  That  the  measure  above  referred  to  is  not  demanded  by  the 
people  of  the  United  States  ;  it  is  a  violation  of  a  compact  which  ought 
to  be  held  sacred  and  inviolate ;  that  it  tends  to  destroy  confidence  in 
public  faith  ;  is  fraught  with  alarming  evils  and  puts  at  hazard  the  integ- 
rity and  stability  of  the  Union : 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  resolutions,  signed  by  the 
moderator,  and  town  clerk,  be  forthwith  transmitted  to  Hon.  N.  P.  Banks, 
the  Eepresentative  of  this  disti-ict,  to  be  by  him  presented  to  Congress, 
and  that  he  be  requested  to  use  his  efibrts  to  defeat  the  passage  of  this 
odious  and  unjust  provision." 

At  the  same  meeting  the  town  voted  to  prohibit  all  dogs  from  running 
at  large,  unless  collared  and  muzzled,  and  the  inspector  of  police  was 
instructed  to  kill  all  not  so  provided.  The  act  of  the  Legislature,  estab- 
lishing a  Police  Court  in  the  town,  was  formally  accepted  at  the  same 
time. 

In  1855,  the  subject  of  a  town  High  School  again  came  up  for  consid- 
eration, and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  make  arrangements  for  that  purpose. 
The  result  was,  that  the  Academy  building,  which  had  been  used  by 
District  Xo.  1,  for  that  purpose,  was  hired  by  the  town,  and  a  town  High 
School  regularly  established.'--' 

During  the  summer  of  1856,  the  Winter  Street  School  building  was 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  %  1 8,000.  It  is  a  substantial,  well-proportioned^ 
and  convenient  structure  of  faced  brick,  two  stories  in  height,  about  eighty- 
five  feet  in  length,  and  sixty  feet  in  width.  It  contains  a  spacious  hall  — 
occupying  one-half  of  the  second  story,  where  the  several  divisions  assemble 
for  devotional  and  general  exercises — six  rooms,  occupied  by  two  primary, 

o  The  academy  building  was  purchased  by  the  diatrict  in  1814  for  $3,000. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  525 

two  intermediate,  and  two  grammar  departments,  (with  seats  for  three 
hundred  and  eighteen  i:)upils,)  and  each  fitted,  within  the  school-room,  and 
under  the  eye  of  the  teacher,  with  closets  for  the  clothing  of  the  children, 
(an  excellent  arrangement,  yet  it  is  believed  the  only  one  of  the  kind  in 
the  State,) — and  is  every  way  well  adapted  to  the  pui-poses  for  which  it 
was  intended.  The  school  was  organized  in  August,  1856,  from  the 
material  of  the  Centre  and  Winter  Street  Grammar  Schools,  and  placed 
under  the  charge  of  its  present  excellent  teacher,  Mr.  E.  H.  Hammond,  a 
native  of  this  town,  then  principal  of  the  Centre  Grrammar  School,"  with 
at  first  only  three  assistants  ;  but  the  wants  of  that  portion  of  the  district 
made  it  necessary,  during  the  second  and  third  terms,  to  occupy  all  the 
rooms.  The  dedicatory  services  were  impressive  and  interesting.  The 
address  at  the  dedication  was  given  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  Ex-Governor  Geo.  S.  Boutwell. 

This  school,  though  not  furnished  with  "  o//the  modern  improvements," 
is  well  provided  with  suitable  and  serviceable  apparatus  for  thorough  and 
successful  instruction.  By  the  efforts  of  the  principal  and  his  assistants, 
aided  by  the  noble  and  generous  cooperation  of  the  parents  and  friends 
of  the  school,  it  has  been  furnished  with  a  very  superior  toned  i^iano,  and 
one  of  Copley's  large  sized  sixteen  inch  globes;  and  also,  by  vote  of  the 
district,  the  present  season,  (1861)  with  a  splendid  set  of  Pelton's  outline 
maps.  The  school  is  organized  upon  the  same  general  jdan  as  that  of 
School  Street,  with  a  principal  and  five  female  assistants,  each  occupying 
a  different  room,  and  conducting  their  classes  over  certain  consecutive 
steps  in  their  education,  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  principal. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1856,  was  celebrated  in  this  town  by  a  procession — 
composed  of  th^  military  and  fire  companies,  Masonic  and  other  so- 
cieties—  an  oration,  by  Hon.  Charles  W.  Upham,  of  Salem,  in  the  Centre 
Church,  a  dinner,  and  fire-works  in  the  evening. 

The  same  year.  Locust,  Grand,  Orchard,  Walnut,  and  Vine  streets  were 
formally  accepted  by  the  town,  and  Kent  street  widened  and  stiaightened.f 
The  year  following,  (1857)  Jew  street  felt  the  magic  touch  of  the  widen- 
ing and  straightening  process ;  and.  all  the  school  districts  (fourteen  in 
number)  were  re-bounded.  But  local  improvements  did  not  by  any  means 
stop  with  merely  straightening  streets.     The  town  voted  that  in  future 

o  The  old  Centre  school-house  is  now  occupied  for  a  primary  school. 

t  Chestnut  street  was  accepted  in  1853,  at  which  time  White  street  was  widened  and  straightened. 
The  nest  year  (185i)  High  street  was  widened  and  straightened.  In  1855,  Little  River  bridge  was 
rebuilt,  and  Washington  square  thereby  greatly  enlarged  and  improved. 


526  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

the  Town  Hall  shall  not  be  leased  on  Saturday  evenings   "  for  theatrical 
or  Negro  concert  purposes." 

The  salaries  of  the  town  officers  for  1858,  were  as  follows:  Moderator,, 
ten  dollars  ;  town  clerk,  fees  ;  treasurer,  one  hundred  dollars ;  collector  of 
taxes,  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ;  selectmen,  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars ;  assessors,  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars ;  overseers  of 
poor,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  ;  general  school  committee,  two 
hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars ;  inspector  of  police,  fifty  dollars ;  audi- 
tors, twenty-five  dollars ;  pound  keeper,  ten  dollars.  Tor  the  information 
of  those  who  come  after  us,  we  should,  perhaps,  add,  that  the  same  person 
now  usually  fills  the  several  offices  of  town  clerk,  treasurer,  and  collector 
of  taxes.  The  sum^  paid  to  the  several  boards  of  officers  is  usually 
apportioned  among  the  individual  members  of  each,  by  the  respective 
boards,  in  proportion  to  the  labor  individually  performed. 

The  same  year,  Merrimack  street  was  paved,  from  Main  street  to 
Washington  square  ;  and  the  year  following.  Water  street  was  paved,  as 
far  as  Green  street.  One  year  later  (1S60)  the  paving  of  Water  street 
was  continued  as  far  east  as  School  street. 

In  1859,  the  town  appropriated  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  purpose  of 
setting  out  shade  trees  in  the  town.  The  sum  was  divided  among  the 
several  highway  districts. 

So  rapid  was  the  growth  of  the  town  in  population  in  the  ten  years 
preceding  the  date  of  which  we  write,  that  continual  complaint  was  made 
that  it  had  already  outgrown  its  town  house.  The  subject  continued  to 
agitate  the  public  mind  of  the  town,  until,  in  1859,  it  culminated  in  a 
proposition  to  build  a  new  one.  A  committee  was  thereupon  chosen  to 
consider  the  subject,  obtain  estimates,  plans,  &c.,  and  report.  The  com- 
mittee consisted  of  James  H.  Duncan,  Kobert  G.  Walker,  A.  A.  Sargent, 
Moses  D.  George,  Orenzo  T.  Emerson,  James  F.  Gile,  Elbridge  W.  Chase. 
At  the  next  annual  meeting,  the  committee  reported  a  recommendation 
that  the  town  purchase  the  Wingate  estate,  (next  north  of  the  town  house) 
with  a  view  to  the  erection  of  a  larger  building  upon  the  old  site  at  some 
future  time.  The  recommendation  was  adopted,  the  estate  purchased,  and 
the  committee  were  instructed  to  report  a  plan  and  estimates  for  a  new 
building.  January  7,  1861,  the  committee  reported  a  plan,  which  was 
adopted,  and  measures  were  at  once  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  new  build- 
ing.- 

°  The  plan  adopted  was  drawn  by  John  Stevens,  architect,  of  Boston.  The  contract  for  the  erection 
of  the  building  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Carleton  &  Sargent,  of  this  town. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  527 

At  the  time  of  writing  (July  1, 1861)  the  old  building  has  been  levelled, 
and  the  foundation  of  the  new  structure  nearly  completed.  The  following 
extract  from  the  committee's  report  will  give  an  idea  of  the  general  plan 
of  the  new  town  house  :. — 

"  The  plan  approved  is  for  a  building  of  brick,  faced  on  the  front  and 
ends  —  ornamented  with  freestone,  (or  perhaps  with  iron,  if  found  much 
cheaper)  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  in  length,  and  sixty-seven  and  a 
half  feet  wide,  with  a  tower  on  the  front,  south  of  the  main  entrance, 
eighteen  by  eighteen  feet  square,  for  the  clock,  bell,  and  dressing  rooms, 
connected  with  the  stage  ;  and  a  smaller  tower  north  of  the  main  entrance, 
fourteen  and  one-half  feet  square,  with  a  staircase  to  the  stage,  clock,  and 
also  to  the  attic  of  the  building.  The  principal  entrance  will  be  through 
a  vestibule  on  the  front  between  the  towers,  and  there  will  be  also  an  en- 
trance at  the  north  end  into  the  main_^  corridor.  The  basement  may  be 
entered  on  a  level  from  Court  street,  will  be  ten  feet  high,  and  will  afford 
ample  accommodations  for  market  stalls  and  a  large  grocery  store. 
•  The  first  or  principal  floor  will  be  divided  into  rooms  thirteen  feet  high, 
on  each  side  of  the  entry  or  corridor,  which  is  twelve  feet  in  width,  for 
the  various  town  or  city  officers,  police  court  room,  town  agency,  &c.,  or  it 
may  be  thought  expedient  for  a  time  to  omit  some  partitions,  and  thus 
leave  a  hall  on  this  floor,  for  exhibitions  not  requiring  the  large  hall  above. 
It  is  proposed  to  light  all  parts  of  the  building  with  gas,  to  warm  it  by 
furnaces  in  the  basement,  and  to  convey  water  where  it  may  be  needed. 
Tire-proof  safes  to  be  constructed  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  town  records 
and  papers. 

The  hall  is  designed  to  be  twenty-eight  feet  high,  to  be  entered  by 
staircases  at  each  end,  thus  affording  very  convenient  entrance  and  egress. 
Kooms  are  designed  at  each  end  of  the  hall,  and  galleries  over  them.  It 
is  proposed  to  have  the  stage  or  platform  on  the  front  side  of  the  hall, 
chiefly  occupying  the  space  over  the  vestibule,  between  the  towers,  and 
projecting  about  five  feet  into  the  hall,  thus  bringing  the  entire  audience 
nearer  a  speaker,  who  can  be  seen  from  any  part  of  the  floor  and  galleries. 
The  hall  is  estimated  to  seat  nine  hundred  and  fifty  persons  on  the  floor, 
and  four  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  galleries ;  in  all,  fourteen  hundred 
persons. 

It  is  proposed  to  use  the  spacious  attic  for  an  armory,  should  it  be 
'  wanted  for  that  purpose,  and  it  will  afford  a  room  seventy-five  by  thirty 
feet,  may  be  well  lighted,  and  easily  accessible  by  the  staircase  in  the 
small  tower,  and  sound  may  be  prevented  by  back-plastering  between  the 


528  HISTORY    OF    riATERIIILL. 

floors.  In  the  judgment  of  the  committee,  it  is  desirable  to  provide  all 
accommodations  which  will  give  an  income  to  the  town.  It  is  proposed  to 
cover  the  roof  and  towers  with  slate,  and  tin,  where  slate  cannot  be  used ; 
to  have  copper  gutters,  and  to  protect  the  north  coving  with  a  covering  of 
iron.  Your  committee  consider  the  design  and  arrangement  of  the  building, 
which,  in  some  respects,  are  novel,  as  highly  convenient,  and  superior  to 
any  similar  building  within  their  knowledge. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  building,  according  to  the  designs,  providing 
for  ornamenting  all  the  exterior  with  New  Jersey  freestone,  for  preparing 
the  foundations,  cementing  the  bottom  of  the  basement,  and  for  completely 
ventilating  the  building,  as  carefully  cast  by  practical  men,  is  forty 
thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars ;  but,  to  provide  for  contin- 
gencies, is  placed  at  forty-two  thousand  dollars." 

Among  the  note-worthy  incidents  of  the  year  ISoQ,  should  be  mentioned 
the  improvement  of  the  beautiful  point  of  land  at  the  Great  Pond,  known 
for  many  years  as  the  "Fish  House  Lot,"  and  the  formal  re-naming  of 
that  beautiful  sheet  of  water. 

Many  yeai's  ago,  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  Haverhill  united  in  pur- 
chasing of  the  proprietor,  a  perpetual  right  for  the  citizens  of  the  town  to 
use  the  pleasant  point  of  land  near  the  north-eastern  extremity  of  Great 
Pond,  as  a  place  of  summer  resort  for  parties  of  pleasure.  A  convenient 
wooden  building  was  erected  on  the  land,  and  the  place  became  known  as 
the  "  Fish  House  Lot,"  and  was  a  popular  place  of  resort  for  many  years. 
But,  in  course  of  time,  the  building  fell  into  decay,  and  at  last  was 
destroyed  by  incendiarism,  and  the  grounds  were  neglected,  and  but  little 
used  for  the  original  purpose. 

The  acknowledged  want  of  a  suitable  place  of  resort  for  picnics  and 
chowder  parties,  and  the  convenience  of  location,  natural  beauty,  and, 
above  all,  the  memories  of  "  auld  lang  syne  "  that  clustered  around  the 
"  Fish  House  Lot,"  again  directed  attention  to  it  as  the  place  most  desirable 
for  the  purpose ;  and  in  the  summer  of  1858,  a  few  persons  called  a 
meeting,  upon  the  grounds,  of  all  interested  in  the  subject.  Above  one 
hundred  persons  were  present.  Elbridge  G.  Eaton,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
chairman,  and  George  H.  Hoyt,  secretary  ;  and  after  remarks  by  several 
gentlemen,  Eufus  Slocomb,  Esq.,  who  had  become  proprietor  of  the  grounds, 
subject  to  the  privileges  before  mentioned,  proposed  to  make  over  his 
interest  to  the  citizens  of  Haverhill  and  Bradford,  for  the  nominal  sum  of 
one  hundred  dollars,  on  condition  that  it  should  be  forever  kept  as  a  place 
of  free  resort  to  the  citizens  of  these  towns  for  social  festivities. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 


529 


By  a  tinanimous  vote,  the  liberal  offer  was  accepted,  and  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  solicit  subscriptions,  purchase  and  put  the  grounds  in  order, 
make  such  improvements  as  they  should  deem  advisable,  and  report  at  a 
general  meeting  to  be  called  by  them  in  one  year.  On  motion  of  Gr.  W. 
Chase,  it  was  voted  that  the  land  should  be  purchased  by  subscriptions 
not  exceeding  one  dollar  each,  and  a  subscription  pajjer  for  that  purpose 
was  opened  on  the  spot. 

On  the  31st  day  of  August,  1859,  the  committee  called  a  meeting  at 
the  grounds  of  all  interested  in  the  matter,  which  was.  attended  by  about 
two  hundred  persons.  The  Chairman,  James  H.  Carleton,  Esq.,  reported 
that  the  land  had  been  purchased,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  trees  set 
out,  a  substantial  fence  erected,  the  grounds  graded,  and  a  convenient  stone 
building  (twenty  by  forty  feet)  erected,  at  a  total  expense  of  about  eight 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  of  which  they  had  received  nearly  seven  hundred 
dollars  in  individual  subscriptions. 

The  committee  also  reported  a  plan  of  organization  for  the  preservation 
and  improvement  of  the  grounds.  The  report  was  accepted,  and  a  body 
immediately  organized  under  the  name  of  "  The  Kenoza  Lake  Club,"  and 
its  officers  elected. 

The  organization  of  the  Club  was  followed  by  an  old  fashioned  fish 
chowder,  with  the  usual  festive  accompaniments. =■= 


»  The  following  beautiful  poem,  by  John  Gr.  Whittier,  to  whom  had  been  entrusted  the  honor  of  select- 
ing a  new  name  for  the  pond,  was  read  upon  the  occasion : 

KENOZA. 


As  Adam  did  in  Paradise, 

To-day  the  primal  right  we  claim ; 
Pair  mirror  of  the  woods  and  skies, 

We  give  to  thee  a  name ! 

Lake  of  the  Pickerel !  Let  no  more 
The  echoes  answer  back  "  Great  Pond," 

But,  sweet  Kenoza,  from  thy  shore 
And  watching  hills  beyond; 

And,  Indi.an  ghosts,  if  such  there  be. 
Who  ply  unseen,  their  shadowy  lines, 

Call  back  the  dear  old  name  to  thee 
As  with  the  voice  of  pines. 

The  paths  we  trod  when  careless  boys, 
With  manhood's  shodden  feet  we  trace; 

To  friendship,  love  and  social  joys 
We  consecrate  the  place. 

67 


Here  shall  the  tender  song  be  sung, 
And  Memory's  dirges  soft  and  low, 

And  wit  shall  sparkle  on  the  tongue. 
And  Mirth  shall  overflow. 

Harmless  as  summer-lightning  plays 
From  a  low,  hidden  cloud  by  night— 

A  light  to  set  the  hills  ablaze, 
But  not  a  bolt  to  smite. 

Kenoza !  O'er  no  sweeter  lake 

Shall  morning  break,  or  noon-cloud  sail, 
No  lighter  wave  than  thine  shall  take 

The  sunset's  golden  veil ! 

And,   Beauty's  priestess,  thou  shalt  teach 
The  truth,  so  dimly  understood, 

That  He  who  mad  e  thee  fair,  for  each 
And  all  designeth  good ! 


530  HISTOKT   OF   HAVERHILL. 

A  few  days  subsequently,  the  grounds  were  dedicated,  and  the  beautiful 
body  of  water  formally  christened  as  ''  Kenoza  Lake,''  with  appropriate 
cercmonies.f 

Early  in  the  year  1860,  the  shoemakers  of  Lynn,  Haverhill,  and  other 
shoe-manufacturing  towns,  engaged  in  a  movement  the  object  of  which 
was  to  free  themselves  from  real  or  fancied  oppression,  on  the  part  of  the 
manufacturers,  by  establishing  and  maintaining  a  more  remunerative  list 
of  prices  for  the  various  kinds  and  qualities  of  work.  The  movement 
commenced  with  private  and  public  discussions,  and  was  soon  followed  by 
a  regularly  organized  "  strike  "  in  the  principal  shoe-manufacturing  towns 
in  the  State.  In  this  town,  upwards  of  six  hundred  shoemakers  bound 
themselves  not  to  work,  except  at  prices  fixed  upon  by  a  committee  of 
their  own  selection.  Side  by  side  in  the  movement  were  to  be  seen  those 
who  for  years  (and  when  they  joined  in  the  strike)  received  prices  which 
easily  gave  them  from  two  dollars  to  four  dollars  for  six  to  ten  hours' 
labor,  and  those  whose  unskilled  hands  could  scarce  secure  them  the  above 
sums  per  week.  Many  of  the  first  class  engaged  in  the  movement  through 
mere  love  of  excitement,  and  ambition  to  lead,  while  the  latter  were  de- 
luded with  the  idea  that  they  were  ill-paid  for  their  skill  and  labor,  that 
they  were  the  victims  of  a  sort  of  petty  despotism,  and  that  "plenty  of 
work  and  good  pay  "  were  sure  to  follow  if  they  but  rose  in  their  might 
and  demanded  that  "capital  should  no  longer  control  labor." 

As  might  have  been  anticipated,  the  whole  movement  was  a  failure,  and 
after  a  few  weeks  of  excitement,  idleness,  and  no  little  dissipation,  the 
bubble  burst,  the  strike  was  abandoned,  and  business  soon  resumed  its 
wonted  channels!  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  most  of  those  who  joined  in 
the  movement  returned  to  their  labor  wiser  if  not  better  men. 

t  The  festivities  closed  with  the  following  soDg,  written  fur  the  occasion,  by  Geo.  W.  Chase:  — 

From  north  and  south,  from  east  and  west 
We've  come  with  willing  feet; 

And  hire  again  with  hearty  zest, 
Our  dear  old  friends  we  greet. 
Chorus — Our  dear  old  friends  we  greet, my  A-icnd8,Ao. 


Old  friends,  old  friends,  we  meet  again, 

Where  oft  we  met  of  ym  e ; 
Again  to  b;!ghtcn  friendship's  chain 
By  sweet  Kenoza's  shore. 
Chorus — By  sweet  Kenoza's  shore,  my  friends, 
By  sweet  Kenoza's  shore  ; 
Again  to  brijirhten  fi-iendship's  chain 
By  sweet  lv.enoza'!>  shore. 


Onr  early  friendships  here  wc  O'vra, 

Though  wide  our  lots  are  cast; 
Long  yens  have  not  our  love  outgrown; 

We'll  ne'er  forget  the  past.  j        Aq^  y^^j.  ^y  year,  till  life  shall  cease, 


It  never  shall  be  said  with  truth. 
That  now  our  hearts  are  cold  ; 
The  love  that  warmed  them  in  our  youth. 
Shall  warm  them  still  when  old.  [<tc. 

Chorus — Shall  warm  them  still  when  old,  my  friends. 


Chorus — We'll  ne'er  forget  the  iiast,  my  friends,  &c. 


Our  hearts  are  warm  as  when  of  yoro 
Our  songs  asccndcl  here  ; 

And  here  by  sweet  Kenoza's  shore,  _  

We  pledge  to  memoiy  ilear.  ]  We'll  meet  in  love  and  part  in  peace 

Chorus — We  pledge  to  memory  dear,  my  friends,  &c- 1  By  «weet  Kenoza's  shore.. 


And  earthly  joys  be  o'l 
We'll  meet  in  love,  and  part  in  peace, 
By  sweet  Kenoza's  shore. 
Chorus — By  sweet  Kenoza's  shore,  my  friends. 
By  sweet  Kenoza's  shore. 


HISTObY   OP  HAVE&HILt/.  §31 

ta  1859,  iPourth,  Huntington  and  Cedar  streets  were  accepted;  and  in  1861, 
Linden,  Franklin,  John,  Harrison.  Washington  avenue,  Beacon,  Temple 
and  Duston  streets  were  accepted,  and  Moore  and  Dow  streets  straightened 
and  widened/-'  In  January,  1861,  Fleet  and  Court  streets  were  also  for- 
mally accepted  by  the  town.  For  the  information  of  those  not  familiar 
with  the  usual  modern  custom  in  the  laying  out  of  new  streets,  we  should, 
perhaps,  add,  that,  in  nearly  every  instance,  new  streets  in  New  England 
villages  are  first  laid  out  and  graded  by  the  owners  of  the  adjoining  lauds, 
for  the  purpose  of  opening  a  way  for  the  sale  of  house-lots,  and  it  is 
Usually  several  years  from  such  laying  out  before  they  are  formally  accepted 
by  the  town  as  public  highways. 

*  The  work  oh  the  latter  has  as  yet  only  b«M»  done  on  paper. 


532  niStORY   OF   nAVERHItl^ 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


THE  MANtTFACTUBE  OF  SHOES  AND  HATS — IMPROVEMENTS^ 


The  first  shoemaker  in  this  town  was  clouhtless  Andrew  Greeley,  whc 
came  here  in  164G,  and  some  of  whose  descendants  still  reside  here,  and 
are  engaged  in  the  shoe  business.  From  the  above  date  until  within  the 
present  century,  shoemaking  was  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  wants 
of  our  own  community.  Shoes  were  not  made  up  in  quantities,  and  kept 
on  hand  for  sale,  like  most  kinds  of  goods  tit  the  present  day  ;  much  less 
were  they  manufactured  for  foreign  consumption.  The  time  is  almost 
within  the  memory  of  persons  now  living,  when  it  was  the  common  custom, 
outside  of  the  villages,  for  shoemakers  to  "  whip  the  stump;  "  ie.  go  from 
house  to  house,  stopping  at  each  long  enough  to  make  up  a  year's  supply 
of  shoes  for  the  family.  Farmers  usually  kept  a  supply  of  leather  on 
hand  for  family  use,  and  in  many  cases  they  were  their  own  cobblers. 
Sometimes  a  farmer  was  also  the  shoemaker  for  the  whole  neighborhood, 
and  worked  at  the  latter  employment  on  rainy  days,  and  during  the  winter 
season. 

In  villages,  the  "  village  cobbler,"  or  shoemaker,  gi-adually  came  to 
keep  a  little  stock  of  leather  on  hand,  and  to  exchange  shoes  with  the 
farmers,  tanners,  traders,  and  others,  for  produce,  leather,  foreign  goods, 
&c.  In  this  village,  as  late  as  1794,  there  is  said  to  have  been  but  two 
shoemakers,  Mr.  Eobert  Willis  remembers  being  in  the  shop  of  Enoch 
Marsh,  in  that  year,  when  the  latter  was  making  a  pair  of  shoes  for  Capt. 
Benjamin  "Willis,  —  of  the  privateer  brig  Betsey  —  between  the  soles  of 
which  a  layer  of  gold  pieces  were  placed.  The  precaution  proved  to  have 
been  timely,  as  the  brig  was  captured  the  same  voyage. 

In  course  of  time,  storekeepers  began  to  keep  a  few  shoes  on  hand  for 
sale.  This  naturally  grew  out  of  the  barter  system  of  trade,  then  so  com- 
mon. They  bartered  with  the  shoemakers  for  their  shoes ;  bartered  the 
shoes  with  the  back  country  farmers  for  produce  ;  and  then  bartered  the 
produce  for  English  and  "West  India  Goods. 

In  August,  1795,  Moses  Gale,  of  this  town,  advertised  that  he  had 
♦'  several  thousand"  fresh  and  dry  hides,  which  he  would  exchange  for 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  •  533 

shoes,  and  would  give  credit  until  the  shoes  could  he  made  from  the  same 
hides.  This  is  the  earliest  authentic  information  we  have  found  of  what 
may  be  called  a  loholesale  shoe  business  in  the  town.  From  this  time,  the 
manufacture  of  shoes  began  to  increase  quite  rapidly. 

Among  the  earliest  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes,  were  IMoses 
and  James  Atwood,  who  also  kept  a  store  in  the  village.  During  the  war 
of  1812,  the  first  named  sent  a  waggon  load  of  shoes  to  Philadelphia,  on 
which  he  realized  a  handsome  profit.  These  must  have  been  about  the 
first  shoes  sent  in  that  direction.'"  David  How  was  also  one  of  the  first  to 
encourage  their  wholesale  manufacture.  He  is  thought  by  some  to  have 
been  the  very  first  to  send  shoes  to  the  south,  in  large  quantities.  He  was 
for  some  years  the  largest  manufacturer  in  town.  Wesley  Balch  is  said  to 
have  been  the  first  one  to  manufacture  roan  shoes.  If  so,  he  must  have 
commenced  previous  to  1814,  as  in  that  year  we  find  "  ladies'  black  Moroc- 
co shoes,  with  heels ;  ladies'  colored  Morocco  shoes,  with  heels  ;  and  ladies' 
colored  and  black  sandals,  with  heels;  for  sale  by  Chase  &  Cogswell,"  in 
this  town.  Amos  Chase,  who  lived  where  J.  B.  Spiller  now  resides,  made 
"roan  ties"  about  1810.  He  manufactured  only  what  himself  and  one 
or  two  apprentices  could  make.  They  were  spring-heeled,  and  without 
any  stiffening  at  the  heel.  There  were  no  pegged  shoes  made  at  that  time. 
A  few  pegs  were  made  by  hand  for  pegging  heels  together.  •  At  that  time 
no  regard  was  paid  to  the  sizes,  or  to  the  number  of  pairs  in  a  case. 
Leonard  Whittier  was  one  of  the  first  to  put  up  regular  sizes  in  each  case. 

Aroet  M.  Hatch  was  in  the  shoe  business  here  in  1812.  Mr.  Hatch 
was  a  native  of  Ashby,  but  was  brought  up  in  the  family  of  Deacon 
Balch,  of  East  Bradford.  He  married  a  sister  of  Paul  Spofford,  of  George- 
town, and  soon  after  went  with  the  latter  to  Salem,  X.  H.,  where  they 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  shoes.  After  carrying  on  the  business  at 
that  place  about  a  year,  they  returned  to  Haverhill,  and  commenced  in 
the  Bannister  block,  as  Hatch  k  Spofford.     This  was  about  1817. 

Phineas  Webster  was  one  of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  very  first,  who  made 
the  wholesale  manufacture  of  shoes  his  sole  business.  He  commenced 
about  1815.  At  first,  he  exchanged  most  of  his  shoes  in  Danvers,  for 
Morocco  and  leather.  The  Danvers  tanners  and  curriers  packed  their 
shoes  in  barrels,  sugar  boxes,  tea  chests  and  hogsheads,  without  regard  to 
sizes  or  qualities,  and  shipped  them  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  where 


"  Mr.  Atwood  subsequently  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  founded  the  first  wholesale  shoe  house  in 
that  city. 


§34  *  HISTORY    6F    HAVERHlLt. 

they  were  exclianged  for  a  variety  of  produce,  &c.  On  arriving  at  these 
ports,  the  vessels  would  be  visited  by  crowds  of  people,  to  trade  for  shoes. 
The  captain  would  thereupon  hoist  up  his  barrel  or  sugar  box  of  shoes,  at 
once  converting  the  deck  of  his  vessel  into  a  retail  shoe  shop,  and  "dicker 
off"  his  stock.  Mr.  "Webster  is  still  engaged  in  the  business,  in  connection 
with  his  son.  Samuel  Chase  came  to  Haverhill  in  1815,  from  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  where  he  had  kept  a  custom  shoe  shop.  He  has  from  that  time  to 
the  present  year  (1860)  been  one  of  our  most  extensive  shoe  manufactur- 
ers, as  well  as  most  worthy  and  respected  citizens.  Warner  Whittier  was 
in  the  business  as  early  as  1818,  and  probably  earlier,  and  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  extensive  manufacturers  in  the  place.  His  son,  and 
successor,  "Warner  E.  Whittier,  Esq.,  is  still  in  the  business^ 

In  January,  1818,  Thomas  Tileston,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  print- 
ing business  in  this  town,  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  received 
large  consignments  of  shoes  and  hats  from  the  manufacturers  in  Haverhill, 
and  established,  in  connection  with  Paul  Spofford,  one  of  our  Haverhill 
shoe-manufacturers,  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  shoe  houses  in 
that  city. 

Eliphalet  Xoyes  manufactured  in  the  Bannister  Block  in  1820.  His 
shoes  were  all  made  in  his  own  shop,  and  were  mostly  "  women's  run-round 
ties,"  black  and  colored. 

Thomas  Meady  was  in  the  business  here  in  1817,  at  which  date,  it  has 
been  estimated,  there  were  probably  about  two  hundred  shoemakers  in  town* 
Meady  sent  many  of  his  shoes  to  Eichmond,  and  Norfolk,  Va. 

James  Noyes  came  here  in  1820,  at  which  time  Moses  French  was  man- 
ufacturing sale  shoes,  where  Haseltine's  store  now  stands,  on  Water  street; 
and  Eben  Chase  carried  on  the  business  where  Hunking's  block  now  standsv 
Jesse  Harding  was  then  the  only  Morocco  dresser  in  town.  The  father  of 
Mr.  Noyes  made  shoes  when  the  fashion  was  "picked  toes,  and  wooden 
heels." 

Daniel  Hobson  commenced  the  business  in  Bradford,  in  1824,  and  re- 
moved to  Haverhill  in  1828.  He  made  mostly  men's  heeled  pumps,  with 
strap  and  buckle.  "  Hobson' s  pumps  "  were  for  years  a  standard  article^ 
Mr.  Hobson  is  still  in  the  business. 

John  Poilonsbee  manufactured  shoes  near  the  bridge,  in  1826.  He  af» 
terward  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  trade. 

David  P.  Harmon  commenced  the  business  in  1826,  and  with  the  excep* 
tion  of  a  few  years,  has  continued  it  to  the  present  time. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVEEHILt. 


535 


In  March,   1832,  there  were  twenty-eiglit  shoe  manufacturers  in.  the 
town,  viz  :  — 


Jacob  Caldwell-' 
Caldwell  &  Pierce 
Anthony  Chase-' 
Tappan  Chase'--' 
Samuel  Chase 
Charles  Davis 
Benjamin  Emerson,  2d 
Jesse  Emersonf 
Samuel  George 
Joseph  Greelj 


Gubtal  &  Haseltine 
Harmon  &  Kimball 
Moses  Haynesf 
Caleb  Hersey 
Keely  &  Chase 
Eichard  Kimball 
Oliver  P.  Lake'-' 
Thomas  Meady 
James  Noyes 
Peter  Osgood 


Page  &  Kimball 
Daniel  S.  Perley 
Samuel  Eussell| 
Job  Tyler 
Isiah  Websterf 
David  Whitaker§ 
Whittier  &  George 
John  Woodman 


Of  the  above,  at  least  sixteen  kept  "  English  and  West  India  Goods  " 
at  the  same  time.  (Cash  was  a  very  small  part  of  the  price  paid  for  mak- 
ing the  shoes.) 

Prominent  among  the  causes  of  the  somewhat  sudden  increase  in  the 
manufacture  of  shoes,  are  to  be  found,  first,  the  finishing  of  goat,  kid  and 
sheep  skins  in  the  form  of  Morocco,  and,  second,  the  invention  of  turned 
shoes.  The  first  Morocco  used  in  this  town  came  from  Danvers  and  New- 
buryport.  The  first  Morocco  dresser  in  town,  was  Jesse  Harding.  The  first 
turned  shoes  made  in  this  vicinity,  were  made  by  a  "  tramping  jour,"  who 
learned  the  art  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  hired  in  Charlcstown,  by  James 
Gardner,  of  Bradford,  for  whom  he  worked  long  enough  to  allow  others  to 
secure  the  grand  secret.  His  shoes  excited  a  great  deal  of  curiosity  at 
the  time,  and  large  numbers  of  persons  went  to  see  how  they  were  made. 
The  introduction  of  these  light,  neat,  cheap  and  comparatively  durable 
shoes,  in  place  of  the  heavy  styles  then  in  common  use,  seems  to  have 
given  a  decided  impulse  to  shoe  manufacturing  in  this  town,*and  from  that 
time  the  business  rapidly  increased,  until  it  became  the  principal,  and 
almost  the  only  manufacturing  business  in  the  town. 

In  1818,  Mr.  Eufus  Slocomb  commenced  the  regular  running  of  a  two- 
horse  "  baggage  waggon  "  between  Haverhill  and  Boston,  for  the  transpor- 
tation of  freight.  The  enterprise  proved  a  success,  and  he  was  gradually 
obliged  to  increase  his  freighting  facilities,  until,  about  1835,  he  kept 
about  forty  horses,  and  two  yoke  of  oxen  constantly  employed  in  the  busi- 
ness, and  his  large  covered  wagons  almost  literally  lined  the  road  from  this 


•»  Eftst  Parish.        t  West  Parish.        J  Pond  Street.        §  North  Parish. 


536 


HISTORY   OP  HAVERHILL. 


town  to  Boston.  The  largest  freight  he  ever  transported  in  one  day,  was 
in  the  spring  of  1836,  when  he  had  full  loads  from  this  town  for  forty-one 
horses  and  eight  oxen. 

Of  the  amount  of  business  done  by  Mr.  Slocomb  previous  to  1824,  we 
have  no  definite  data  ;  but  the  following  table  gives  the  number  of  trips 
made,  and  the  number  of  cases  of  shoes  transported  by  him,  from  this 
town  to  Boston,  from  that  year  to  1836,  inclusive,  and  also  the  number  of 
tons  of  return  freight :  — 


To  Boston. 

From  Boston. 

Years. 

Trips. 

Cases. 

Tons. 

Lbs. 

Tons. 

Lbs. 

1824 

98 

2197 

144 

617 

172 

1312 

1825 

103 

2805 

161 

184 

168 

1419 

1826 

102 

29G3 

1G9 

1930 

254 

1014 

1827 

95 

3057 

177 

731 

144 

1518 

1828 

96 

4177 

200 

434 

228 

116 

1829 

99 

5158 

253 

229 

233 

1326 

1830 

104 

7008 

350 

538 

273 

929 

1831 

103 

9474 

456 

1020 

400 

427 

1832 

103 

11039 

507 

908 

426 

729 

1833 

103  . 

10966 

543 

819 

400 

117 

1834 

95 

12037 

547 

206 

638 

1925 

1835 

103 

19096 

860 

1219 

696 

1627 

1836 

114 

26955 

909 

532 

946 

180 

1319 

116932 

5288 

1367 

4984 

639 

In  March,  1837,  there  were  in  town  forty-two  shoe  manufacturers,  and 
fourteen  tanners  and  leather  dealers.  The  following  is  a  li'st  of  their 
names :  — 


SHOE  MANUFACTUKEES. 


George  &  Whittier, 
John  Woodman, 
Charles  Hazeltine, 
James  Noyes, 
Peirce  Emerson  &  Co., 
Benjamin  Emerson, 
Emerson  iS:  AVest, 
Nathaniel  Currier,  jr., 
Fitts  &  Itoberts, 
Marsh  &  Hutchinson, 
Brickett  &  Noyes, 


George  W.  Lee, 
Eoswell  Farnum, 
Anthony  Chase, 
J.  &  N.  S.  Fuller, 
Charles  Davis, 
John  C.  Tilton, 
Johnson  &  George, 
Charles  G.  Grimes, 
James  Grimes, 
Benjamin  Buswell, 
Harmon  Kimball  &  Co. 


Samuel  Chase, 
AVhittier  &  Swett, 
John  Kelly  &  Co., 
Kcely,  Chase  &  Co., 
Moses  Nichols  &  Co., 
Abel  Page, 
Bradley  »&  HeTsey, 
Pecker  &  Brickett, 
Daniel  Hobson  &  Co. 
Ingalls  &  Johnson, 
Richard  Kimball, 


UIBTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  537 

Tappan  Chase,  Samuel  George,  Samuel  Spiller  &  Son, 

Jesse  Simonds,  William  Hoyt,  Jolm  S.  Webster, 

Joseph  Greely,  Elbridge  Souther,  Cornelius  Jcnness. 

TANNERS  AND  LEATHEE  DEALEES. 

Hersey  &  Whittier,  Ward  Brickett,  Blodgett  &  Head, 

1'klwards  &  Harding,  L.  &  C.  Worthen,  William  Burgin, 

Hayes  &  Pemberton,  John  Woodman,  Aaron  Gile, 

Thomas  Harding,  Nathaniel  Currier,  Eufus  K.  Knowles. 

Eichard  K.  Wheeler,  Edmund  Kimball, 

Of  the  sixty  names  included  in  the  above  list  of  shoe  manufacturers, 
we  believe  but  twenty-one  are  now  engaged  in  the  same  business  ;  and  of 
the  tanners  and  leather  dealers,  we  believe  but  two  (Caleb  Hersey  and  J. 
D.  Blodgett)  are  in  the  business  at  the  time  of  writing,  (May,  1861). 

The  shoe  manufacturers  in  West  Bradford  (now  Bradford)  at  the  same 
time,  were 

Josiah  Brown,  William  Day  &  Co.,        Guy  Carlcton,  jr., 

Leonard  Johnson,  J.  P.  Montgomery  &  Co.  Pressey  &  Eletcher. 

Samuel  Heath,  Ordway  &  AVebster, 

Kimball  Farrar,  Leather  Dealer. 

Of  these,  only  Messrs.  Johnson,  Heath,  Ordway,  and  Farrar,  are  still 
in  the  business,  —  all  of  whom  are  now  in  Haverhill. 

Tlie  financial  "  panic"  of  1837,  was  especially  disastrous  to  the  manu- 
facturing interests  of  this  town,  and  many  of  its  best  citizens  fell  victims 
to  the  reverses  which  followed.  It  was  a  serious  blow  to  Haverhill,  and 
it  was  upward  of  ten  years  before  it  fairly  recovered  from  the  shock. 

The  discovery  of  the  gold  fields  of  California,  and  the  rapid  settlement 
of  the  Great  West,  by  opening  new  markets  for  the  various  kinds  of  man- 
ufactured goods,  gave  a  fresh  impulse  to  the  manufacturing  interests  in 
Massachusetts,  and  in  this  prosperity  our  town  was  a  full  sharer,  as  its 
rapid  gTowth  in  population,  wealth,  and  business,  fully  proves. 

In  1857,  there  were  in  the  town  upward  of  ninety  shoe  manufactories, 
eighty-two  of  which  were  located  in  the  central  village.  Besides  these, 
there  were  eighteen  inner  sole  and  stifi"euing  manufactories.  In  1859,  the 
number  of  shoe  manufactories  in  the  village  was  ninety.  In  18C0,  there 
were  in  the  town,  according  to  the  returns  of  the  assessors,  ninety-eight 
shoe  factories,  and  two  boot  and  shoe  factories.  Of  these,  nine  were  situ- 
ated in  that  part  of  the  town  known  as  Ayer's  Village. 

The  following  table,  prepared  from  the  books  of  the  Boston  &  Maine 
Eailroad  Co.,  gives  the  number  of  cases  of  shoes  forwarded  by  them  from 
68 


538  HISTORY   OF   lIAVEItllltl,. 

Haverhill  in  1850,  1855,  and  18G0.  The  table  does  not  include  the  large 
number  forwarded  over  the  road  in  passenger  trains,  in  the  care  of  the 
Express :  — 


Years. 

18.50 
185.5 
1860 


Jun. 

6.532 
5700 
4444 


Feb.!  Mar. 

5207  4205 
7086  6609 
726417278 


Apl.lMay 

2812  1956 
3899  3288 
623613202 


June 

2746 
;j-555 
3969 


July  jAug  Sept 


7083i4811 

8016J9249 

10708ll0718 


3720 
5400 
7468 


Oct.|Nov|Dec.|Total. 

2516!l725j2359  46,272 
34491 183311900  5.9,984 
3983ll633l  953l67,856 


To  the  above  number  for  1855  should  be  added  about  seven  thousand  cases 
sent  by  express,  making  in  all,  for  that  year,  about  sixty-seven  thousand 
cases.  In  addition  to  the  number  for  1860,  should  be  added  about  ten 
thousand  cases  forwarded  by  express,  (in  passenger  trains)  and  about  sixteen 
thousand  cases  forwarded  via  Georgetown."  This  gives  a  total  of  ninety- 
three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six  cases,  which  wc  believe  to  be 
very  near  the  actual  number  manufactured  and  sold  in  that  year.  Esti- 
mating them  to  have  averaged  fifty-five  pairs  per  case,  and  to  have  sold 
for  an  average  of  forty  dollars  per  case,  and  we  have  for  that  year  a  total 
of  five  million  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  thousand  and  eighty  pairs,  val- 
ued at  the  large  sum  of  $3,754,240. 

The  quality  of  the  goods  manufactured  in  this  town  has  kept  pace  with 
the  increased  manufacture,  and  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that,  in 
this  particular,  as  well  as  in  respect  to  styles  and  variety,  our  manufac- 
turers are  not  behind  those  of  any  other  place  in  New  England. 

"VVe  would  gladly  have  closed  this  brief  sketch  of  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  shoe  manufacture  in  our  town,  by  the  announcement  that  the  busi- 
ness was  still  in  a  healthy  condition,  and  our  manufacturers  reaping 
abundant  rewards  for  their  enterprise  and  skill.  But  the  fact  is  other- 
wise. The  "panic  of  1857,"  against  which  our  manufacturers  stood  up 
with  almost  unbroken  front,  had  hardly  allowed  business  to  resume  its 
wonted  channels,  and  the  restoration  of  commercial  confidence,  when  the 
southern  "Secession,"  with  its  long  train  of  deplorable  results,  over- 
whelmed the  whole  country.  While  we  are  writing,  (July,  1861)  a  deep 
financial  gloom  covers  the  entire  business  prospects  of  our  town.  Business 
is  almost  totally  suspended,  and  an  unwonted  stillness  reigns  in  our 
streets.  Close  upon  the  heels  of  broken  state  faith,  has  followed  indi- 
vidual repudiation,  distress,  and  financial  ruin.  It  -is  estimated  that  the 
manufacturers  of  this  town  now  hold  upward  of  half  a  million  of  dollars 
in  protested  notes,  from  which  but  a  small  percentage  will,  in  all  proba- 


O  The  exact  number  of  cases  transported  1)y  this  raikoad  from  December  1,  1809,  to  March  20,  18G0, 
■was  eighttcn  thousand  ouc  hundred  and  twenty-four. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILI,.  539 

bility,  ever  "be  realized.  More  tluan  one  who  expected  ere  long  to  be  able 
to  pass  tbe  remainder  of  his  daj's  in  pleasant  retirement  from  active  busi- 
ness, has  seen  the  bright  hopes  of  long  years  dashed  to  the  ground,  and 
their  place  taken  by  grim  visions  of  grey-haired  poverty.  The  full  effect 
of  this  sad  reverse  in  the  business  of  our  town,  cannot  now  be  foretold, 
but  that  mtiny  years  must  intervene  before  it  will  return  to  its  previous 
financial  condition,  is  too  evident  to  admit  of  doubt. 

The  manufacture  of  hats  has  been  carried  on  in  this  town  to  a  consider- 
able extent  for  about  one  hundred  years.  The  first  hatter  of  whom  we 
have  found  certain  mention,  was  Jonathan  Webster,  in  1747,  though 
we  very  much  doubt  if  he  was  the  first  man  who  followed  that  trade  in 
the  town.  Many  of  our  readers  will  remember  Mr.  Daniel  Appleton  who 
carried  on  the  business  in  the  village  in  1800,  and  earlier.  He  erected 
the  building  recently  torn  down  to  make  place  for  the  new  stores  now  being 
erected  by  Mr.  Le  Bosquet,  on  the  corner  of  Main  Street  and  Mechanic's 
Court.  The  building  was  erected  especially  for  his  business,  and  the 
whole  of  the  second  floor,  and  a  part  of  the  first  floor,  was  occupied  by 
him  for  a .  hat  factory.  Mr.  Appleton's  father,  (Daniel)  and  also  his 
grandfather,  (Samuel)  were  hatters.  Daniel,  senior,  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness, at  the  place  already  mentioned,  for  many  years,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son. 

A  Mr.  Ladd  was  engaged  in  the  business  here  for  many  years  previous 
to  1800,  at  which  time  he  was  quite  an  old  man.  His  shop  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  brick  building  next  south  of  the  Town  House.  Nathaniel 
Marsh  was  also  engaged  in  the  business  about  the  same  time.  He  occu- 
pied the  building  recently  removed  from  the  site  of  the  new  brick  block  of 
Messrs.  "VYadleigh  &  Eaton,  which  building  he  erected  for  his  hatting 
business.-'     These  had  all  discontinued  the  business  previous  to  1805. 

In  1815,  Nathan  AVcbstcr,  who  learned  his  trade  of  his  brother,  Jona- 
than,! set  up  the  business  in  the  building  now  occupied  as  a  dwelling 
house  by  Andrew  Johnson,  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Moore  and  AVater 
Streets.  At  first  he  employed  two  apprentices,  but  gradually  extended 
his  business  until  he  furnished  employment  to  upwards  of  twenty  journey- 
men, six  to  eight  apprentices,  and  twenty  girls.  He  built  the  two  large 
brick  buildings  on  the  east  side  of  Green  Street,  (now  changed  to  dwell- 


«  The  old  TjuiUling  now  stands  on  the  wharf,  in  the  rear  of  Tilton's  Building,  a  few  rods  southwest  of 
its  original  site. 

t  Jonathan  learned  his  trade  of  Stephen  Webster,  who  died  in  the  Almshouse,  in  1859,  at  an  advanced 
flge. 


i»40  niSTORT  or  nAVERniiL. 

ing  houses)  and  was  for  a  time  one  of  the  largest  mamafacturers  in  New 
England.  In  1835,  Mr.  Webster  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  brother 
David,  who  had  also  can'icd  on  the  business  in  town  since  1818. 

The  first  manufacturer  of  hats  in  the  West  Parish,  appears  to  have  been 
Isaac  How,  (a  brother  of  the  late  David  How)  who  married  the  widow  of 
I'earley  Ayer,  and  soon  after  commenced  the  business,  near  the  foot  of 
Scotland  Hill.  Mr.  How  was  succeeded  by  his  sons,  Phineas  and  Isaac, 
each  of  whom  canned  on  the  business  quite  extensively  for  many  years. 
Phineas  purchased  the  old  grist  mill  at  the  outlet  of  Creek  Pond,  which 
he  converted  into  a  hat  factory.  It  is  still  used  for  the  same  purpose. 
Isaac,  Junior,  was  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  of  his  time,  making 
at  one  time  from  forty  to  fifty  dozens  per  day.     (This  was  about  1835.) 

Among  the  first  to  learn  the  trade  of  the  first  named  Isaac  How,  was 
John  Ayer,  his  son-in-law,  who  afterward  set  up  the  business  for  himself, 
near  "  Clreenleaf 's  corner,"  about  one  mile  east  of  the  present  Ayer's  Vil- 
lage, where  he  carried  on  the  business  for  several  years.  In  1801,  Mr. 
Ayer  removed  to  the  place  lately  occupied  by  his  son-in-law,  Jonathan 
Crowell,  at  Ayer's  Village,  where  he  continued  to  carry  on  the  business 
for  many  years.  Mr.  Crowell  learned  his  trade  of  Mr.  Ayer,  whose 
daughter  he  married,  and  succeeded  him  in  the  business.  Mr.  Ayer  at 
one  time  employed  four  journeymen  and  four  apprentices,  which  was  con- 
sidered a  "  great  business  "  for  one  man  to  carry  on. 

Mr.  Crowell  continued  to  carry  on  the  business  for  upward  of  forty 
years,  and  until  his  death,  in  18G0.  Among  those  in  his  employ  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  were  Mr.  J.  B.  Merrill,  who  had  been  in  his  service,  as 
apprentice  and  journeyman,  for  thirty-four  years ;  and  Mr.  Amos  Saun- 
ders, who  had  worked  for  him  nearly  forty  years.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  Mr,  Crowell,  iq  connection  with  his  son,  Calvin  W.,  and  his  nephew, 
Edwin  F.  Ayer,  (a  grandson  of  the  first  named  John  Ayer,)  4inder  the 
style  of  Jonathan  Crowell  &  Co.,  was  manufacturing  about  eight  hundred 
dozen  hats  per  month,  averaging  in  value  about  six  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
per  dozen,  and  giving  employment  to  about  fifty  persons. 

John  Ayer,  son  of  the  fii*st  named  John,  carried  on  the  business  at  tlic 
above  named  village  for  many  years,  where  he  still  resides,  though  retired 
from  active  business. 

Among  the  firms  now  engaged  in  the  business  at  the  above  place,  are 
Ayer  &  Brothers,  grandsons  of  the  first  named  John  Ayer.  They  give 
employment  to  about  thirty  persons,  and  manufacture  about  four  hundred 
and  fifty  dozen  hats  per  month.     The  only  other  establishment  of  the  kind 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERniLI.  541 

in  that  village,  is  that  of  John  A.  Houston  &  Co.,  who  employ  ahout  fif- 
teen persons,  and  turn  out  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  dozen  hats  per 
month. 

Besides  the  above  named  persons,  the  following  have  been  engaged  in 
the  business  in  the  West  Parish,  since  the  business  was  first  introduced : — ■ 

Gleason,  Lewis  Bailey,  Eben  Mitchel,  Moses  Lull,  Jonathan  and 

Timothy  Emerson,  Stephen  and  Captain  Joseph  ^Yebster,  Stephen  Eun- 
nels,  Joseph  and  Jonathan  Webstei*,  and  most  probably  others  whose 
names  have  not  reached  us. 

The  hats  made  by  Isaac  How,  John  Ayer,  and  others,  in  the  West 
Parish,  were  of  wool,  and  in  nearly  the  present  general  style  of  common 
wool  hats.  They  were  carried  to  Boston,  Salem,  and  other  places,  for 
sale,  on  horseback.  Subsequently,  Mr.  How  had  a  pair  of  wheels,  with 
shafts  attached,  which  he  used  for  the  purpose.  One  or  two  boxes  of 
hats  were  hung  below  the  axle,  while  the  driver  mounted  a  rude  seat  above, 
and  thus  jogged  to  market,  with  no  little  pride.  Mr.  How's  wheels  were 
for  several  years  the  only  ones  of  the  kind  in  the  town,  and  his  cotempo- 
raries  in  the  business  frecjuently  borrowed  them  to  carry  their  own  goods 
to  market.  The  next  improvement  in  the  way  of  transportation,  was  the 
introduction  of  horse-carts.  In  1804,  there  were  but  two  of  these  in 
town.  These  were  owned  by  Ezekiel  Hale  and  Daniel  Appleton.  The 
common  quality  of  hats,  which  were  called  "  Negro  hats,"  sold  for  five  to 
six  dollars  per  dozen.  Ladd,  Appleton,  and  Marsh,  made  mostly  "fur 
beaver"  hats  —  i.  e.,  made  of  the  fur  of  the  beaver.  Besides  these,  they 
made  raccoon  and  muskrat  hats,  principally  for  farmers,  and  common 
people,  for  every  day  use.  The  best  fur  hats  cost  about  seven  dollars 
each,  and  were  intended  to  last  a  lifetime.  A  man  usually  purchased  one 
with  his  wedding  coat,  and  in  most  cases  he  never  had  occasion  to  replace 
it.  It  was  only  worn  to  meeting,  and  on  great  and  special  occasions.  It 
was  put  on  and  taken  off  by  carefully  taking  hold  of  the  buttons  which 
held  the  turned-up  rim,  and  from  Sabbath  day  to  Sabbath  day  again,  with 
the  exceptions  mentioned,  rested  unmolested  upon  its  own  particular  peg 
in  the  "  front  entry." 

The  style  of  fur  hats  made  seventy  years  ago,  were  rounding  tops,  about 
five  inches  high,  with  rims  six  inches  wide.  From  this  the  crown  gradu- 
ally extended  to  nine  and  a  half  inches,  and  the  rim  as  gradually  dimin- 
ished to  one  and  a  quarter  inches.  At  the  same  time  the  top  of  the  crown 
gradually  enlarged,  until  it  was  two  inches  larger  than  the  bottom.  This 
was  the  narrow  rimmed  bell-crowned  hat  of  forty  years  ago,  and  even 
later. 


542  HISTORY  or  nAVEnniLL. 

About  1820,  Lieutenant  Parker  Grcenough;  of  this  town,  made  some 
hats,  with  pasteboard  bodies,  covered  with  cotton  plush.  These  did  not 
"go  well,"  and  were  superseded  bj  silk  hats,  which  were  introduced  soon 
after.  The  first  silk  hats  made  in  this  town  were  finished  by  Nathaniel 
Carlcton,  then  in  the  employ  of  David  Webster.  Carleton  learned  the 
art  in  Danvers.  The  first  lot  of  the  new  hats  was  finished  on  Saturday 
afternoon,  and  every  one  (fourteen  in  all)  was  sold  the  same  evening,  and 
duly  appeared  at  church  the  next  day. 

Xathan  AVebster  made  large  numbers  of  "napi:)ed"  hats.  Some  of 
these  were  fur  bodies,  napped  with  beaver ;  and  others  were  muskrat  naps 
on  wool  bodies.  The  quantity  of  beaver  used  in  napping  varied  from  one 
to  two  ounces  per  hat.  The  process  of  napping  was  invented  by  a  man  in 
Baltimore,  and  has  been  but  little  known  in  any  other  country.  The  in- 
troduction of  silk  hats,  which  have  never  been  made  to  any  great  extent 
in  this  town,  has  finally  almost  driven  the  old  fur  hat  out  of  existence, 
and  but  very  few  are  now  made  or  worn. 

The  only  wholesale  hat  manufactory  in  the  central  village  at  the  present 
time,  is  that  of  Messrs.  How  &  Mitchell,  on  Fleet  Street."  This  firm 
occupy  the  whole  of  the  large  four  stoi-y  brick  building  erected  for  their 
use,  by  James  H.  Duncan,  Esq.,  giving  employment  to  about  one  hundred 
persons,  and  have  for  several  years  manufactured  an  average  of  seventy- 
five  dozen  hats  per  day,  valued  at  an  average  of  seven  dollars  per  dozen. 
The  material  of  their  hats  is  wool,  which  has  almost  entirely  superceded 
the  more  expensive  fur.f  Of  these  they  manufacture  nearly  one  hundred 
different  styles  and  qualities,  suited  to  the  wants  and  tastes  of  nearly 
every  class  of  people,  from  Nova  Scotia  all  around  to  Oregon. 

As  many  and  great  changes  have  been  made  in  the  general  appearance 
of  the  town  —  particularly  that  part  of  it  included  in  the  First  Parish  — 
during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  by  the  erection  of  new  buildings, 
the  laying  out  of  new  streets,  and  other  improvements,  perhaps  we  cannot 
more  fittingly  close  this,  the  last  chapter  of  our  general  history,  than  by 
giving  a  brief  sketch  of  the  more  prominent  of  these  changes  and  impwve- 
ments. 

Some  idea  of  the  growth  of  the  central  village  may  be  judged  by  the 
fact  that  it  now  contains  upward  of  twelve  hundred  dwelling  houses,  and 

•    e  Mr.  (P.  B.)  IIow  is  a  son  of  Phineas,  and  a  grandson   of  Isaac   How,  both  of  whom  were  extensive 
hatters.    Mr.  (Ebon)  Mitcheli  is  a  son  of  Ebon,  —  also  a  hatter. 

t  Almost  the  onlj-  fur  hats  now  made  are  those  known  as  "  soft  felt."  These,  and  wool  hats  of  similar 
styles,  arc  now  the  most  common  business  hats  worn;  while  the  stiff  and  glossy  black  silk  hats  (not  in- 
aptly nicknamed  "stove-pipe"  hats)  are  the  fashionable  dress  hats  of  the  present  time. 


HISTORY   OF   IIATERHILL.  543 

aoout  one  liimdrccl  and  fifty  stores  and  manufactories.  One  hundred  and 
six  of  the  latter  are  of  brick,  — nearly  all  of  them  in  blocks,  of  two  to 
six  stores  each,  and  of  three  and  four  stories  in  height.  The  south  side 
of  Merrimack  Street,  from  the  Great  Bridge  to  the  Little  Eiver  Bridge, 
presents  a  nearly  unbroken  line  of  handsome  three  and  four  story  brick 
structures,  mostly  occupied  for  shoe  manufacturing  purposes.  The  north 
side  of  the  street  presents  a  similar  view  from  Main  Street  to  the  "  Sal* 
tonstall  Place."  "VTest  of  the  latter,  and  immediately  adjoining,  there  is 
a  single  brick  block  of  two  stores.  The  several  streets  on  "  Baptist  Hill  " 
show  comparatively  few  vacant  lots  for  building  purposes.  But  the  most 
important  improvement  in  this  section  of  the  village,  has  taken  j^lace  on 
the  estate  of  the  late  Captain  Nchemiah  Emerson,  situated  between  AVinter 
Street,  How  Street,  and  Little  Eiver.  This  estate  was  laid  out  for  building 
purposes  in  1844,  since  which  time  ninety-six  handsome  dwelling  houses 
have  been  built  upon  it.  The  district  included  between  the  Merrimack 
and  Little  Eivers,  and  Winter  and  Main  Streets,  now  contains  one  hundred 
and  sixty  dwelling  houses,  and  eighty  brick  and  twenty-six  wooden  stores,  or 
manufactories.  Between  Little  Eiver,  Pecker's  Hill,  Mount  Washington, ='■' 
and  the  Merrimack,  there  are  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  dwelling  houses, 
one  brick  and  two  wooden  stores.  Xorth  of  Winter  Street,  and  between 
Little  Eiver  and  a  line  running  northwesterly  from  the  southerly  end  of 
White  Street,  there  are  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  dwelling  houses,  at 
least  nine-tenths  of  which  have  been  erected  within  about  twelve  years. 
Between  Main,  White  and  AVinter  Streets  there  are  ninety-six  dwelling 
houses,  seven-eighths  of  which  have  been  built  within  twenty  years,  and 
probably  three-quarters  of  those  within  the  last  twelve  years.  North  of 
AVhite  Street,  and  between  the  north-westerly  line,  above  mentioned,  and 
Main  Street,  there  are  now  seventy-two  dwelling  houses,  all  but  one  of 
which  have  been  erected  since  1850,  and  nine-tenths  of  which  have  been 
built  since  1855.  ,  This  gives  us  a  total  of  eight  hundred  and  sixty  dwell- 
ing houses,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-one  stores,  west  of  Main  Street, 
exclusive  of  shops,  barns,  and  other  out-buildings. 

Passing  to  the  east  of  Main  Street,  we  find,  between  Main,  Summer  and 
Mill  Streets,  and  the  Eiver,  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  dwelling  houses, 
twenty-five  brick  and  seven  wooden  stores ;  and  to  the  north  of  Summer, 
and  between  Main  and  Mill  Streets,  eighty-four  dwelling  houses.  Easterly 
of  Mill  Street  are  about  twenty  dwelling  houses. 


°  The  name  given  to  the  bluff,  or  table  land,  lying  between  the  railroad  and  Silver's  hill.     It  was 
handsomely  laid  out  into  streets  and  house-lots,  in  1S53,  and  now  contains  twenty  dwelling  houses. 


bii  UISTORY    OF    IIAYERUILL. 

AVitbiu  the  above  described  limits  are  also  clcvcu  cburcbes,  viz :  —  tlie 
Unitai-ian,  corucr  of  Main  and  Crescent  Street;  Centre  Congrefjutianal, 
corner  of  Main  and  A'cstry  Streets ;  First  Baptist,  corner  of  Merrimack  and 
Pecker  Streets ;  First  Universalist,  corner  of  Summer  Street  and  Bart- 
lett's  Avenue ;  South,  (Christian  Union)  corner  of  Washington  Street 
and  AVashington  Square  ;  Wi7iter  Street,  (formerly  Union  Evangelical, 
now  Free  AVill  Baptist)  corner  of  AVinter  and  Franklin  Streets ;  Taberna- 
cle, (formerly  Second  Advent,  now  occupied  by  Kev.  Henry  Plummer,) 
on  Tabernacle  Street ;  Trinity,  (Protestant  Episcopal)  corner  of  AYhite  and 
AVilliam  Streets  ;  St.  Gregory  (Catholic)  corner  of  Harrison  and  Lancaster 
strc>tJts  ;  Methodist  Episcopal,  AVinter  street,  near  Main  Street ;  and  the 
North  Church,  (Orthodox  Congregational)  corner  of  Main  and  AVhitc 
Streets.  The  following  religious  societies  hold  regular  services,  but  arc 
not  provided  with  church  edifices  :  —  The  Randall  Free  Will  Saptist, 
meeting  in  Randall  Hall,  on  Duston  Street;  the  Second  Advent,  meeting  in 
Athcnjxjum  Hall,  (Duncan's  Building)  ;  and  the  Tldrd  Baptist,  worship- 
ping in  Music  Hall,  AVinter  Street,  near  Spring  Street. 

The  whole  number  of  church  edifices  in  the  town  at  the  present  time, 
is  sixteen,  viz.  :  eleven  in  the  First  Parish,  two  in  the  East  Parish,  (one 
at  the  Ptocks'  Alllagc)  ;  and  three  in  the  AVcst  Parish,  (one  at  Ayer's 
A'^illage) .  This  does  not  include  the  Plaistow,  or  North  Parish  church, 
which  is  situated  a  few  rods  north  of  the  State  line. 

The  following  table,  showing  the  date  of  erection  of  the  principal  blocks 
of  stores  in  the  central  village,  is  not  without  interest,  as  illustrating  the 
recent  rapid  growth  of  the  village :  — 

How  &  Carleton,  (Main  Street)  1794  Tilton  Block  (cor.  Fleet  St.)  1852 

AVillis  Block,  (Water  Street)     1811  Duncan  &  Carlcton,=:;'  1852 

Merrimack  Bank,                         1814  l']xchange  Building,  1854 

Bannister  Block,                         1815  Marsh  Block,  1854 
AVhite's  Corner  Block,                1808  Essex  Block,        •     1 85 G  and  1859 

AVoodmau's  Building,                  1824  Franklin  Block,  1856 

Bank  Building,  (Alain  Street)     1831  Masonic  Hall,  1856 

Haseltine's    Building,     (AVater           Last  Factory,  (Fleet  Street)  1857 

Street)                                      1836  Chase's  Block,  1857 

Granite  llange,                           1836  Til  ton's  Block,  1857 

Kittrcdge  Block,                         1840  Hat  Factory,  (Fleet  Street)  1857 

Currier's  Block,                          1849  AA^hittier  Block,  1858 

o  This  was  one  of  the  very  first  full  iron  front  buildings  erected  in  the  State. 


fiiSTORY   OF   HAVERHlLli.  54:5 

Osgood's  Block,  1821  and  1833  Haverhill  Bank  Building,  1859 

Kimball's  Building,  1850  Brickett  Building,  18G0 

Hunkings  &  Duty,  1851   Mackiue  Shop,  18G0 

Manufacturers  Eow,  1850  and  1852  Lebosquet  Block,  1861 

Passing  out  of  the  central  village,  we  find  comparatively  few  changes 
calling  for  special  notice.  Near  the  junction  of  the  Salem,  N.  H.,  and 
Derry  roads,  (a  short  distance  west  of  the  summit  of  Pecker's  Hill)  a 
large  number  of  house  lots  have  been  laid  out,  about  a  dozen  houses 
erected,  and  the  locality  christened  "  Mount  Pleasant."  Three  and  a 
half  miles  further  west,  we  come  to  "  Ayer's  Village,"  the  most  busy  and 
thriving  locality,  outside  of  the  principal  village,  in  the  town.  The  village 
proper  (a  part  of  which  lies  in  the  town  of  Methucn)  contains  about  thirty 
dwelling  houses,  nine  shoe  manufactories,  three  hat  manufactories,  a  new 
and  commodious  school-house,  and  a  new  and  well-finished  church.  The 
part  of  the  village  included  in  Haverhill,  contains  about  sixty  legal  voters. 
The  principal  shoe  manufacturers  in  the  place,  are  Phineas  Haynes  and 
Amos  Hazeltine,  who  commenced  the  business  in  the  winter  oft  1852— 3i 
They  give  employment  to  about  seventy-five  persons  each.  In  October, 
1855,  Mr.  Haseltine  opened  the  first  store  in  the  place.  A  second  store 
was  opened  in  1857,  by  Monroe  Ayer,  who  also  erected  a  fine  hall  over 
his  store  for  public  meetings,  &c.  A  pleasant,  as  well  as  somewhat  re- 
markable fact  connected  with  this  thriving  village,  is  found  in  the  close 
relationship  of  its  inhabitants.  We  believe  that  not  only  is  every  busi- 
ness man  in  the  place  a  native  of  the  immediate  vicinity,  but  they  are  all 
more  or  less  intimately  connected  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity.  Long  may 
they  live  together,  as  now,  a  "  band  of  brothers." 

The  North  and  East  Parishes  show  but  few  external  changes  within  the 
past  quarter  of  a  century,  beyond  the  occasional  erection  of  new  dwelling 
houses,  and  the  removal  of  old  ones."  It  is  only  when  we  enter  the 
dwellings  and  enquire  for  those  who  dwelt  there  but  a  score  of  years 
agone,  that  we  feel  the  full  force  of  time's  great  but  silent  changes. 
Not  one  in  ten  of  the  familiar  faces  of  twenty  years  ago,  will  be  found 


"  We  should,  perhaps,  make  special  mention  of  the  enlargement  of  the  old  burial-f:round  near  tho 
Rocks,  —  its  re-naming,  as  Greenwood  Cemetery,  —  and  the  erection  of  a  neat  iron  fence  in  front  of 
the  same,  in  1850.  These  improvements  were  mostly  made  by  the  ladies  of  the  vicinity.  In  1850,  a 
large  and  handsome  two-story  wooden  building  was  erected  about  midway  between  tho  Second  Baptist 
Church  and  the  village,  for  school  purposes.    The  cost  of  the  building  was  about  $2,000. 

69 


646  HISTORY   OF   HAVEUUILL. 

to-day  ;  not  one  in  ten  of  the  fair  fields  now  yield  their  increase  to  the 
same  hands  that  tilled  them  then.  And  so  it  will  he,  kind  reader,  with 
each  returning  score  of  years ;  while  you  and  I  can  claim  no  exemption  from 
the  ceaseless  change.  A  few  more  suns,  —  how  few,  'tis  not  for  us  to  know, 
—  and  we  shall  moulder  in  our  parent  dust.  Happy  will  it  he  for  each 
of  us,  if,  when  the  summons  calls  us  hence,  we  can  say  of  the  great 
work  of  life  — 

"IT  IS  FINISHED." 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  547 


CHAPTEK  XXIX. 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 


Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  northern  part  of  the  town  into  a  sepa- 
rate precinct,  or  parish,  in  1728,  the  whole  town  was  virtually  one  parish, 
and  matters  that  are  now  left  entirely  with  each  parish,  or  religious  society, 
were  then  considered  and  disposed  of  in  the  toion  meetings,  and  the  record 
of  such  action  then  became  a  part  of  the  Town  Records.  Having  incor- 
porated the  vital  parts  of  these  records  into  the  preceding  chapters  of  our 
history,  we  shall  endeavor,  in  considering  the  Ecclesiastical  history  of  the 
town,  to  avoid  a  repetition,  as  far  as  is  consistent  with  the  accomplishment 
of  our  present  object. 

The  earliest  records  of  the  church  still  preserved,  is  "A  list  of  ye 
names  of  Persons,  adults  and  infants,  Baptized  in  Haverhill  Church  By 
Benjan  Eolfe  Pastor;  "  and  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Eolfe.  It  ap- 
pears to  have  been  originally  a  book  made  by  simply  stitching  together  a 
quire  of  foolscap  paper,  and  was  afterward,  with  others,  bound  into  one 
volume.  The  first  entry  in  the  book,  is  the  baptism  of  "  Hannah,  ye 
daughter  of  AVilliam  &  Sarah  Whittaker,"  September  24,  1693.  Then 
follows  the  names  of  three  hundred  and  two  others,  closing  with  the  bap- 
tism of  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Piev. ="  August  22d,  1708, — just 

one  week  before  Mr,  Eolfe's  violent  death  by  the  savages.  There  are  no 
other  records  of  the  church,  during  or  previous  to  this  time,  now  pre- 
served. Mr.  Eolfe's  successor  (Eev.  Joshua  Gardner)  commences  his 
record  with  the  following  entry:  —  "Anno  Dom  :  1711.  A  list  of  ye 
names  of  persons  admitted  to  partake  of  the  sacrament  of  ye  Lord's  Sup- 
per wth  the  church  of  Christ  in  Haverhill.  Since  the  Eevd  Mr  Benjan 
Eolf 's  Death :  (It  was  ye  8th  of  April  In  ye  above  mentioned  year  before 
any  were  admitted :  ye  Chh  yn  having  been  not  long  resettled.)  " 

On  the  page  immediately  preceding  the  above,  is  the  following  interest- 
ing statement,  in  the  handwriting  of  Eev.  Mr.  Brown,  (Mr.  Gardner's 
successor)  :  — 

"  The  account  of  Such  as  were  admitted  to  the  Lord's  Table  in  Haver- 
hil,  before  ye  Eevd  Mr.  Gardner's  Ministry,  sic,  under  the  first  minister 

°  Name  illcgiWe. 


548  HiSTony  or  iiAVEniiiLL. 

ye  Eeverd  Mr  Ward ;  &  after  him  the  Eevd  Mr  Rolf ;  being  cither  never 
set  down,  or  else  the  account  lost;  Such  of  them  as  were  alive  in  ye  Town, 
April  1723  ;  were  desired  to  give  in  their  names  to  ye  Pastor  then  being, 
which  are  as  followeth  " 

"  Deacon  John  White,  &  Lydia,  his  Widow  Hanah   Sanders    (fro   New- 
wife  bury) 
Deacon  John  Hassaltine  &  -       his  Mary  Webster  wife  of  Stephen 

wife  Mary  Cop  ye  wife  of  Aaron  Cop 

Daniel  Lad  &  Lydia  his  wife  Hanah  Heath  wife  of  Joseph 

AYidow  Hannah  Aycr,  (aged  8-1)  Martha     Heath    wife    old     Josiah 
AVilliam  Whittaker  (Newb.) 

AVidow  Euth  Ayer  (old)  Hanah'    Eoberds    wife    of     Ephrm 
Huldah  AVhittaker  wife  of  Abrr  (Topsfield) 

AVidow  Joanna  Dow  (old)  AVidow  Sarah  Page 

AVidow  Hanah  Dalton  Mehetable  Clemen,  wife  of  Job 

AVidow  Mary  Boynton  Samuel  Ayer  &  Elizabeth  his  wife 

Ephraim  Gile  &  Martha  his  wife  Hanah  Jonson  wife  of  Joseph 

Eichard  Hazzen  &  Alary  his  wife  Elizabeth  Jonson  wife  of  Thomas 

James  Pecker  &  Ann  his  wife  Anthony  Colby, (Eowley) 

AVidow  Euth  Gile  Mary  Brown 

AVidow  Sarah  Davis  Sarah  Emcison  wife  of  Benjamin 

AVidow  Alary  Ayer  Hanah  Eastman  wife  of  Jonathan 

Nathaniel  Alerril  &  Sarah  his  wife  Alartha  Emerson  wife  of  Joseph 

Deacon  John  Alash  Benjamin  Stanly  (of  Boxford)  " 

From  the  death  of  Eev.  Air.  Eolfe,  in  1703,  to  April  8th,  1711,  there 
were  no  admissions  to  the  church.  During  Air.  Gardner's  ministry,  forty- 
eight  were  admitted  ;  upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  baptized ;  and 
seventeen  owned  the  covenant.  Air.  Gardner  died  Alarch  21,  1715.  He 
is  mentioned  as  eminently  distinguished  for  piety  in  very  early  life.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen,  he  became  a  hopeful  subject  of  divine  grace,  and  soon 
after  began  to  prepare  himself  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  entered  college 
at  sixteen,  and  graduated  at  twenty  ;  endearing  himself  to  all  who  knew 
him  by  his  correct  habits  and  amiable  deportment,  and  distinguishing  him- 
self as  a  scholar  and  a  christian.  He  commenced  preaching  at  twenty-one, 
was  ordained  at  twenty-three,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-eight 
years. 

After  the  death  of  Air.  Gardner,  the  church  and  society  seem  to  have 
had  considerable  difficulty  in  their  choice  of  a  new  candidate,  and  it  was 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  549 

upward  of  four  years  before  another  pastor  was  settled.  During  this 
time,  there  were  thirty  admissions  to  the  church. 

The  only  record  of  a  regular  church  meeting  held  during  this  period, 
which  is  now  preserved,  is  dated  May  10,  1717, *  when  the  thanks  of  the 
church  were  voted  to  Eev.  Josci>h  Parsons  for  his  "  labors  with  us  hitherto 
in  the  work  of  ye  ministry;  "  and  he  was  unanimously  "made  choice  of 
to  be  their  settled  minister."  The  deacons  at  this  time  were  John  White 
and  John  Haseltine.f 

Eev.  John  Brown  was  ordained  May  13,  1719,  and  continued  with  his 
charge  until  his  death,  in  1742.  During  his  ministry,  four  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church,  (thirty-two  by  dismission 
from  other  churches) ;  fifty-eight  adults,  and  one  thousand  and  seventy-six 
children  were  baptized ;  and  three  hundred  and  sixteen  owned  the 
covenant. 

That  Mr.  Brown  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial -duties, 
the  remarkable  success  attending  his  labors  sufficiently  testifies.  Soon 
after  his  settlement,  an  extensive  religious  revival  commenced  among  his 
flock,  resulting  in  sixty-five  hopeful  conversions.  Large  accessions  to  the 
church  were  frequently  witnessed  during  his  ministry.  In  November, 
1727,  fifty-four  persons  were  admitted,  and  in  the  following  month  fifty- 
six;  making  the  large  number  of  one  hundred  and  ten,  in  two  short 
months. 

In  October,  1729,  twenty-five  members  of  the  church,  residents  in  that 
part  of  Methuen  now  Salem,  N.  H.,  were  dismissed,  for  the  purpose  of 
joining  in  the  formation  of  a  church  at  that  place.  And  in  November, 
1730,  a  similar  request  was  made  by  forty-six  members,  "  for  the  purpose 
of  uniting  in  a  church  state  in  the  North  Precinct,"  •; —  which  was  granted. 

This  brings  us  to  the  first  division  of  the  town  into  Precincts  or  Par- 
ishes, each  of  which  will  now  be  noticed,  in  chronological  order.  The 
subsequent  divisions  of  the  parishes  into  several  religious  societies,  will  be 
noticed  in  the  same  order. 


°  This  is,  in  fact,  the  earliest  record  we  find  preserved  of  any  church  meeting  in  the  town ;  — unless 
we  consider  the  mere  entry  of  names  and  dates  of  admissions  to  the  church  as  records  of  such  meetings. 
After  this,  we  find  no  similar  record,  until  January  11th,  1720-21,  from  which  latter  date  we  have  a  reg- 
ular entry  of  the  proceedings  at  the  church  meetings. 

t  In  January,  1720-21,  the  above  named  desired  to  he  dismissed  from  service  as  deacons;  the  former 
pleading  as  excuse,  " his  I'usiness  in  the  affairs  of  State,"  and  the  latter,  "his  age  and  infirmities." 
John  Mash  and  James  Ayer  were  chosen  in  their  stead.  In  February,  1727-8,  Wm.  White  and  Daniel 
Little  were  chosen,  and  in  January,  1737-8,  Nicholas  White  and  David  Marsh  were  chosen  to  the  same 
office. 


550  niSTOET    OF   HAVERniLL. 

TuE  First  Parish, 

By  the  erection  of  the  northerly  part  of  the  town  into  a  separate  par- 
ish, in  1728,  the  rest  of  the  town  became,  as  a  matter  of  course,  also  a 
distinct  parish.  From  this  time  forward,  strictly  parish  business  was 
transferred  from  the  town  to  the  parish  meeting.  The  two  precincts  were 
designated  as  the  "  North  Parish,"  and  the  "  South,"  or  "  Old"  Parish. 
Still  later,  the  last  named  was  called  the  "  First  "  Parish,  by  which  name 
the  legal  successor  of  the  first  church  and  society  in  the  town  is  still 
known. 

The  first  regular  parish  meeting  of  the  latter,  was  held  November  24th, 
1729,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  Eichard  Saltonstall,  Justice.  Captain 
Joshua  Bayley  was  chosen  moderator,  and  John  Eaton,  Clerk.  From  this 
time,  parish  meetings  were  held  regularly. 

In  March,  1730-1,  the  parish  voted  to  "give  to  ye  Eevd  Mr  Brown  ye 
timber  of  the  forte  yt  is  about  his  house,  to  dispense  of  it  as  he  pleaseth." 
This  is  the  last  notice  we  find  of  the  old  fort,  or  any  other  means  of 
defence  against  the  Indians. 

In  November,  1731,  petitions  were  received  from  persons  in  the  easterly 
part  of  the  town,  and  from  others  in  the  westerly  part,  praying  "  that 
there  might  be  some  money  raised  by  ye  parish  yt  they  might  hire  a  min- 
ister to  preach  to  ym  in  yc  winter  seson,  wn  bad  Traviling,"  —  but  the 
requests  were  refused. 

In  1732,  the  parish  enlarged  the  burying  place,  by  purchasing  half-an- 
acre  of  land  adjoining  it. 

The  health  of  Mr.  Brown,  which  had  been  gradually  failing  for  some 
time,  had  become  so  poor,  that,  in  December,  1733,  the  parish  voted  to 
hire  another  minister  "  to  assist  Mr,  Brown  for  three  months  this  winter." 
The  easterly  and  westerly  parts  of  the  town  seem  to  have  improved  the 
above  opportunity  to  again  press  their  own  claims,  as  we  find  that  at 
the  first  meeting  called  to  see  about  an  assistant  for  Mr.  Brown,  "  consid- 
erable discourse,"  and  "  some  hard  words,"  passed,  but  no  vote  was  taken; 
while  at  the  next  meeting,  the  vote  to  hire  such  an  assistant  was  immedi- 
ately followed  by  votes  to  procure,  and  raise  money  to  pay,  ministers  for 
each  of  the  above  named  sections,  for  the  winter  following. 

The  success  of  the  two  wings  of  the  parish,  in  securing  a  minister  in 
each,  was  undoubtedly  gratifying  to  them,  and  prepared  them  for  request- 
ing still  larger  favors.  We  are  not,  therefore,  surprised  to  find,  that,  in 
the  following  February,  propositions  were  made  to  divide  the  Old  Parish 
into  three  distinct  parishes,  and  to  build  tv/o  new  meeting-houses ;  one  near 


HISTORY   OF   HAVJERniLL.  55 1 

the  house  of  Nathaniel  Merrill,  Jr.,  and  the  other  near  that  of  Eichard 
Hazzen.  It  was  also  proposed  to  set  off  to  Amesbury  "West  Parish,  those 
living  near  the  Amesbury  line,  and  to  the  North  Parish,  those  who  could 
most  conveniently  attend  worship  at  that  parish.  All  these  propositions 
were  negatived. 

Four  weeks  later,  a  vote  was  passed  to  set  off  those  living  east  of  a  line 
from  Elisha  Davis'  to  the  "pond  bridge,"  and  so  on  by  the  brook  to  the 
North  Parish  Line,  into  a  new  parish.  The  vote  was,  however,  dissented 
to  by  twenty-two  persons  living  within  the  bounds  of  the  proposed  new 
parish. =•■'  Then,  after  "  gTeat  Debat,"*and  "  some  hard  words,"  a  commit- 
tee was  chosen  to  set  off  a  parish  "  at  the  west  end  of  the  old  or  south 
parish."  The  bounds  of  the  latter  were  not  settled  until  some  time  after- 
ward, —  being  several  years  in  dispute. 

We  have  already  mentioned,  that  Eev.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  person  of  weak 
physical  constitution.  Even  as  early  as  1720,  he  was  for  several  months 
unable  to  preach,  and  the  town  provided  a  substitute.  In  1733,  he  was 
in  a  "weak  state  of  health,"  and  from  this  time  until  1742,  his  parish 
were  yearly  obliged  to  provide  for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit  for  weeks,  and 
sometimes  for  months  at  a  time.  Consumption  at  last  triumphed,  and,  on 
the  2nd  of  December,  1742,  this  faithful  pastor  fell  asleep  in  the  arms  of 
his  mother  earth.  After  his  death,  the  parish  voted  to  raise  one  hundred 
pounds,  old  tenor,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his  funeral,  which  was  to  be 
delivered  to  "  Madam  Brown,  to  be  used  at  her  discretion." 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Brown,  an  invitation  to  settle  was  extended 
to  the  Pvev.  Edward  Barnard,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  was  ordained  on 
the  IGth  of  April  following.f 

The  salary  of  Mr.  Barnard,  was  fixed  at  one  hundred  ounces  of  silver, 
or  its  equivalent,  annually,  together  with  the  use  of  all  the  parsonaga  land 
and  buildings,  except  one  lot  near  the  river;  and  also  "  a  reasonable  sup- 
port &  maintainance  when  by  ye  providence  of  God  he  shall  be  disabled 
from  ye  work  of  ye  ministry,  so  long  as  he  remains  our  minister." 

The  first  church  bell  in  the  town,  was  purchased  by  this  parish,  in . 
1748.     It  was  imported  from  London  expressly  for  them,  and,  judging 
from  the  records,  its  purchase  and  proper  "  Hanging"  must  have  been  a 
prolific  theme  for  town  talk.     It  was  finally  "  voted  to  Hang  the  Bell  on 
the  top  of  the  Meeting  house,  and  Build  a  proper  place  for  that  purpose ;  " 

''  Although  the  easterly  part  of  the  Old  Parish  was,  by  the  above  vote,  set  off,  it  was  not  legally  in- 
corporated into  a  separate  parish  until  1743.    For  a  further  account  of  its  incorporation,  see  chapter  xx. 

t  "  April  16,  1743.  Great  Snow  Storm,  eleven  inches  on  a  level.  Eev.  Barnard  Ordained." — Dr. 
Baylcy''s  Journal. 


552  flISTORY    OF    IIAVEIlHILt. 

and  "  to  Raise  one  Hundred  pounds  old  tenor  towards  defraying  tiie 
Charges  of  building  the  Steple,  and  Hanging  the  Bell."  The  belfry  was 
built  on  the  ridge  of  the  meeting-house,  and  the  bell-rope  descended  to  the 
broad  aisle.  It  was  voted  "  to  King  the  Bell  at  one  of  the  clock  every 
day  and  at  nine  every  night  and  on  Sabbaths  and  Lectures."  The  first 
bell-man,  was  Samuel  Knowlton.^' 

The  old  meeting-house  having  become  too  small  for  the  parish,  the  sub- 
ject of  a  new  one  began  to  be  agitated  in  1761.  The  house  was,  withal, 
so  much  decayed,  that  the  bell  could  not  be  rung  with  safety,  and  it  was 
therefore  taken  down,  and  hung  on  two  pieces  of  timber  placed  crosswise 
at  the  top,  on  the  hill,  near  the  parsonage  house.  It  was  not  fully  decided 
to  build  a  new  house  until  1705.  Tor  this  purpose  an  appropriation  of 
three  hundred  pounds  was  voted,  to  be  paid  in  lumber.  The  dimensions 
of  the  new  house  were  ordered  not  to  exceed  sixty-six  feet  in  length,  and 
forty-eight  feet  in  breadth.  It  was  erected,  and  mostly  finished,  in  1766- 
The  Avhole  of  the  gTound  floor  (excepting  the  aisles)  was  occupied  by 
pews,  which  were  built  by  the  parish,  appraised  by  a  committee,  and  sold 
at  auction.  The  "  men's  seats,"  and  the  "women's  seats,"  were  therefore, 
from  this  time  forward,  confined  to  the  galleries. 

The  house  was  located  on  the  common,  about  midway  between  Main  and 
Winter  Streets,  a  little  north  of  the  foot  of  Pleasant  Street,  with  the  prin- 
cipal end  to  the  northeast —  or  directly  across  the  common.  It  remained 
standing  until  1837,  when  it  was  taken  down.  It  was  set,  when  built, 
"  at  the  northerly  side  of  the  old  meeting-house,  as  near  to  it  as  may  be 
convenient."  It  was  surmounted  with  a  steeple,  at  the  easterly  end. 
Though  but  three  hundred  pounds  were  appropriated  for  building  it,  yet 
we  find,  from  a  petition  of  Isaac  Osgood,  and  others,  to  the  General  Court, 
in  Tebruary,  1768,  that  more  than  one  thousand  were  expended  on  it.f 

In  1764,  the  parish  voted  "  that  the  version  of  Psalms  by  Tate  &  Brady 
with  the  largest  impression  of  Dr  Watts  Hymns  be  sung  in  public  in  this 
parish.  "J 

The  first  intimation  we  find  in  the  parish  records,  of  Baptists  in  town, 
is  under  the  date  of  January,  17Go,  when  a  warrant  was  issued  by  John 
Brown,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  for  a  parish  meeting,  "  to  see  if  the  parish 

o  After  him,  John  Whitin<j  performed  the  responsible  duties  of  hell-man.  Upon  the  death  of  the  latter, 
his  widow  took  his  place,  and  had  charge  of  the  bell  and  the  meeting-house  for  many  years.  She  died  in 
1795,  in  the  100th  year  of  her  age. 

t  A  new  parsonage  house  was  erected  in  1773,  "  near  the  oM  one." 

t  In  1769,  some  alterations  were  voted  to  be  made  in  the  front  gallery,  '-for  a  convenicncy  of  singing." 
In  1775,  the  parish  voted  "  to  omit  the  reading  of  the  Psalms  to  be  sung  in  Public  Worship." 


mSTORT    OF   HATEEIIILL.  553 

"vf 111  "votie  Ihat  any  ordained  or  gospel  minister  shall  or  may  preach  in  said 
meeting-house  at  any  time  when  it  does  not  interfere  with  the  Eev  Mr 
Barnard's  Public  Exercises.""  The  parish  refused  to  grant  such  permis- 
sion. 

Though  the  Baptists  are  not  mentioned  by  name  at  this  time,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  they  were  the  persons  who  made  the  request.  "NVe  first  find  them 
referred  to  as  "  Baptists,"  in  1770,  when  the  parish  chose  a  committee 
"  to  agree  and  settle  with  those  persons  that  have  brought  certificates  from 
the  Baptist  church  for  the  time  past."  The  next  year,  "  it  was  put  to 
Tote  whether  the  parish  would  excuse  the  Baptists  fit)m  paying  rates'  for 
the  time  past,  and  it  past  in  the  negative."  It  was  then  "  voted  that  the 
several  Collectors  in  this  parish  be  advised  not  to  take  Distress  on  the  Bap- 
tists for  their  rates  for  two  months  from  this  time,  but  if  there  be  no 
agreement  between  sd  baptists  and  the  parishes  Comtee.  within  sd  two 
months  then  sd  Comtee  shall  advise  sd  Collectors  and  point  out  to  them 
what  persons  upon  whom  they  are  to  take  Distress." 

Among  those  whose  goods  were  taken  by  distress,  to  pay  their  parish 
taxes,  was  John  White,  who  thereupon  commenced  a  suit  against  the  col- 
lector, to  recover.  The  parish  defended  their  officer,  and  recovered  judg- 
ment against  Mr.  AVhite.  The  right  of  the  parish  to  tax  all  who  resided 
within  its  limits  for  the  support  of  the  "  regular"  ministry,  having  been 
thus  established,  a  compromise  appears  to  have  been  made  between  the 
parish  and  those  who  gave  in  certificates  that  they  were  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  by  which  the  latter  were  eased  of  a  part  of  their  burden,  f 

In  1774,  the  parish  were  again  called  to  moura  the  death  of  a  beloved 
pastor.  In  January,  Mr.  Barnard  was  gathered  to  his  last  resting-jjlace. 
His  disease  was  paralysis. 

Eev.  Edward  Barnard  was  a  son  of  Eev.  John  Barnard,  of  Andover, 
and  grandson  of  Eev.  Thomas  Barnard,  of  the  same  place.  All  of  them 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  —  the  first  named,  in  1736.  Mr.  Barnard 
was  ordained  in  1743,  and  died  January  26,  1774,  aged  fifty-four  years, 
after  a  successful  ministry  of  thirty-one  years.  During  this  period  he 
baptized  nine  hundred  and  eight  persons ;{  married  two  hundred  and 

"  The  warrant  declares,  tliat  "  whereas  Samuel  White,  Timothy  White,  James  Duncan,  William  Green- 
leaf,  John  White,  Daniel  Appleton,  Dudley  Lad,  Benj  Mooers,  with  upwards  of  thirty  others,"  had  ap- 
plied in  writing,  and  showed  that  they,  together  with  othei'S,  had  previously  applied  to  the  parish 
committee  to  call  such  a  meeting,  but  had  been  refused ;  therefore  the  warrant  was  issued. 

t  In  June,  1774,  an  act  was  passed,  exempting  Quakers,  and  Baptists,  or  Antipedobaptists,  from  all 
taxation  to  other  denominations.  They  were  simply  required  to  file  a  certificate  from  the  proper  officers 
of  their  own  denomination,  to  the  efteet  that  they  were  members  thereof,  and  paid  taxes  accordingly. 

t  Between  the  death  of  Mr.  Bro^Ti,  and  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Barnard,  seven  children  were  baptized 
ty  various  ministers. 

70 


554  msTOKY   OP   HAVERHILt. 

eleven  couples ;  and  ninety-four  were  admitted  to  the  churcli  (eighteen  t)y 
dismission).  The  number  who  owned  the  covenant,  was  ninety-six.  Mr. 
Barnard  is  everywhere  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  distinction  and  real  worth. 
His  style  was  flowing,  his  language  elegant,  and  his  sermons  correct  and 
finished  compositions.  As  a  pulpit  orator,  he  was  deservedly  popular. 
His  sermons  were  instructive,  plain,  and  practical.  As  a  companion,  he 
was  social  and  undisguised ;  as  a  scholar,  inquisitive  and  general ;  and  aa 
a  pastor,  watchful,  affectionate,  and  unwearied.  In  his  temper,  he  was 
uniform;  in  his  affections,  benevolent;  and,  in  his  religion,  exemplary. 
Those  who  knew  him  best,  loved  him  most.  Several  of  his  sermons  were 
published,  and  it  was  at  one  time  proposed  to  publish  a  volume  of  them, 
but,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Eevolution,  the  design  was  abandoned. 

In  his  theological  views,  Mr.  Barnard  was  ranked  with  the  Arminians  ; 
with  Dr.  Webster,  of  Salisbury,  Dr.  Tucker,  of  Newbury,  Dr.  Symmes,  of 
Andover,  Mr.  Balch,  of  Bradford,  and  others. 

"These  clergymen  and  others,  seventy  or  eighty  years  ago,"  says  Brad- 
ford, "  gradually  departed  from  the  Calvinistic  system,  and  forbore  to  urge 
or  to  profess  its  peculiar  tenets,  although  they  did  not  so  expressly  and 
zealously  oppose  them  as  many  have  done  in  later  times.  They  also 
omitted  to  press  the  Athanasian  creed,  or  to  use  the  Trinitarian  doxology ; 
but  preferred  scripture  expressions  on  these  disputed  points.  They  did 
not  insist,  as  a  preliminary  to  the  ordination  of  a  young  man  to  the  chris- 
tian ministry,  on  his  professing  a  belief  of  the  Trinity,  or  of  the  five  points 
of  Calvinism.  They  required  a  declaration  of  faith  in  the  Bible,  and  a 
promise  to  make  that  the  standard  and  guide  of  their  preaching.  But 
a  belief  in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  true  Messiah,  the  only  Mediator  and  Ke- 
deemer,  and  the  pardon  of  sin,  on  repentance,  by  divine  grace,  was  con- 
sidered as  necessary  by  this  class  of  theologians  as  well  as  by  those  who 
received  the  tenets  of  the  Calvinistic  system.  They  held  christian  fellow- 
ship with  each  other  for  some  years  ;  but  the  difference  of  sentiments  has 
produced  an  alienation  between  them,  much  to  be  regretted  by  the  true 
spiritual  christian." 

During  the  year  1765,  and  the  remaining  period  of  Mr.  Barnard's  life, 
repeated  applications  were  made  by  individual  members  of  his  church, 
for  a  dismission,  and  a  recommendation  to  the  Baptist  church,  then  estab- 
lished in  the  parish.  This  was  peculiarly  calculated  to  embitter  and 
becloud  the  closing  years  of  his  life,  and  caused  divisions  in  his  church 
and  society.  He  was  accused  of  "  not  preaching  the  gospel ;  "  of  "  not 
being  converted;"  and  many  other  "hard  and  grevious  "  things.  But 
when,  —  thirty  years  after  his  ordination,  and  a  few  months  before  his 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  555 

deatli,  — lie  looked  back  over  these  "  years  of  temptation,  provocation  and 
reproach,"  he  gratefully  acknowledges  that  "  God  was  pleased  to  throw  in 
a  balance  by  the  attachment  of  those  to  his  person  and  ministry,  whose 
sentiments  and  regards  are  most  to  be  valued;  "  and  he  declares,  " Noth. 
ing  has  been  delivez'ed  by  me  that  I  would  not  venture  my  own  soul 
upon." 

After  his  death,  the  parish  met,  and  chose  a  committee  to  take  charge 
of  his  funeral  ;=•'  and  subsequently,  they  voted  to  erect  a  monument  over 
his  grave.  This  is  a  large  slab,  resting  upon  four  pillars,  with  the  follow- 
ing inscription : 

"  Beneath  are  the  remains  of  the  E«v.  Edward  Barnard,  A.  M.  pastor 
of  the  first  church  in  this  town,  who  died  Jan.  26,  1774,  in  the  54th 
year  of  his  age  and  31st  of  his  ministry.  In  him  were  united  the  good 
scholar,  the  great  divine,  and  exemplary  christian  and  minister.  His  un- 
derstanding was  excellent,  judgment  exact,  and  imagination  lively,  and 
invention  fruitful ;  eminently  a  man  of  prayer ;  as  a  preacher,  equalled  by 
few,  excelled  by  none  ;  indefatigable  in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial 
duty,  and  possessing  the  most  tender  concern  for  the  happiness  of  those 
committed  to  his  charge.  His  piety  was  rational,  disposition  benevolent, 
of  approved  integrity,  consummate  prudence,  gi'eat  modesty  and  simpli- 
city of  manners.  He  was  a  kind  husband,  tender  parent,  faithful  friend, 
and  agreeable  companion.  His  life  was  irreproachable,-  and  death  gi*eatly 
lamented  by  all  who  knew  his  worth.  Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold 
the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace. 

His  grateful  flock  have  erected  this  monument,  as  a  testimony  of  their 
affection  and  respect  for  his  memory." 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Barnard,  the  parish  were  without  a  settled  min- 
ister for  upward  of  three  years,  when  Eev.  John  Shaw  accepted  an  invi- 

o  Rev.  Benjamin  Parker  preached  soon  after,  as  oneW  his  hearers,  (1)  and  the  Salem  Gazette  thus 
notices  it :  "  We  have  just  heard  from  Haverhill,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Parker,  having  preached  as  a  bearer 
to  the  r>,ev.  Mr.  Barnard,  deceased,  the  people  of  Mr.  B's  parish  requested  a  copy  of  his  sermon  for  the 
press ;  an,d  a  number  of  gentlemen  therein  were  pleased,  at  the  same  time,  to  make  him  a  present  of  a 
very  handsome  suit  of  clothes.  The  promoter  and  encourager  of  said  affair  has  also  presented  him  with 
a  new  wig."  (2) 


(1)  The  custom  then  was,  for  the  neighboring  ministers  to  act  as  pall-bearers,  when  one  of  their  num- 
ber died,  and  immediately  afterward  to  supply  the  vacant  pulpit  one  Sabbath  each.  The  number  of 
hearers  on  such  occasions  was  usually  eight. 

(2)  The  parish  also  generously  allowed  Mrs.  Barnard  the  free  use  of  the  parsonage  house,  logether 
with  a  part  of  the  land,  and  pasturage  for  a  cow,  until  the  settlement  of  another  minister,  three  years 
afterward. 


556  HISTORY    OF   HAVERniLL. 

tation,  and  was  ordained  March  12tb,  1777.=-  His  salary  was  £I0O 
yearly,  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage. 

In  the  same  year,  the  burying  ground  in  the  parish  was  again  enlarged, 
by  the  gift  of  a  piece  of  land  from  Colonel  Joseph  Badger, 

In  1790,  and  subsequently,  the  parish  meeting-house  is  designated  in 
the  parish  warrants  as  "  the  CongTegational  meeting-house  in  said  parish." 

Many  of  our  readers  will  remember  that  the  seats  in  the  large,  square, 
pen-like  pews  of  the  old  meeting-houses,  were  hung  on  hinges,  and  were 
usually  turned  up  in  "  prayer  time,"  to  allow  the  occupants  a  chance  to 
lean  against  the  high  railing,  for  support,  during  the  long  prayers.  And 
they  will  also  remember  the  artillery-like  explosions  which  always  followed 
their  turning  down  at  the  close  of  the  prayer.  They  will  therefore  appre- 
ciate the  rebuke  contained  in  the  following  vote,  passed  in  1791  :  "  Voted 
that  Coll  James  Brickett,  Deacon  Joseph  Dodge,  and  Doct  Saltonstall  be  a 
Committee  to  speak  to  the  Eevd  Mr  Shaw  that  he  would  speak  at  some 
Conveuent  Season  unto  the  Peopel  that  they  would  Let  their  Seats  Down 
without  Such  Nois." 

In  the  same  year,  "  a  pew  for  the  women  to  sing  "  was  built  in  the  gal- 
lery of  the  meeting-house ;  and  it  was  voted  "  that  the  Company  of  Singers, 
should  choose  such  Persons  among  them  Selves  to  Lead  in  the  Musick  and 
Ecgulate  the  same  as  they  shall  think  proper." 

After  a  ministry  of  almost  eighteen  years,  Eev.  Mr.  Shaw  died,  very 
suddenly,  September  29,  1794,  aged  forty-eight.  The  day  before  his 
death,  he  preached  as  usual,  and  was  apparently  in  good  health.  The  next 
morning  he  was  a  corpse. f 

Mv.  Shaw  was  a. son  of  the  Eev.  John  Shaw,  of  Bridgewatcr.  He  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  in  1772.  His  widow  married  Eev.  Stephen 
Peabody,  of  Atkinson.  She  was  the  sister  of  the  wife  of  John  Adams„ 
and  greatly  respected  for  her  piety  and  domestic  virtues.  Mr.  Shaw  is 
described  in  his  epitaph,  as  "  A  bjjght  example  of  benevolence,  meekness, 
patience  and  charity  ;  an  able  advocate  of  the  religion  he  professed,  and  a 
faithful  servant  of  the  Grod  ho  worshipped." 

In  his  system  of  religious  faith,  Mr.  Shaw  was  Calvinistic  ;  in  his 
preaching,   evangelical ;  in .  temper,  mild  and  forgiving  ;  and  hospitable 

*  Mirick  says,  that  the  reason  why  another  minister  was  not  settled  sooner,  was  on  account  of  the 
"great  Uisscnsions,"  and  "the  strong;  excitement  which  existed  "  in  the  parish;  but  we  have  been  unable 
to  find  evidence  of  either  in  the  records.  During  this  interim,  but  four  preached  as  candidates,  two  of 
whom  received  invitations  to  settle,  and  a  third  was  desired  to  preach  longer. 

t  The  parish  subsequently  erected  suitable  monumental  stones  to  his  memory.  Mr.  Shaw  had  one  son, 
William  Smith  Shaw,  who  died  unmarried,  in  Boston;  and  one  daughter,  Abigail,  who  married  Rev. 
Joseph  B.  Felt,  of  IlamiltiJii  —  now  of  Boston. 


HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL.  557 

and  Ibenevolent  to  all  with  whom  be  had  intercourse.  As  a  man,  a  chris- 
tian, and  a  minister,  he  possessed  the  entire  confidence  of  his  church  and 
society.  During  his  ministry,  he  baptized  one  hundred  and  sixty-three 
children  ;'■■'  married  one  hundred  and  seven  couples  ;  fifteen  persons  owned 
the  covenant,  and  fifteen  were  admitted  to  the  church. 

After  Mr.  Shaw's  death,  the  society  were  destitute  of  a  regular  minis- 
try about  ten  months,  when  the  church  and  parish,  unanimously,  invited 
the  Eev.  Abiel  Abbot  to  settle  with  them.  The  invitation  was  accepted, 
and  Mr.  Abbot  was  ordained  June  3d,  1795,  His  salary  w«s  £110  per 
annum,  with  the  use  of  the  parsonage  house  and  lands. 

Eev.  Abiel  Abbot,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  August  17, 1770, 
and  was  a  son  of  Captain  John  Abbot,  of  that  town.  His  preparatory 
studies  were  pursued  at  Phillips  Academy,  under  the  direction  of  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  Pemberton,  during  which  time  he  occupied  the  front  rank  in 
his  class.  He  entered  Harvard  University  in  1788,  and  passing  through 
his  collegiate  course  with  high  reputation  as  a  scholar,  was  graduated  in 
1792  with  distinguished  honors.  The  subsequent  year  he  spent  as  assist- 
ant to  his  brother  in  Exeter  Academy  ;  and  the  greater  part  of  the  year 
following,  as  principal  of  the  Academy  at  Andover.  During  this  time,  he 
pursued  his  theological  studies  with  Eev.  Jonathan  French.  In  1794, 
he  commenced  preaching  at  Haverhill,  and  having  accepted  a  unanimous 
call,  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  this  town, 
June  3d,  1795. 

His  ministry  here  was  harmonious  and  successful,  and  when,  in  1803, 
he  felt  it  his  duty  to  ask  a  dismission,  he  received  from  the  church  and 
society  the  most  ample  testimonials  of  unabated  love  and  respect. 

The  cause  which  induced  Mr.  Abbot  to  ask  for  a  dismission,  was  the 
inadequateness  of  his  salary.  He  requested  the  parish  to  make  an  addi- 
tion of  $200  per  annum.  As  the  parish  did  not  feel  able  to  grant  his 
request,  and  he  was  led  to  believe  that  such  a  course  was  his  duty,  he  ap- 
plied for  and  received  an  honorable  dismission. 

Application  for  his  services  was  soon  after  made  by  the  first  parish,  in 
Beverly,  where  he  was  installed  December  14,  1803.  Here  he  ministered 
with  success,  and  with  little  interruption,  until  1818,  when  failing  health, 
and  the  advice  of  physicians,  induced  him  to  spend  a  few  months  in  a 
Southern  State.  He  returned,  in  1819,  with  health  improved,  and  contin- 
ued his  professional  labors  with  diligence  until  1827,  when  he. again  sought 
a  milder  climate,  and  passed  the  winter  in  Cuba.     In  the  following  May, 

*  Between  the  death  of  Mr.  Barnard  and  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Shaw,  twenty  chiUlren  were  baptized. 


558  HISTORY  OP  niVERHILL. 

with  higli  hopes  of  restored  health,  he  embarked  for  Charleston,  S.  C.  He 
arrived  on  Saturday,  preached  on  the  following  Sabbath,  and  the  next  day 
embarked  for  New  York,  On  Tuesday  he  was  taken  ill,  and  as  the  yesscl 
was  coming  to  anchor  at  Staten  Island,  on  the  following  Saturday,  he 
breathed  his  last,  and  was  interred  at  that  place.  Thus,  in  the  24th  year 
of  his  ministry,  and  the  57th  year  of  his  age,  was  taken  to  his  rest  an  elo- 
quent, learned,  affectionate  and  faithful  minister. 

Dr.  Abbot  was  married  in  179G,  to  Miss  Eunice,  eldest  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  Wa'!es,  Esq.,  of  Dorchester.  He  left,  at  his  death,  a  widow,  two 
sons,  and  five  daughters. 

In  the  commencement  of  his  ministry,  Mr,  Abbot  entertained  a  belief 
in  the  Trinity,  but  on  this  subject  his  views  altered,  and  the  fundamental 
principles  of  Unitarian  belief  became  the  objects  of  his  decided  conviction. 
During  his  ministry  forty-nine  were  admitted  into  the  church,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  received  baptism. 

The  dissolution  of  Mr.  Abbot's  connexion  with  the  parish,  was  followed 
by  five  years  and  six  months,  in  which  the  church  and  society  were  desti- 
tute of  a  regular  pastor.  Finally,  in  October,  1808,  Kev,  Joshua  Dodge 
received  an  invitation  to  the  pastoral  office,  which  he  accepted,  and  he  was 
ordained  the  21st  of  the  December  following, 

Mr,  Dodge's  salary  was  $500  per  annum,  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage, 
and  if  he  should  "  be  rendered  unable  to  supply  the  Desk,"  he  was  still 
to  have  the  use  of  the  parsonage,  and  $200  per  annum,  so  long  as  he  con- 
tinued minister  of  the  parish. 

In  1809,  the  parish  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  permission  to  sell 
a  part  of  the  parsonage  land  "on  the  principal  street,"  for  house-lots,  on 
condition  that  the  proceeds  should  "  be  kept  forever  as  a  Fund,  the  inter- 
est or  income  of  which  shall  be  appropriated,  exclusively,  for  the 
support  of  the  minister,  or  his  successors  in  said  parish  ;  &  be  managed 
by  Trustees,"  The  request  was  granted,  and  seventeen  hundred  dollars' 
worth  of  lots  were  sold  immediately.-' 

In  the  winter  of  1812-13,  astove  was  "  erected  in  the  meeting  house," 
by  private  subscription.  It  was  placed  in  the  pew  of  Mr.  John  Dow. 
For  some  reason,  the  stove  did  not  answer  expectations,  and,  in  1815,  it 
was  "  disposed  of,"  Artificial  heat  was  not  again  resorted  to  until  1821, 
when  two  "  elegant  stoves  "  were  presented  to  the  parish,  by  Moses  B. 
Moody,  Esq. 

«  In  1820,  the  fund  had  increased  to  $3809.91.    In  1827,  it  was  $i509.91. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  6D9 

in  1822,  Mr.  Moody  bequeathed  to  tlie  "  First  Congregational  Society," 
the  munificent  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  which  was  to  be  paid  them 
on  the  decease  of  his  mother. 

In  1827,  the  parish  voted  to  charge  the  town  $30  per  year  for  the  use 
of  the  meeting-house  for  town  meetings.  This  appears  to  be  the  first 
charge  of  the  kind  ;  but  as  the  parish  had  already  furnished  the  town  with 
a  place  for  their  meetings,  without  any  fee,  for  ninety-eight  years,  we 
cannot  well  charge  them  with  mercenary  motives  in  the  matter. 

In  May,- 1827,  Eev.  Mr.  Dodge  asked  for  a  dismission  from  the  church 
and  society,  which  was  granted. 

Eev.  Joshua  Dodge  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Mass.,  September  22,  1779. 
He  received  his  preparatory  education  at  Atkinson  Academy,  and  graduated, 
at  Dartmouth  College,  in  1806.  He  entered  upon  a  course  of  study  for 
the  ministry  soon  after  leaving  college,  with  Eev.  Abiel  Abbot,  then  of 
Beverly.  Mr.  Dodge  baptized  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  during  hig 
ministry  here,  and  about  eighty  were  admitted  to  the  church. 

Soon  after  he  left  Haverhill,  Mr.  Dodge  was  settled  in  Moultonborough, 
N.  H.,  as  colleague  with  the  venerable  Mr.  Shaw,  where  he  remained  a 
useful  pastor  for  about  twenty  years. 

It  is  with  feelings  of  sadness  that  we  add,  that,  a  few  years  since,  un- 
mistakable symptoms  of  insanity  compelled  Mr.  Dodge  to  withdraw  entirely 
from  pastoral  labors  and  responsibilities.  He  died  at  the  Insane  Asylum, 
at  Concord,  N.  H.,  in  March,  1861,  aged  81  years. 

In  the  November  following  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Dodge,  a  call  was  ex.- 
tended  to  Eev.  Dudley  Phelps,  of  Andover,  which  was  accepted,  and  he 
was  ordained  on  the  9th  of  January,  1828.  His  salary  was  fixed  at  $700 
per  annum.'' 

About  this  time,  troubles  broke  out  in  the  church  and  society,  which 
finally  led  to  a  division  and  separation.  As  we  have  already  seen,  Eev.  Mn 
Barnard  in  later  life  gradually  receded  from  Trinitarianism,  and  his  succes- 
sor, Eev.  Mr.  Abbot,  was  classed  as  a  Unitarian,  and  it  appears  that  a  large 
number  of  the  society,  though  not  a  majority,  entertained  similar  opinions. 
But  with  such  prudence  and  moderation  had  pastors  and  people  managed  the 
affairs  of  church  and  parish,  that  all  had,  previous  to  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Phelps,  lived  and  worshipped  together  in  comparative  harmony*  Mr.  Phelps 
(who  was  a  gi-aduate  of  Yale  College,  of  the  class  of  182-1,  and  of  Ando- 
ver Theological   Seminary,  in  1827)  was,  in  respect  to  scholarship  and 

■  ■'  The  use  of  the  parsonage  house  andland,  was  not  included;  a  large  part  of  the  land  having  already 
been  sold,  and  the  proceeds  funded.  The  house  was  soon  after,  (1831)  purchased  by  Dr.  Moses  Nichols, 
and  is  stiU  occupied  by  him. 


560  HISTORY   OF   nAVEEHILL. 

talent,  much  above  the  average.  In  his  religious  opinions  he  was  strongly 
orthodox,  and  he  preached  them  in  a  very  decided  and  uncompromising 
manner,  lie  also  entered  early  and  with  zeal  into  the  temperance  and 
anti'slavery  movements,  and  though  admirably  fitted  for  a  reformer,  by 
his  firm  and  bold  temperament,  and  his  persevering  energ3%  yet  these  qual- 
ities did  not  so  well  serve  to  promote  the  work  of  conciliating  and  harmo- 
nizing a  society  holding  adverse  and  conflicting  sentiments.  In  private 
intercourse,  Mr.  Phelps  is  said  to  have  been-  eminently  social,  genial,  and 
generous,  and  even  playful  and  humorous ;  but  in  the  pulpit,  his  indepen- 
dence and  plainness  of  speech  often  approached  to  bluntness,  and  severity. 
It  is  not,  therefore,  strange,  that  his  preaching  should  have  separated  still 
more  widely,  rather  than  have  harmonized,  these  conflicting  elements  in 
his  church  and  society. 

In  the  warrant  for  the  annual  parish  meeting  for  1830,  we  find  an  arti- 
cle "  to  see  if  the  Parish  will  vote  to  dismiss  the  Eev.  Mr.  Phelps  from 
the  pastoral  charge  of  said  Parish."  The  vote  upon  this  article  was  in- 
definite postponement.  •■■= 

Finding  that  their  numbers  were  then  insufficient  to  efi"ect  his  re- 
moval, the  opponents  of  Mr.  Phelps  took  measures  to  increase  them.  It 
was,  at  that  time,  the  law,  that  every  person  must  belong  to  some  religious 
society  in  his  town,  and  was  liable  to  be  taxed  to  support  such  society ; 
and  those  residents  of  a  parish  who  were  not  duly  enrolled  as  members  of 
some  other  society,  were,  in  the  law,  considered  as  members  of  the  oldest, 
or  parish  society. 

This  will  explain  the  fact  that  soon  after  the  difficulties  alluded  to  com- 
menced, we  first  find  the  names  of  persons  entered  on  the  parigh  books  as 
having  "  become  a  member  of  the  parish.  Eighteen  such  are  recorded 
in  1831. 

September  13,  1832,  another  attempt  was  made  to  "dissolve  the  con- 
nection between  Eev.  Mr.  Phelps  and  the  Parish,"  but  it  was  defeated  by 
a  majority  of  thirteen  votes.  Two  months  later,  (Xovember  8,  1832)  the 
proposition  was  again  made,  and  carried  in  the  affirmative.  It  is  an  inter- 
esting fact  connected  with  this  sudden  change  of  majorities,  that  between 
the  last  two  dates,  seventeen  new  members  were  added  to  the  PaMsh  — 
all  of  whom  were  Universalists. 


o  It  was  a  part  of  the  nfjrccment  between  Mr.  Phelps  and  the  parish,  "  that  at  any  time  it  should  be 
thonght  expedient,  at  a  Legal]  meeting,  warned  for  the  purpose,  to  dissolve  the  connexion  between  the 
Pastor  and  parish,  a  majority  of  the  legal  Voters  present  concurring,  it  shall  be  dissolved,  giving  hun 
three  months  notice  he  having  the  same  privilidgc  to  ask  a  dismission." 


iriSTOKT   or   HAVERHILL.  661 

J'mding  themselves  in  a  minority,  tlie  Orthodox  members  soon  after 
\5^ithdrew,  and  united  in  forming  the  "Independent  Congregational 
Society,"  -—since  called  tlie  "  Centre  Congregational  Society." 

At  the  next  annual  parish  meeting,  a  Unitarian  committee  was  chosen 
to  supply  the  parish  pulpit.  Three  months  later,  a  meeting  was  called 
to  see  if  the  parish  would  extend  a  call  to  Eev.  Andrew  P.  Peabody  (Uni- 
tarian) to  settle  with  them.  This  proposition  was  indefinitely  postponed ; 
and  an  addition  of  four  (three  of  them  Universalists)  was  made  to  the 
committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit  Upon  this,  the  previous  members  re- 
signed, and  the  meeting  dissolved.  A  majority  of  the  committee  were  now 
Universalists  and  the  pulpit  was  supplied  accordingly.  September  30th, 
(1833)  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  if  the  parish  would  extend  an  invita- 
tion to  settle  to  Rev.  J.  H.  Bugbee  (Universalist) .  Upon  this,  a  proposi- 
tion was  madp  and  inserted  in  the  same  warrant,  to  divide  the  funds  of 
the  parish  "  equally  between  the  several  religious  societies  within  the  terri- 
torial limits  of  the  First  Parish ;  "  and  thereupon  sufficient  aid .  was 
ealled  in  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  proposition  to  settle  Mr.  Bugbee,  and 
also 'to  pass  votes  to  divide  the  funds  as  proposed,  and  to  choose  a  commit- 
tee to  report  a  plan  for  doing  it. 

December  2d,  the  committee  submitted  a  report,  recommending  a  peti- 
tion to  the  General  Court  for  a  repeal  or  amendment  of  the  Besolve  of 
1809,  establishing  a  Parish  Fund,  and  of  the  Act  of  1823,  relating  to  the 
management  of  the  Fund,  so  as  to  allow  the  parish  to  make  the  proper  division. 

The  report  was  accepted,  a  vote  passed  to  divide  the  funds  "  among  the 
various  religious  societies  within  the  limits  of  said  parish,"  and  a  petition 
presented  to  the  General  Court  agreeably  to  the  recommendation  of  the 
committee. 

April  2,  183-1,  a  parish  meeting  was  called,  "  to  see  if  the  Parish  will 
request  the  Eev.  Joseph  Whittlesey  to  settle  with  them  as  their  minister 
and  Pastor,  for  one  year  or  more."  Mr.  Whittlesey  was  then,  and  had 
been  for  above  seven  months,  settled  as  pastor  of  the  "  Independent  Con- 
gregational Society."  The  apparent  strangeness  of  the  proposition  is, 
however,  explained  by  the  fact  that  negotiations  were  then  on  foot  between 
the  Unitarians  and  the  above  society,  to  join  interests,  outvote  the  Univer- 
salists, who  had  now  become  a  majority  in  the  parish,  and  divide  the 
parish  funds  equally  between  themselves.  Before  the  arrangements  were 
fully  perfected,  the  Universalists  offered  the  Unitarians  their  aid  toward 
reinstating  the  latter  in  possession  of  the  parish,  and  parish  funds,  upon 
more  favorable  terms  than  were  about  being  agreed  upon  by  the  parties 
first  named.  The  latter  offer  was  accepted.  The  former  petition  to 
71 


562  HISTORY    OF   HAtERniLL. 

the  legislature  "vras  tLercupon  withdrawn ;  Eev.  Natliauicl  Gage  (Uui'- 
tarian)  was  settled  as  minister  for  five  years ;  the  taxes  of  sixty- 
eight  members  of  the  parish  (Uuiversalists)  were  abated  ;  it  was  "  Voted 
To  allow  those  persons  about  to  secede  from  the  Parish,  the  sum  of  Four 
Thousand  Dollars  for  their  interest  in  the  Funds  in  the  hands  of  the  Trus- 
tees belonging  to  the  Parish  ;  "  the  money  was  paid,  and  the  Univcrsalist's 
withdrew,  leaving  tbe  parish  organization  and  funds  in  the  possession  of 
the  "  Congregational  Unitarians,"  where  they  yet  remain." 

In  1837,  the  parish  society,  (now  Unitarian)  disposed  of  their  interest 
in  the  "  common,"  and  erected  a  new  church  edifice  on  the  lot  next  north 
of  it,  at  an  expense  of  $8, TOG, 34.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  Decem- 
ber 6,  183C. 

Eev.  Mr.  Gage  continued  with  the  society  until  the  summer  of  1840, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  Nathaniel  P.  Folsom.f  The  salary  of  the 
latter  was  $800.  He  remained  with  the  society  until  the  fall  of  1840. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  James  Eichardson,  who  was  settled  March  24, 
1847,  at  a  salary  of  $700,  and  remained  until  September  27,  1850,  whca 
he  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request. 

On  the  morning  of  January  1,  1847,  the  elegant  church  edifice,  erected 
in  1837,  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  In  the  following  November,  the 
society  voted  to  replace  it,  and  the  present  structixi-e  was  soon  after  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  $7,126,91. 

Eev.  Frederic  Hinckley  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  society,  November 
9,  1850,  and  remained  until  July  9,  1853.  His  salary  was  $800.  His 
successor  was  Eev.  Eobert  Hassall,  who  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
settle,  in  January,  1856,  and  remained  with  the  society  until  1858.  His 
salary  was  $1,000.  April  7,  1859,  Eev.  "William  T.  Clarke  received 
an  invitation  to  settle,  which  was  accepted.  His  salary  was  the  same  as 
that  of  his  immediate  predecessor.     Mr.  Clarke  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  North  Parish. 
As  we  have   already  mentioned,  the  northerly  part  of  the  town  was 
erected  into   a   separate  Precinct,   or  Parish,  in   1728,  and   a  meeting- 
house erected  the  same  year.     The   Church  was  not  organized,  howevev, 
tmtil  two  years  late". 

»  The  whole  amount  of  the  fund,  in  April,  1S38,  was  $11,296,48.  The  $4,000  had  not  as  yet  been 
taken  from  the  fund.  This  had  accumulated  as  follows:  —  Trom  sales  of  parsonage  lands,  at  sundry- 
times,  $10,532,77;  donation  from  "A  Friend  from  the  First  Parish  in  Haverhill,"  August  2d,  1826,  hy 
the  hands  of  David  Marsh,  2d,  $300.00 ;  interest  accumulated  when  no  minister  was  settled,  viz; :  from 
June  18,  1827,  to  January  9,  1828,  and  from  January  1,  1834,  to  July  2,  1834,  $300.00.  In  April,  1851, 
the  fund  was  only  $6,661.00. 

t  Rev.  Nathaniel  Gage  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  of  the  class  of  1S23.  He  died  at  Cam- 
bridge, May  7, 1861,  aged  60  years.  . 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  563 

Wlien  the  New  Hampsliire  line  was  run,  in  1 740,  about  two-tliirds  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Parish  fell  to  the  north  of  the  line.  The  portion 
which  fell  to  the  south  of  that  line  were  soon  after  incorporated  into  a  par- 
ish by  themselves ;  or,  rather,  the  General  Court  declared  them,  to  be,  to 
all  intents  and  purposes,  the  North  Parish  in  Haverhill. 

The  old  meeting-house  fell  to  the  north  of  the  State  line,  and  the  par- 
sonage to  the  south  of  it ;  and  though  at  first  about  two-thirds  of  the 
original  parish  became  a  part  of  New  Hampshire,  at  i)resent,  and  for  many 
years  past,  the  membership  and  attendance  at  the  old  church  has  been 
about  equal  from  Haverhill  and  Plaistow. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  following  account  of  this  church,  we  have 
drawn  largely  from  the  excellent  sketch  prepared  by  its  late  pastor,  Kev. 
Charles  Tenney,  and  published  in  a  work  entitled  New  Hampshire 
Churches,  1856. 

The  church  was  organized  November  4,  1730,  on  a  day  of  Fasting  and 
Prayer,  specially  appointed  for  this  pui-pose.  It  was  originally  styled  the 
Church  in  the  North  Precinct  of  HaverhiU,  Mass.  It  was  composed  of 
fifty-nine  members  from  the  First  Church  in  Haverhill.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following,  ten  more  were  added  from  the  First  Church  in 
Haverhill. 

At  the  above  named  meeting,  Mr.  James  Gushing  was  invited  to  be  their 
pastor,  and  was  ordained  on  the  2d  of  December  following.  Nothing  ap- 
pears to  have  occurred,  during  his  ministry,  which  continued  about  thirty- 
three  years,  that  disturbed  the  harmony  of  the  church,  or  the  comfort  of 
the  pastor.  There  was  not,  perhaps,  what  may  be  termed  a  revival  of  reli- 
gion, yet  a  good  number  were  added  to  the  church — one  hundred  and 
eixty-four  in  all  —  one  hundred  and  fifteen  by  profession,  and  forty-nine 
by  letter.  The  greatest  number  in  any  one  year  (1837)  was  fourteen. 
The  half-way  covenant  practice  was  then  in  use  and  during  Mr.  Cushing's 
ministry,  two  hundred  owned  the  covenant  in  this  way,  and  had  their  chil- 
dren baptized.  It  does  not  appear,  from  the  records,  that  he  baptized  an 
adult,  on  receiving  members  to  full  communion ;  and  this  practice  will 
ficcount  for  the  great  number  of  infant  baptisms  during  this  time,  which 
was  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  ;•■■=  Mr.  Cushing  died  May 
13,  1764,  aged  59  years. 

Eev.  James  Cushing  was  a  son  of  Eev.  Caleb  Cushing,  of  Salisbury, 
Mass.,  and  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1725.  Mr.  Cushing  was  a  solid 
and  fervent  preachei',  prudent,  steady,  patient,  condescending,  and  candid ; 

c-  During  his  ministry,  Mr.  Cushing  married  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  couples. 


g64  HISTORY   OP   HATERHILL. 

and  he  preserved  for  the  thirty-four  years  of  his  ministry  the  most  nnmf^ 
fled  tranquility,  peace  and  harmony,  in  his  society. 

On  the  2r)th  of  October,  1772,  thirteen  of  the  members  of  this  church, 
resident  in  Atkinson,  were  dismissed  and  recommended  for  the  purpose,  in 
union  with  others,  of  being  organized  into  a  church  in  said  town. 

On  the  6th  of  March  of  the  year  following  the  death  of  Mr.  Gushing, 
Mr.  Gyles  Merrill  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church,  and  died  April  27, 
1801,  aged  62  years,  after  a  ministry  of  .about  thirty-seven  years.  The 
number  of  admissions  to  the  church  was  fifty-nine  —  forty-seven  by  pro- 
fession, and  twelve  by  letter.  The  Eev.  Mr.  Merrill  had  a  peaceful  minis- 
try and  was  greatly  respected  and  beloved  by  his  people.  As  a  preacher, 
he  was  orthodox  in  faith,  of  sound  learning,  discreet,  and  was  justly  and 
highly  esteemed. 

The  simplicity,  kindness,  and  dignity  of  his  manners,  are  even  yet  re- 
membered by  many,  with  the  greatest  respect  and  veneration.  He  had  the 
welfare  of  his  people  constantly  at  heart,  and  those  who  survive  him  tes- 
tify to  his  amiable  disposition,  and  his  devoutncss  as  a  christian.  Mr. 
Merrill  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  of  the  class  of  1759.  Like 
his  immediate  predecessor,  Mr.  Merrill  was  a  native  of  Salisbury.  He 
commenced  preaching  in  the  North  Parish  as  soon  as  the  reverend  "bear- 
ers" at  Mr.  Cushing's  funeral  (eight  in  number)  had,  according  to  custom, 
supplied  the  vacant  desk  one  Sabbath  each. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Merrill,  this  church  was  without  a  settled  minis- 
ter twenty-five  years;  and,  during  this  time,  became  much  enfeebled. 
The  records  do  not  show  that  more  than  eight  persons  were  admitted  to 
the  church  —  for  seventeen  years  not  one. 

On  the  26  of  December,  1826,  the  Eev.  Moses  Welch,  who  had  been 
preaching  to  the  people  as  a  stated  supply  for  about  two  years  and  a  half, 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  church,  and  continued  with  them  till  the  2d  of 
February  1831,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  There  were 
admitted  to  the  church  after  Mr.  "Welch's  installation  thirty-six  —  three 
by  letter,  and  thirty -three  by  profession,  and  all  of  these  thirty-three,  ex- 
cept two,  were  the  fruits  of  a  revival  which  occurred  in  1827.  Mr.  "Welch 
baptized  twenty-six  children. 

On  the  day  of  Mr.  Welch's  dismissal,  the  Eev.  Samuel  H.  Peckham  was 
chosen  to  be  pastor,  and  he  was  installed  the  23d  day  of  the  same  month. 
Much  of  Mr.  Peckham's  ministi-y  was  unquiet  and  unpleasant,  yet  in  a 
very  good  degree  successful.  He  was  dismissed  September  10th,  1838, 
having  the  "undiminished  confidence  "  of  the  dismissing  council,  as  "  a 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  565 

good  and  aWe  minister  of  tlie  gospel."  During  bis  ministry,  of  about 
seven  years,  there  were  added  to  the  church  thirty-one  hy  profession,  and 
five  by  letter,  and  twenty-three  children  were  baptized. 

Eev.  David  Oliphant  statedly  supplied  the  pulpit  after  Mr.  Peckham's 
dismission.  A  neat  and  commodious  house  of  worship  was  erected  in 
1837,  in  the  place  of  the  old  house,  which  had  become  wholly  unfit  for 
use.  The  new  house  is  the  property  of  the  proprietors.  Mr.  Oliphant 
left  in  1852,  and  during  his  ministry  there  were  added  to  the  church, 
seven  by  letter,  and  twenty-five  by  profession.  Infant  baptisms,  thirty- 
two. 

Eev.  Charles  Tenney  commenced  his  labors  with  this  church  early  in 
1853,  and  remained  its  pastor  until  November,  1858,  when  he  was  called 
to  a  larger  field  of  labor.  From  this  time,  to  August  1859,  the  society 
were  without  a  pastor,  when  Eev.  Homer  Barrows,  then  of  Wareham, 
Mass.,  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  settle  with  them,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  pastor. 

The  West  Parish. 

In  1734,  the  westerly  part  of  this  town,  was,  by  the  General  Court, 
erected  into  a  separate  parish,  or  precinct,  under  the  name  of  the  West 
Pai'ish  of  Haverhill. 

The  first  parish  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  day  of  May,  of  that  year, 
the  warrant  for  which  was  issued  by  Eichard  Saltonstall,  Esq.  The  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Haynes,  who  was  chosen  moderator, 
and  Peter  Ayer  was  chosen  parish  clerk.  At  this  meeting,  the  parish 
voted  to  build  a  meeting-house,  and  to  set  it  "  on  the  southeasterly  corner 
of  Samuel  Eatton's  pasture.""  The  house  was  erected  and  mostly  finished 
the  same  season.  The  pews  (sixteen  in  number)  were  not,  however,  built 
until  three  years  afterward. 

At  the  time  the  first  parish  meeting  was  held,  the  timber  was  already 
on  the  ground  selected  as  a  site  for  the  meeting-house,  and  so  rapidly  was 
the  work  pushed  forward,  that  services  were  held  in  the  new  house  as 
early  as  October. 

The  first  minister  engaged  upon  trial,  was  a  "Mr.  Googgins,"  who 
preached  four  Sabbaths.  After  him,  a  "Mr,  Skiner "  preached  about 
two  months.  Mr.  Skinner  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  Samuel  Bachellor,  who 
preached  with  such  acceptance,  that  (June  9,  1735,)  he  was  invited  to 
settle  as  their  minister. 

"^  A  few  rods  from  the  present  house  of  Timothy  J.  Goodrich. 


5G6  HISTORY   OF   irAVEIiniLT,. 

The  parish  voted  Mr.  Bachellor  "  a  sofishant  hous  the  Bigness  of  Mr. 
Nathan  Wcbstcrs  well  fincshed  and  a  liarn  of  thurty  feet  long  and  twenty 
feet  wid  and  convenancy  in  land  parstin  for  cecping  three  cows  on  hos  and 
teen  sheep  sumer  and  winter  ;  "  and  "one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  in 
pasabil  money  or  Bils  of  Creedit  and  value,"  annually.  In  addition  to 
the  above,  they  voted  to  give  "  his  wcdcd  wife  so  long  as  she  shall  con- 
teeneu  his  widow  the  hool  Benefet  of  the  pasneg  Cept  in  teenitabal 
Eepaires;"  and  "twenty  pounds  in  bils  of  creditor  pasibel  money  an- 
nuialy"  to  Mr.  Bachellor,  when  he  should  be  "  Disanabled  for  cariengon 
the  work  of  the  ministry  "  amqng  them,  by  old  age. 

Mr.  Bachellor  accepted  July  21st,  and  was  ordained  soon  after." 

It  appears  that  the  liberal  support  voted  to  Mr.  Bachellor,  was  a  cause 
of  considerable  "  gealosey  suspishon  and  unciscynes  "  on  the  part  of  some 
of  the  parish,  and  a  meeting  was  warned  to  reconsider  the  matter.  At 
this  meeting,  the  parish  voted  to  give  him,  in  lieu  of  the  house,  barn,  and 
land  accommodations,  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  a  year,  —  to  which  he 
agreed. 

In  the  spring  of  1736,  the  parsonage  lands  lying  in  the  vicinity  of 
Parsonage  Hill,  which  had  been  given  to  the  North  and  West  Parishes  to 
divide  between  them,  were  divided  by  a  joint  committee.  The  same  year 
(December  6)  the  jn'oprietors  of  the  undivided  lands  in  the  town,  gave 
Mr.  Bachellor  seventy  acres  of  land  in  the  AYcst  Parish,  for  his  own  use, 
also  forty  acres  to  the  parish.  In  1739,  the  parish  voted  to  give  Mr. 
Bachellor  the  use  and  possession  of  all  the  "  parsonage  lands  and  mead- 
ows belonging  to  yc  AYcst  Parish,"  so  long  as  he  should  continue  to  cany 
on  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  them. 

Soon  after  the  Parish  was  incorporated,  the  commoners  gave  them  a 
tract  of  land  to  purchase  a  burying-ground,  and  roads  to  their  meeting- 
house. This  land  was  sold  in  1738,  and  in  1740  (November  25)  the 
Parish  "  Voted  Twenty- two  pounds  to  Mr.  Thomas  Haynes  with  what  he 
has  already  had  for  half  an  acre  of  Land  for  a  Burying-place  where  we 
have  already  Bureyed  Sundry  of  Our  Dead."  The  spot  referred  to,  is 
about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house. 

The  depreciation  in  value  of  paper  money,  which  was  an  active  cause  in 
the  troubles  which  broke  out  in  the  East  Parish,  seems  also  to  have  been  a 
stumbling  Ijlock  in  the  way  of  the  church  and  society  in  the  West  Parish. 
Trora  time  to  time  the  parish  voted  Mr.  Bachellor  an  addition  to  his  salar}^ 
in  consideration  of  "the  fall  of  the  present  currency,"     In   1749,  the 

o  Mr.  Bachellor  had  preached  in  the  parish  twenty-one  weeks  before  he  gave  his  answer. 


illSTORY   OF   HATERHILi.  5G7 

tiddition  made  was  £70.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1750,  tlie  parisli 
"  Voted  not  to  pay  the  Eevd  Mr.  Bachellor  his  salary  this  year  without  a 
recicpt  or  discharge  in  full."  This  displeased  many,  and  a  meeting  was 
called  shortly  after,  to  sec  if  the  parish  would  "  reconsider  and  disanul 
that  vote,"  but  the  meeting  refused  to  act  upon  the  question.  After  con- 
siderable negotiation,  the  parish  (December  18,  1750)  voted  Mr.  Bachellor 
£06.13.4,  in  addition  to  what  had  already  been  paid  him,  in  full  for  his 
salary  from  his  settlement  to  that  time.  This  was  not  satisfactory  to  some 
of  the  parish,  and,  failing  to  "Disanul  ye  vote,"  they  " dissented  against 
ye  Illegal  proceedings.""- 

In  1755,  these  difficulties  assumed  alai*ming  proportions.  Mr.  Bachellor 
was  accused  of  heresy,  in  saying  that  the  work  of  redemption  was  finished, 
when  Christ  uttered  the  words  "It  is  finished."  This,  his  enemies,  (led 
on  by  Joseph  Haynes,  a  shrewd  and  fearless  man,  of  superior,  native 
talent,  and  quite  extensive  reading,)  denounced  as  downright  heresy,  and 
made  them  the  ground-work  of  a  sharply  contested  controversy,  which 
raged  with  violence  for  a  number  of  years,  aud  finally  ended  in  the  removal 
of  Mr.  Bachellor,  9th  October,  1761,  upon  terms  that  day  recommended 
by  a  Council,  The  subject  was  considered  by  the  Haverhill  Association, 
and  two  Councils  called  for  that  purpose,  who  upheld  Mr.  Bachellor,  and 
published  several  pamphlets  defending  his  conduct  from  the  aspersions  of 
his  enemies.  These  drew  from  Mr.  Haynes,  a  large  pamphlet,  called  "  A 
Discourse  in  order  to  confute  the  Heresy,  delivered,  and  much  contended 
for,  in  the  West-Parish,  in  Haverhill,  and  countenanced  by  many  of  the 
ministers  of  the  neighboring  parishes,  viz :  That  the  blood  and  water 
which  came  from  Christ  when  the  soldier  pierced  his  side,  his  laying  in 
his  grave,  and  his  resurrection,  was  no  part  of  the  work  of  redemption, 
and  that  his  laying  in  the  grave  was  no  part  of  his  humiliation."  It  was 
printed  in  1757.  This  drew  a  pamphlet  in  the  following  year,  from  the 
Association  and  Councils,  vindicating  the  measures  they  had  taken,  to 
which  Mr.  Haynes  soon  after  replied.  A  Council  of  nine  churches  con- 
vened by  adjournment  on  the  19th  September,  1758,  when  twenty  charges 
against  Mr.  Bachellor  were  laid  before  it,  condemning  his  conduct  and 
doctrines.  The  Council  sat  four  days,  and  decided  that  they  were  not 
sufficiently  supported.  Col.  John  Choate  of  Ipswich,  one  of  their  members, 
differed  from  this  decision  and  published  his  "reasons  of  dissent."  The 
same  Council  again  met  in  the  following  year,  when  Mr.  Haynes  gave 

*  The  dissentients  were  Thomas  Haynes,  Joseph  Hascltine,  Thomas  Page,  Joseph  Hutchens,  Daniel 
Lad,  Jr.,  Peter  Carleton,  Jonathan  Emerson,  Josepli  Haynes,  Timothy  Emerson,  and  William  Aycr. 


568  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

them  some  "  friendly  remarks,"  wliicli  were  afterward  puLlislied ;  "but 
this  second  examination  of  the  charges  only  confirmed  them  in  their  former 
decision. 

Eev.  Samuel  Bachellor  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  of  the  class 
of  1731,  and  a  man  of  superior  tMcnt  and  attainments.  During  his  min* 
istiy  in  the  parish,  he  baptized  about  four  hundred  and  fifty ;  thirty-eight 
owned  their  baptismal  covenant ;  and  one  hundred  and  eighteen  were 
admitted  to  the  church.  •-  After  his  dismission,  Mr.  Bachellor  continued 
to  reside  in  the  parish  until  his  death.  In  1769,  and  again  in  1770,  he 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  General  Court. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Bachellor,  the  parish  was  without  a  settled 
pastor  nine  years. 

In  March,  1762,  Eev.  Nathaniel  Noyes  commenced  preaching  in  the 
parish,  shortly  after  which,  the  church  and  parish  voted  "  to  settle  upon 
Congregational  rrinciplcs,"  and  to  organize  the  church  according  to  the 
platform  of  church  discipline  agreed  upon  by  the  Cambridge  Synod  in 
1649,  —  "  except  the  11th  section  of  the  10th  chapter  of  that  platform, 
which  allows  the  elder  a  power  to  negative  the  Brotherhood."  In  the 
October  following,  the  church  and  parish  extended  a  unanimous  invitation 
to  Mr.  Noyes  to  settle  with  them,  but  he  declined.  The  next  January  the 
invitation  was  renewed,  but  without  success.  After  Mr.  Xoyes  left,  a  Mr. 
Wheeler  occupied  the  pulpit  for  a  short  time,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Eev,  John  Carnes, 

In  March,  1766,  Mr.  Carnes  was  invited  to  settle  with  the  parish,  but 
declined.  The  call  was  renewed  April  14th,  and  accepted,  but,  for  some 
reason  not  stated,  he  was  not  settled. 

In  June,  1767,  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev,  Joseph  Willard,  (afterward 
president  of  Harvard  College)  who  accepted,  and  the  last  Wednesday  in 
October  was  assigned  for  his  ordination ;  but,  for  reasons  not  given,  the 
ordination  never  took  place. 

In  March,  1769,  Eev.  Phiucas  Adams  received  a  call  by  "  a  great  ma- 
jority "  of  the  parish,  though  several  were  so  strongly  opposed  to  his 
settlement  that  they  petitioned  to  be  released  from  paying  toward  his 
support.  The  following  December  the  call  was  repeated,  when  it  was 
accepted,  and  Mr.  Adams  was  ordained  January  9,  1771.  He  continued 
with  the  parish  until  his  death,  in  1801,  during  which  time,  for  ought  that 
appears  upon  the  records,  the  society  was  prosperous  and  united. 

*  The  church  was  organized  October  22,  173j,  with  seventy-seven  members,  all  of  whom  had  been  dis- 
tnissed  from  the  I'irst  Parish  Church  for  that  purpose.  Nathan  Webster  and  Peter  Ayer  were  chosen 
deacons,  in  November,  1735. 


HISTORY  O'F  HAVERHILL.  569 

&.  Adams,  who  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1762,  was  a  man  of  mild 
and  conciliatory  manners,  amiable  disposition,  sound  sense,  excellent 
understanding,  and  extensive  reading.  He  was  not  bigoted,  and  seemed 
well  calculated  to  quiet  a  turbulent  society.  After  his  death,  the  parish 
met,  and  voted  to  pay  all  the  expenses  of  his  funeral. 

During  his  ministry,  Mr.  Adams  baptized  three  hundred  and  thirty-one 
(adults  and  infants);  sixty-nine  "owned  their  baptismal  covenant ;  "  and 
eixty-two  were  admitted  to  the  church. 

At  the  first  church  meeting  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Adams,  John 
Smith  and  Thomas  Webster  were  chosen  deacons.  In  1782,  Moses  "Web- 
ster, and  in  1785,  Joseph  Eaton,  were  chosen  to  the  same  office.  . 

The  first  mention  we  find  in  the  parish  records  of  a  school  in  the  par- 
ish, is  in  November,  1751,  when  it  was  voted  to  build  a  school-house 
eighteen  feet  square,  at  "ye  Clay  pitts  near  ye  end  of  the  Eoad  that  lead- 
eth  to  ye  house  of  Mr  Jonathan  Webster."  At  the  next  meeting,  an 
effort  was  made  to  have  the  school-house  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  par- 
ish, but  without  succss.  For  some  reasons,  the  building  of  the  school- 
house  proceeded  very  slowly,  as  we  find  that  as  late  as  February,  1754, 
it  was  only  partly  finished,  and  was  ordered  to  be  removed  to  the  east  end 
of  the  meeting-house.  The  next  month,  a  proposition  was  made  to  move 
the  meeting-house  and  the  school-house  to  "  Lad's  plain,"  in  the  "  center 
of  the  Parish,"  but  the  proposition  failed.  The  December  following 
(1754)  the  school-house  was  yet  unfinished.  At  this  time,  the  parish 
voted  that  a  school  should  be  kept  one-third  part  of  the  time  at  or  near 
Peter  Carleton's  ;  one-third  at  Stephen  Webster's  ;  and  one-third  at  Sam- 
uel Whitker's.  It  continued  to  be  so  kept  until,  at  least,  1772.  In  1774, 
it  was  kept  at  or  near  Jeremiah  Hutchin's ;  Timothy  Eatton's ;  and  Peter 
Emerson's ;  at  which  time,  there  was  as  yet  no  school-house  in  the  parish. 
In  the  spring  of  1791,  the  parish  appropriated  £82  for  the  building  of 
three  school-houses.  One  was  set  "  westward  from  Thomas  West's,  ou 
Enoch  Bradley's  land  ,•  and  one  "  near  James  Chase's."  The  location  of 
the  third  one  does  not  appear.     They  were  all  built  in  1791. 

In  1792,  the  inhabitants  of  the  "Eastern,  on  Jew  street,"  petitioned 
for  a  school  in  their  vicinity  a  part  of  the  time,  but  the  request  was  not 
granted. 

In  1770,  the  parish  voted  "  to  continue  to  sing  Dr  Watts'  Psalms  & 
Hymns  in  the  congregation."  This  is  the  first  allusion  to  singing  we  find 
in  the  parish  records.  One  of  the  articles  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual 
meeting  in  1771,  was  "  To  see  if  the  Parish  will  vote  a  part  of  the  Frunt 

Galary  for  those  to  sit  in  who  Have  Larnt  or  are  Larning  to  Sing  by  Kule. 
72 


570  HISTORY    OF    nATERHILL. 

Either  to  Build  a  Pew  or  other  wise  as  Shall  he  thot  most  proper."  As 
the  parish  at  the  time  voted  to  make  extensive  repairs  in  the  meeting- 
house, no  recorded  action  was  taken  about  the  singing ;  but  a  pew  was 
doubtess  built  at  the  time,  as  we  find  that  "  the  Singers  Pew  "  was  en- 
larged in  1788,  and  again  in  1794:.  In  1810,  the  parish  appropriated 
thirteen  dollars  toward  the  support  of  a  "singing  school."  This,  we  be- 
lieve, is  the  earliest  distinct  allusion  we  have  found,  in  any  of  the  records 
or  papers  we  have  examined,  of  a  sii\giug-school  in  the  town,  though  it  is 
by  no  means  improbable  that  such  schools  were  kept  years  before.  Indeed 
the  fact  that  some  were  "Larning  to  sing  by  Piule  "  as  early  as  1771, 
would  seem  to  imply  that  something  of  the  kind  was  then  in  operation."' 

In  1786,  a  proposition  was  made  to  jmrchase  grounds  for  one  or  two 
new  "burying-places."  The  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  re- 
ported it  inexpedient  for  the  parish  to  purchase.  A  private  subscription 
was  then  started,  and  ground  for  a  second  burying-place  was  purchased 
the  same  fall.  It  was  located  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  Salem,  (N.  H.) 
road,  and  near  Creek  Pirook.f 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Adams,  the  parish  was  without  a  settled  minis- 
ter for  twenty-five  years,  during  which  period  its  religious  aflfairs  were  in 
a  very  unsatisfactory  state. 

In  1803,  a  Mr.  Mead  occupied  the  pulpit  for  some  months,  and  the  pro- 
position was  made  for  the  parish  to  join  with  the  North  Parish,  and  hire 
him,  to  preach  one-half  the  time  in  each  parish,  — but  it  was  not  agreed  to. 

At  the  annual  parish  meeting,  March  17,  1806,  it  was 

"  Voted,  that  the  Baptists,  Methodists,  or  Universalists,  who  belong  to 
the  "West  Parish,  should  have  a  right  and  privilege  to  draw  out  of  the 
parish  treasurer's  hands,  as  much  money  as  they  pay  in  by  taxes,  —  after 
allowing  or  deducting  for  levying  and  collecting  the  same,  —  for  to  hire 
such  minister  or  ministers  as  they  choose,  provided  they  are  of  good  stand- 
ing or  character,  when  there  is  not  a  minister  employed  by  the  parish 
committee  as  has  been  usual  in  times  past." 

The  above  continued  to  be  the  practice  until  1809,  when  a  committee 
consisting  of  one  from  each  denomination  was  chosen  to  divide  the  money 
raised  for  preaching,  among  the  several  denominations.!     If  any  person 


o  The  earliest  mention  of  a  singing-school  in  the  village,  whicfi  we  have  found,  is  an  advertisement  of 
Bamuel  W.  Ayer,  in  December,  1812,  of  his  intention  to  commence  a  "  Singing  School,  at  the  First  Parish 
School  House." 

t  The  cemetery  opposite  the  brick  mccting-house  has  been  laid  out  but  a  few  years,  and  is  the  third  in 
the  parish. 

t  The  only  denominations  represented  by  a  "committee  man,"  were  the  Congregationalists,  (or 
"  Standing  Order  " )  the  Methodists,  and  the  Universalists. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  571 

refused  to  say  to  wliicli  one  lie  desired  his  money  to  be  paid,  it  was  to  be 
divided  equally  among  all  of  tbem. 

From  1809,  to  ISIS,  the  above  plan  continued  in  operation.  Eacb  de- 
nomination had  preaching  of  their  own,  as  many  Sabbaths  in  the  year  as 
the  money  thus  divided  would  furnish. 

In  1818,  ten  members  of  the  parish  petitioned  for  a  parish  meeting  "  To 
instruct  the  Committee  of  the  Congregational  order  how  much  preaching  to 
engage ;  "  and  also  "  To  see  if  Preachers  of  the  Universal  order  shall  be 
admitted  to  preach  in  said  Meeting  House  in  the  West  Parish  the  present 
year."  At  the  same  time,  fourteen  others  petitioned  for  a  meeting,  to  see 
if  the  parish  would  vote  that  the  money  paid  into  the  treasury  for  the  sup- 
port of  preaching,  might  not  be  drawn  out  "  to  hire  the  Congregational, 
Methodist,  and  Universal  Preachers,  as  usual." 

This  was  an  attempt,  on  the  part  of  the  Congregationalists,  to  regain 
entire  control  of  the  parish,  but  it  was  unsuccessful.  The  parish  .refused 
to  act  upon  the  propositions  in  the  first  petition,  and  agreed  to  those  of  the 
other. 

In  May,  1821,  the  parish  voted  to  extend  a  call  to  Eev.  Mr.  Pomeroy, 
but  no  action  appears  to  have  been  taken  by  the  church,  and  he  was  not 
invited.  One  year  later,  a  proposition  was  made  to  invite  Rev.  Mr.  Lam- 
bard  but  it  was  not  agreed  to.  Two  years  still  later,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  unite  on  Eev.  Stephen  Morse,  but  this  also  proved  unsuccessfuL 

Finally,  in  September,  1826,  the  church  unanimously  invited  Eev. 
Moses  G.  Grosvenor  to  become  their  pastor.  In  this  call,  the  parish  joined, 
and  Mr.  Grosvenor  accepted  the  invitation.  He  was  ordained  December 
27,  1826. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Grosvenor,  David  ^\^ebster,  by  his  last 
will  and  testament,  bequeathed  to  the  parish  two  pieces  of  land,  contain- 
ing about  twenty  acres  ;  two  thousand  dollars  in  money  ;  and  all  the  resi- 
due of  his  personal  estate,  after  paying  his  debts,  &c.  The  conditions  of 
the  bequest  were,  in  substance,  as  follows :  —  The  income  and  interest 
of  the  property  bequeathed  was  to  be  "  applied  exclusively  for  the  support 
and  maintainance  of  an  ordained  Gospel  minister  of  the  congregational  or 
presbytcrian  denomination,  who  is  orthodox  or  Calvinistic  in  his  senti- 
ments, in  the  west  or  second  parish  in  said  Haverhill."  Whenever  any 
minister  of  that  description  should  be  "regularly  ordained  and  settled  "  in 
the  parish,  "according  to  the  custom  of  congregational  or  presbytcrian 
churches,"  the  trustees-'  were  to  pay  over  to  the  proper  parish  officers  the 

o  John  Marsh,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Brickett  Bradley,  of  Haverhill ;  and  Eev.  Gardner  B.  Perry,  Rev.  Ii-a 
Ingraham,  and  Mr.  David  C.  Kimball,  of  Bradford,  "their  successors,"  ifec,  were  designated  as  trustees 
of  the  property  bequeathed. 


572  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

income  of  the  bequest.  If  there  should  not  be  any  euch  minister  so  set- 
tied,  the  bequest  was  to  be  an  accumulating  fund  in  the  hands  of  the 
trustees  for  the  term  of  ten  years,  (unless  such  a  minister  should  be  set- 
tled before  that  period)  when  the  income  was  to  be  paid  over  "  to  the 
domestic  missionary  society  ^■•'  *  "  to  be  applied  specially  for  the 
support  of  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  of  the  denomination  aforesaid,  in  such 
vacant  and  destitute  parishes  as  are  unable  to  supply  themselves."  The 
income  was  to  revert  to  the  parish  whenever  they  settled  a  minister  as 
specified ;  and  at  the  expiration  of  ten  years  after  such  a  minister  had 
been  settled  by  the  parish,  and  had  "remained  as  such  during  that 
period,"  the  trustees  might,  by  consent  of  the  judge  of  probate,  transfer 
the  capital  sum  of  the  bequest  to  such  trustees  of  the  funds  of  the  parish 
as  should  be  duly  authorized  to  receive  the  same.  The  will  is  dated  July 
12th,  1827.     Mr.  Webster  died  October  18th,  1828,  aged  79  years. 

Mr.  Grosvenor  was  a  Congregationalist,  and  was  settled  as  such.  By 
the  terms  of  his  settlement,  the  connection  between  the  pastor  and  the 
parish  could  at  any  time  be  dissolved  by  a  three  months'  notice  from  either 
party. 

It  could  hardly  be  expected  that  such  a  settlement  would  be  satisfactory 
to  the  other  denominations  in  the  parish,  and  we  accordingly  find,  under 
date  of  January  10,  1828,  a  petition  from  thirty -nine  members  of  the 
parish,  requesting  a  parish  meeting,  "  To  see  if  the  Parish  will  vote  to 
appropriate  any  naoney,  and  if  any,  how  much,  to  hire  ministers  to  preach 
in  said  Parish,  in  addition  to  the  Eevd  Mr.  Grosvenor."  The  meeting 
was  held,  and  it  was  voted  (yeas  fifty,  nays  fifty-three)  not  to  hire  any 
other  minister,  as  petitioned  for. 

A  few  weeks  later,  (March  13,  1828)  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  if  the 
parish  would  give  Mr.  Grosvenor  a  *'  three  months'  notice  to  withdraw  his 
pastoral  connection  "  with  the  parish.  The  proposition  was  carried,  and 
Mr.  Grosvenor  was  accordingly  dismissed." 

"  During  Mr.  Qrosvenor's  ministry,  lliirty-one  ■were  admitted  to  the  chnrch ;  twenty-three  were  baptized ; 
and  ten  renewed  their  baptismal  covenant.  From  the  death  of  Eev.  Mr.  Adams,  in  1801,  to  May, 
1821,  there  were  thirty  admissions  to  the  church.  From  the  same  date,  to  August,  1S24,  thirty-three 
persons  were  baptized.  In  August,  1820,  Deacon  Aaron  Clarke,  (who  removed  to  tliis  town  from  Wells, 
Me.,  in  1807,)  was  chosen  deacon  (associate)  with  Deacon  Moses  Webster.  Deacon  Clarice  died  March 
S,  1828,  aged  90 ;  and  Deacon  Webster  died  January  27,  1827,  aged  90.  The  hitter  was  a  member  of  the 
church  fifty-one  years,  and  for  forty-four  years  one  of  its  deacons.  In  May,  182i,  the  church  adopted  a 
new  form  of  "Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant."  September  6th,  of  the  same  year,  nineteen  persons  were 
admitted  to  the  church.  In  the  records  of  1821,  and  subsequently,  we  notice  that  persons  admitted  to 
the  church  were  frequently  "baptized  the  same  day."  Several  are  recorded  as  having  been  "rcbaptizcd" 
on  theii'  admission.    In  February,  1827,  Joseph  and  Moses  Webster  were  chosen  deacons. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  573 

The  Congregationalists,  finding  themselves  in  the  minority  in  the  parish, 
soon  after  decided  to  withdraw,  and  organize  a  new  society.  They  erected 
a  neat  and  substantial  brick  meeting-house/-'  one  mile  west  of  the  old 
parish  meetiug-house,  and,  August  3d,  1829,  petitioned  for  a  parish  meet- 
ing to  see  if  the  parish  would  "  vote  to  give  the  Eev.  Abijah  Cross  a  call 
to  settle  with  them  in  the  gospel  ministry  to  preach  in  the  brick  meeting 
house,"  on  condition  that  his  salary  should  not  commence  until  the  next 
annual  parish  meeting,  in  March,  1830  ;  that  the  parish  treasurer  should 
"  pay  over  annually  to  that  part  of  the  parish  that  do  not  wish  to  pay  Mr. 
Cross,  all  their  taxes,  and  so  much  of  the  annual  income  of  the  parsonage 
property  as  shall  bear  an  equal  proportion  to  their  parish  taxes  or  rateable 
estates;  "  that  the  latter  should  have  "  a  right  to  spend  the  money  thus 
paid  over,  in  the  old  meeting  house,  for  such  preaching  as  they  shall 
choose ;  "  and  that  a  three  months'  notice  shall  be  sufficient  to  dissolve 
the  connection  between  Mr.  Cross  and  the  parish. 

The  next  day,  (August  4, 1829)  the  Universalists  petitioned  for  a  parish 
meeting,  "to  see  if  the  parish  will  vote  to  give  a  call  to  Eev.  Daniel  D. 
Smith  to  settle  with  us  as  our  minister,"  &c.  A  parish  meeting  was  there- 
upon warned  for  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  to  act  upon  the  several 
propositions  of  the  two  petitions.  In  the  meantime,  (August  20)  the 
church  extended  a  unanimous  call  to  Mr.  Cross,  to  settle  with  them,  as 
their  minister,  f 

On  the  26th,  the  parish  met,  and  voted  to  give  Eev.  Mr.  Smith  a  call  to 
settle  with  them  for  two  years  ;  and  not  to  give  a  <iall  to  Eev.  Mr,  Cross. 
Mr.  Smith  accepted  the  same  day. 

October  20th,  a  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  at  Dea.  Moses  Web- 
ster's, and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  remonstrate  against  the  settlement  of 
Mr.  Smith.  But  the  remonstrance  did  not  prevent  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Smith  over  the  parish  society. 

At  the  next  annual  parish  meeting  an  effort  was  made  to  revive  the  old 
plan  of  dividing  the  receipts  from  parish  taxes  "  among  the  different 
denominations,"  but  was  unsuccessful,  —  as  was  also  one  to  sell  wood  from 
the  parsonage  land  for  the  same  purpose. 

o  It  was  dedicated  May  7,  1829.     The  first  meeting  was  held  in  it  in  the  February  preceding. 

t  The  church  had  from  the  first  been  a  Congregational  Church,  and  when  the  Congregationalists  sece- 
ded from  the^jartVi,  the  church  went  with  them,  as  a  body.  The  Universalists  had  no  church  organiza- 
tion in  the  parish,  until  after  the  final  separation,  in  1829,  They  were  among  the  members  of  the  old 
parish,  but  noto'f  the  oli.  parish  church. 

The  Methodists  never  had  a  regular  church  organization  in  the  parish.  In  1818,  they  held  one  commu- 
nion, for  which  time  they  requested  the  use  of  the  communion  vessels  belonging  to  the  parish  church,  but 
were  refused.  In  lieu  of  them,  they  used  decanters  and  common  tumblers.  Even  their  use  bi  the  "  Sac- 
rament Table,"  was  thought  to  have  been  "  an  unchristian  encroachment  on  the  ecclesiastical  rights  of 
the  church  "  in  the  parish,  "  &  highly  reprehensible." 


574  HISTOKY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

May  4tL,  1831,  tlie  church  renewed  tlicir  call  to  tlie  Eev.  Mr.  Cross, 
which  was  accepted ;  and  he  was  installed  on  the  1 8tli  of  the  same  month. 
He  continued  a  faithful  pastor  of  the  church  and  society  until  January 
26th,  1853,  when  he  was  dismissed  by  a  mutual  council,  at  his  own 
request.^'"' 

Eev.  Ahijah  Cross  was  born  in  Methuen,  Mass.,  October  25,  1793, 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1821,  and  entered  the  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary  the  year  following.  Shortly  after  this,  he  left  the  Semi- 
nary, and  pursued  his  theological  studies  chiefly  with  Eev.  Dr.  Dana,  of 
Newburypoi't.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1823  ;  and  in  March,  1824, 
was  ordained  at  Salisbury,  N.  H.  He  was  dismissed  from  that  church  in 
April  1829,  and  immediately  after,  commenced  preaching  in  the  West 
Parish.  After  his  dismissal,  in  1853,  he  continued  to  reside  in  the  town, 
most  of  the  time  in  the  village,  until  his  death,  April  14,  1856. 

Eev.  Mr.  Smith  continued  with  the  parish  (Universalist)  society,  until 
1831,  from  which  time,  until  1834,  that  society  was  without  a  regular 
minister.  In  March,  of  the  last  named  year,  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev. 
Thomas  G.  Farnsworth,  previously  pastor  of  the  First  Universalist  society 
in  this  town,  to  settle  with  them  for  ten  years,  at  a  salary  of  $400  per 
annum,  with  the  use  of  the  parsonage.  The  invitation  was  accepted. 
Mr.  Farnsworth  remained  with  the  society  until  April  1837,  when  he  was 
dismissed,  at  his  request. 

In  1832,  a  proposition  was  made  to  remove  the  old  meeting-house,  to 
some  point  nearer  the  centre  of  the  parish.  A  committee  was  chosen 
to  estimate  the  cost,  &c.;  and  in  1834,  the  house  was  taken  down,  moved 
one  mile  and  a  quarter  west,  re-framed,  and  re-erected. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Eev.  Mr.  Farnsworth,  in  1837,  the  parish  society 
were  destitute  of  a  regular  minister,  until  June,  1840,  at  which  time  Eev. 
Henry  M.  Nichols  was  ordained  and  settled,  at  a  salary  of  $500  a  year. 
Mr.  Kichols  continued  with  the  society  until  his  death,  in  1 842. 

About  this  time,  the  bequest  of  Mr.  "Webster  began  to  attract  special 
attention  by  tlie  two  societies  in  the  parish.  The  income  of  the  fund  had 
accumulated  until  it  alone  amounted  to  several  thousand  dollars,  but  not  a 
dollar  of  it  had  as  yet  been  applied  to  its  intended  purpose,  and,  as  then 
organized,  neither  of  the  two  societies  could  lay  claim  to  it.  The  parish 
(Universalist)  society  were  without  the  specified  kind  of  a  minister  to 
entitle  them  to  the  bequest ;  and  the  church  (Orthodox)  society  no  longer 

o  During  the  whole  ministry  of  Mr.  Cross  in  the  west  parish,  (nearly  twenty-four  years)  one  hundred 
fliid  forty-one  were  admitted  to  the  cliurch,  and  one  hundred  and  one  haptized. 


aiSTORT   OP   HAVERHILL.  575 

had  a  minister  who  was  settled  by  the  jjarish.     Neither  society  could  claim 
the  henefit  of  the  fund,  hut  each  could  prevent  the  other  from  enjoying  it. 

From  March,  1844,  —  when  a  committee  was  first  chosen  by  the  parish 
society,  "  to  act  in  reference  to  the  Fund  of  the  late  David  Webster,"  — 
down  to  1852,  —  when  the  matter  was  finally  adjusted, — the  disposition 
of  this  fund  was  a  prolific  theme  for  society  discussions  and  negotiations. 
Various  ofi"ers  were  made  by  each  society,  from  time  to  time,  until  March 
29,  1851,  when  the  Congregational  society  offered  the  parish  (or  Univer- 
salist)  society  $2,400,  for  the  privilege  of  becoming  themselves  the  Parish, 
—  which  was  accepted.  The  Universalists,  or  parish  society,  were  to 
retain  possession  of  all  the  parish  property  they  were  then  in  possession 
of,  and  were  to  relinquish  to  the  Congregationalists,  or  church  society,  all 
fight  and  claim  to  the  Parish,  and  the  latter  were  to  have  the  Webster 
fund. 

April  27, 1852,  an  act  was  obtained  granting  leave  to  the  parish  society 
to  make  the  transfer,  which  was  accepted  June  17th,  and  in  the  October 
following,  (October  6,  1852)  forty-five  members  of  the  Congregational 
society  were  admitted  members  of  the  parish.  On  the  IGth  of  the  same 
month,  thirty  members  of  the  parish  withdrew  from  it,  and  it  was  thus 
left  in  the  hands  of  the  Congregationalists,  where  it  yet  remains. 

Soon  after  the  transfer  of  the  parish  was  jierfected,  in  1852,  the  then  . 
parish  (now  Congregationalists)  took  measures  to  settle  a  minister  agree- 
ably to  the  conditions  of  the  will  of  Mr.  Webster,  and,  December  14th, 
extended  a  call  to  Ecv.  S.  E.  Kendall,  —  which  was  declined."  January 
26th,  1853,  Eev.  Mr.  Cross  was  dismissed  from  the  Congregational  church 
and  society,  at  his  own  request,  and,  in  March,  Eev.  Asa  Farwcll  was 
invited  to  settle  as  their  pastor.  Mr.  Farwell  accepted,  and  was  ordained 
April  21st,  of  the  same  year. 

Eev.  Asa  Farwell  was  born  in  Dorset,  Vt.,  March  8th,  1812;  fitted  for 
college  afthe  Burr  Seminary,  Manchester,  Vt.  ;  graduated  at  Middlebury 
College,  in  1838,  and  at  Andovcr  Theological  Seminary,  in  1842.  From 
1842  to  1852,  he  was  principal  of  the  Abbott  Female  Academy,  at  Ando- 
ver.  He  commenced  preaching  in  the  AVest  Parish,  in  February,  1853, 
where  he  yet  remains. 

From  the  settlement  of  Eev.  Mr.  Farwcll,  in  1853,  to  the  present  time, 
(December,  1860)  there  have  been  fifty-five  admissions  to  the  church,  and 
thirty  baptisms. 

In  December,  1844,  Ezra  B.  Welch  and  John  Mitchell  were  chosen 
deacons  ;  in  December,  1856,  Daniel  Webster  was  chosen  in  place  of  the 

°  Mr.  Kendall  was  invited  to  settle  as  a  colleague  of  Mr.  Cross.  • 


676  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

latter,  who  had  removed  from  the  parish  ;  in  December,  1860,  Isaac  Pct« 
tingill  was  chosen  in  place  of  Deacon  Welch,  removed  from  town.  It  ifli 
an  interesting  fact  that  of  the  fifteen  deacons  of  the  church,  from  1735  to 
1860,  seven  were  of  the  name  of  Webster,  viz. :  Nathan,  Stephen, 
Thomas,  Moses,  Joseph,  Moses,  and  Daniel  Webster. 

The  Universalist  Society.  As  this  society  was  the  Parish,  from  1828 
to  1852,  we  have  already  given  the  most  prominent  points  of  its  history 
down  to  the  latter  date,  and  find  but  little  to  add  in  this  place. 

Since  the  death  of  Eev.  Mr.  Nichols,  in  1842,  the  society  have  had  no 
settled  minister,  though  they  have  had  preaching  the  most  of  the  time. 
The  following  named,  in  their  regular  order,  have  supplied  the  desk  for 
one  year  or  more,  each,  since  the  period  referred  to:  —  Eev.'s  Josiah 
Gilman,  Cyrus  Bradley,  W.  W.  Wilson,  Willard  Spaulding,  James  E. 
Pomfrct,  Lemuel  Willis,  Martin  J.  Stcere.  Thd  Eev.  Mr.  Wilson  con- 
tinued with  the  society  about  four  years.  Mr.  Spaulding  was  their 
minister  at  the  time  the  parish  transfer  was  effected.  Mr.  Stecre  is  their 
minister  at  the  present  time. 

August  30,  1852,  the  society  was  re-organized,  under  the  name  of  The 
First  UmDersalist  Society  in  the  West  Parish  of  Haverhill.  This  was 
rendered  necessary  by  the  transfer  of  the  parish  organization  to  the  Con- 
gregational society,  as  already  mentioned. 

In  1857,  a  proposition  was  made  to  the  society,  by  that  portion  of  its 
members  residing  in  "  Ayer's  Tillage,"  so  called,  to  remove  the  meeting- 
house to  that  viHage,  or  to  build  a  new  one  at  that  place.  The  pro- 
position was  indefinitely  postponed.  Two  years  later,  the  proposition 
was  again  made,  but,  by  the  vigorous  exertions  of  those  opposed  to  the 
change,  it  was  negatived  by  one  majority.     This  was  in  April,  1859. 

June  12th,  of  the  same  year,  a  meeting  of  the  residents  of  the  above 
named  village  was  called,  when  it  was  unanimously  voted  to  build  a  meet* 
ing-house^t  that  place,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  purchase  a  site  for 
the  proposed  edifice. 

July  4th,  those  interested  in  the  movement  organized  themselves,  under 
the  general  statute,  into  a  corporate  body,  by  the  name  of  Ayers  Village 
Associates,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  and  transferring  property,  and 
managing  their  affairs,  in  a  legal  manner.  An  eligible  lot  of  land  was 
purchased,  situated  a  few  rods  east  of  the  four  corners  in  the  village,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  street,  and  a  neat  and  convenient  church  was 
promptly,  erected,  at  an  expense  of  about  $5,000.  It  was  dedicated  April 
25,  1860.     As  the  members  still  hold  their  individual  membership  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  577 

old  society,  they  have  not,  as  yet,  perfected  their  organization  as  a  reli- 
gious society.  Since  the  church  was  dedicated,  the  desk  has  been  regularly 
supplied.  Kev.  Mr.  Damon,  formerly  of  the  Summer  Street  society,  now 
preaches  one-half  of  the  time,  and  the  remainder  is  filled  by  short  engage- 
ments, as  opportunity  offers. 

East  Parish. 

We  have  already  given--'  an  account  of  the  erection  of  the  easterly  part 
of  the  town  into  a  separate  Precinct,  or  Parish,  in  17-1:3,  and  need  not 
repeat  it  in  this  place.  In  November,  of  the  same  year,  the  first  parish 
meeting  was  held  "  at  the  house  of  Nathl  Whittier,  deceased."!  Eobert 
Hastings  was  chosen  clerk,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  select  a  location 
for  a  meeting-house,  who  reported,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  a  recom- 
mendation that  it  be  erected  "  at  the  south  side  of  Turkey  Hill,  near  the 
south-east  end  of  the  Hill."  The  report  was  accepted,  and  measures  were 
at  once  taken  to  have  the  meeting-house  so  far  finished  as  to  allow  it  to  be 
used  for  meetings  by  the  following  September,  —  which  was  done.  The 
house  was  not  actually  finished,  until  a  few  years  before  it  was  torn  down, 
in  1838, — nearly  a  century  after.     The  gallery  floors  vrere  laid  about 

1752,  "  the  windows  on  the  back  side  of  the  pulpit"  were  cut  out  in 

1753,  at  the  r^uest  of  the  minister,  Kev.  Mr.  Parker,  "  for  his  conveine- 
ancy  of  aier  inthe  summer  season ;  "  the  house  was  plastered  in  1768; 
the  pews  were  built  at  various  times  from  1744  to  some  time  subsequent 
to  181 6  J  ;  the  east  end  was  clapboarded,  and  "  the  fore  doors  &  window 
frames "  painted  in  1793.  Until  about  1816,  the  two  sexes  sat  apart 
during  service,  (except  those  families  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  own 
pews)  and  the  "  women's  seats  "  are  mentioned  even  later  than  that  date. 
The  house  was  first  artificially  heated  in  1829,  when  two  "box" 
stoves  were  introduced.  The  writer  well  remembers  their  gigantic  pro- 
portions, and  long  funnels.  The  latter,  in  the  absence  of  a  chimney,  were 
thrust  through  the  windows  on  the  north  and  south  sides  of  the  house. 

As  soon  as  the  house  was  ready  for  occupancy,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
parish  invited  the  neighboring  ministers  to  fast  and  pray  with  them,  "for 
ye  divine  direction,  in  order  to  give  a  Person  a  call  to  settle  among  them 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry."  For  that  purpose,  September  6th,  1744, 
was  set  apart.     After  the  meeting  was  concluded  in  the  afternoon,  the 

o  See  page  320. 

t  Where  John  B.  Nichols,  Esq.,  now  lives. 

X  After  the  house  was  erected,  sixteen  privileges  for  building  pews  in  it  were  sold  at  auction. 

73 


578  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

ministers  recommended  Mr.  Benjamin  Parker  as  a  person  well  qualified 
for  tlie  place.  Accordingly,  October  4tb,  a  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  I'ar- 
ker  to  become  tbeir  minister.  Tbe  parish  voted  to  give  him  the  use  of  all 
the  parsonage  land  ;  build  him  a  parsonage  house  and  barn ;  and  pay  him 
£100  Old  Tenor,  and  £70  "  provision  pay,"  annually,  for  the  first  three 
jears,  and  after  that,  the  provision  pay  was  to  be  increased  to  £100  per 
annum.  The  call  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Parker  was  ordained  November 
28,  1744,  at  which  time  the  church  was  "gathered."  The  latter  consisted 
of  sixteen  male  members.  At  the  first  church  meeting,  January  31, 
^^,^1745,  Eobert  Hunkins  and  Peter  Green  were  choseiideacotisS'    -m^ 

Although  the  church  was  not  gathered,  and  a  pastor  ordained,  until 
this  time,  "the  inhabitants  of  the  precinct  had  constant  preaching  for 
some  time  previously."! 

It  was  a  part  of  the  agreement  with  Mr.  Parker,  that  a  parsonage  house 
and  barn  should  be  built  for  his  accommodation,  but  for  some  reason, 
(probably  on  account  of  the  large  expense  already  incurred  for  the  new 
meeting-house)  the  parish  in  the  following  JMarch  (1745)  chose  a  commit- 
tee to  request  him  to  wait  a  time  before  obliging  them  to  build  the  house. 
His  answer  was,  "no,  he  would  not,"  —  and  the  house  was  built  and 
finished  before  the  next  October.  The  house  is  still  standing,  nearly 
opposite  the  meeting-house,  and  is  occupied  for  the  origin||^  purpose. 

In  1748,  the  parish  built  a  school -house,  about  six  rods  northerly  of  the 
meeting-house,  and  laid  out  two  burying-grounds,  the  first  "  between  Jon- 
athan Marsh's  barn  and  Gravel  shoot,"  the  other  "  in  the  corner  of  Kichard 
Colby's  land  nearest  country  bx'idge,"  Both  of  these  places  are  still  used 
for  the  purpose,  and  are  the  only  ones  ever  laid  out  in  the  parish.  A  few 
years  subsequently,  the  school  money  was  divided  into  two  parts,  and  one 
school  was  kept  at  Gideon  George's,  and  another  at  Joseph  Greele's.  This 
plan  continued  in  operation  until  the  division  of  the  town  into  smaller 
school  districts  finally  took  the  matter  entirely  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
parish. 

In  1767,  several  persons  "  brought  in  their  papers  as  Baptists,"  and  re- 
quested to  be  exempted  from  parisTi  rates,  but  were  refused.  In  return, 
they  refused  to  pay  the  rates,  and  after  several  efi^orts  to  collect  them,  the 
parish  finally,  in  1768,  voted  to  free  all  "  who  were  baptized  before  they  were 
rated  in  1766."  The  next  year  the  privilege  was  modified  so  as  to  exempt 
only  those  who  had  been  baptized  "  by  Dipiug  or  plunging  in  the  water." 

"  In  1757,  Joseph  Kelley  was  joined  with  them, 
t  Rev.  Mr.  Parker's  Church  Records,  1744. 


HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL.  579 

The  number  of  Baptists  seems  gradually  to  have  increased,  until  a  Bap- 
tist church  was  finally  formed  in  the  parish.  Their  influence  may  be 
judged  by  the  fact  that  as  early  as  1780,  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith. was,  by  a 
vote  of  the  parish,  invited  to  "preach  or  Lecture  one  Sabbath  in  the 
meeting  house." 

We  have  already  mentioned  one  of  the  "peculiarities"  of  Eev.  Mr. 
Parker,  in  his  reply  to  the  committee  requesting  further  time  to  build 
his  parsonage  house.  His  determination,  manifested  thus  early,  to  have 
the  articles  of  agreement  carried  out  to  the  letter,  was  subsequently,  in 
part,  at  least,  a  cause  of  much  trouble.  It  was  a  part  of  that  agreement 
that  he  should  be  paid  £100  annually.  Old  Tenor ;  and  when  that  cur- 
rency afterward  depreciated  largely  in  value,  the  parish  were,  perhaps, 
less  inclined  to  make  up  the  deficiency,  than  they  would  have  been  under 
other  circumstances.  The  unpleasant  state  of  feeling  thus  engendered, 
was  afterward  greatly  increased  by  the  course  of  Mr.  Parker  in  withhold- 
ing his  encouragment  and  sympathy  from  the  patriots  of  the  Eevolution. 
He  was  believed  to  be  a  loyalist,  or  "  tory,"  and  when  his  parish,  in  1775, 
requested  him  to  abate  somewhat  of  his  salary,  his  answer  was  that  he 
would  not,  but  "  would  stand  for  the  whole  of  it"  Twice  a  committee  was 
then  chosen,  and  sent  to  "treat  with  him,"  in  regard  to  annulling  the  con- 
tract. Then  a  committee  was  sent  to  gain  his  consent  to  a  reference  of 
the  matter  to  "  the  neighboring  ministers,  or  any  other  persons,"  but  he 
not  only  refused,  but  desired  "  the  parish  would  not  trouble  him  with  any 
committees  hereafter,  for  he  would  not  hear  them."     Upon  this 

"  It  was  put  to  vote  by  the  moderator  to  see  if  the  Parish  will  have  the 
Eeverend  Mr  Parker  to  Preach  to  them  any  more  for  the  futur  or  not,  it 
passed  in  the  afirmative  —  they  would  not  have  him."- 

"  It  was  put  to  vote  by  the  moderator  to  see  if  the  Parish  will  Shut  up 
the  meeting  house  Dors  and  fasten  them  up  for  the  time  to  come  —  it 
passed  in  the  afirmative." 

Captain  Daniel  Johnson,  Anthony  Chase,  and  Samuel  Ayei",  Jr.,  were 
then  chosen  "  a  committee  to  fasten  up  the  meting  house  dors  on  Monday 
the  8th  of  January  inst,"  —  (1776). 

Matters  remained  thus  for  twelve  months,  when  the  parish  joined  with 
Mr.  Parker  in  calling  the  help  of  an  ecclesiastical  council  to  settle  the 
difficulties.  The  council  met  at  the  house  of  Elias  Johnson,  and  after 
two  days'  negotiation,  the  connection  between  Mr.  Parker  and  his  parish 
was  dissolved. 


580  HISTORY    OF   nAVERHllIi. 

He  soon  after  removed  to  Lis  ovin  farm,  about  a  mile  south  of  the  meet-- 
ing-housc,'-'  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1789.  He 
was  interred  in  the  burial-ground  near  the  meeting-house. 

Eev.  Benjamin  Parker  was  a  son  of  Daniel,  of  Bradford,  and  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College  in  1737.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Fletcher,  of 
Dunstable ;  his  second  wife  was  Lucy  Paiggles,  of  Billcrica.  By  the  first, 
he  had  six  children  ;  and  by  the  second,  one. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Parker,  seventy-seven  persons  owned  the 
covenant,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  (mostly  children)  were  bap- 
tized.    He  married  one  hundred  and  thirty  couples. 

No  services  were  held  in  the  meeting-house  from  January,  1776,  until 
the  spring  or  summer  of  1778,  when  the  pulpit  was  again  occupied,  though 
irregularly.  From  November,  1777,  to  April,  1780,  and  from  December, 
1780,  to  December,  17.91,  there  arc  no  parish  records,  though  it  is  certain 
that  regular  preaching  was  had  at  least  a  part  of  the  time.  Nehemiah 
Ordway  (of  Amesbury)  supplied  the  pulpit  regularly  from  1788  to  Nov- 
ember, 1793,f  when  Mr.  Tappan,  of  Newbury,  was  engaged  for  a  time. 
Mr.  Tappan  also  kept  the  parish  Grammar  School.  In  the  winter  of 
179-4-5,  there  were  no  services  in  the  meeting-house.  The  church  finally 
became  nearly  extinct.  Only  one  male  member  resided  in  the  place ;  no 
church  meeting  was  held  for  many  years,  and  the  church  records  could  not 
be  found. 

These  records  were  supposed  to  have  been  concealed  or  destroyed  by  Mr. 
Parker,  previous  to  his  death  ;  but  a  few  years  since,  the  original  book  of 
church  records  was  conditionally  returned  to  one  of  the  deacons  of  the 
church  by  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Parker,  and  is  now  virtually  in  possession  of 
the  rightful  owners. 

In  October,  1796,  the  parish  invited  Eev.  Isaac  Tompkins  to  settle 
among  them,  in  which  call  the  members  of  the  church  desired  to  join,  but 
■  it  was  questioned  whether  there  was  then  a  regular  church  in  the  parish. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  considered  advisable  to  begin  anew, 
and  a  council  was  called,  January  11,  1797,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 


"  That  now  occupied  by  Henry  Davis  and  next.north  of  Joshua  Lake.  Mr.  Parker  purchased  it  of  the 
heirs  of  Timothy  Eaton. 

t  Rev.  Nehtminh  Ordway  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1764,  antl  was  ordained  in  Middleton, 
Mass.,  in  1788.  He  afterward  requested  and  obtained  a  dismissal,  and  came  to  Haverhill  and  preached 
in  the  East  Parish  seven  years.  He  went  frcjni  Haverhill  to  Raymond,  N.  H.,  and  afterward  rcHioved  t» 
Pembroke,  N.  H.,  where  he  died  in  1836,  aged  9S  years. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  581 

new  diurch.  Twenty  years  had  made  great  changes  in  the  parish,  as  may 
be  seen  from  the  following  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  council.  =••■= 

"  They  esteem  it  a  departure  from  chh  order  to  constitute  those  mem- 
bers of  a  new  chh,  who  continue  members  of  other  chhs ;  because  it  will 
involve  them  in  inconsistent  obligations ;  and  therefore  cannot  embrace, 
in  the  number  of  candidates,  those  who  are  of  that  descrijition.  At 
the  same  time .  they  esteem  the  number  of  four,  the'  extremely  small  to 
form  a  chh,  not  contrary  to  gospel  rule ;  because  ivhere  two  or  three  are 
met  tegether  in  X  's  name,  the  Head  of  the  chh  has  promised  to  be  with 
them.  The  council  also  have  in  view  the  almost  certain  prospect  of  imme- 
diate additions  by  regular  dismission  &  recommendation  from  other  chhs 
&  from  this  christian  society.  Therefore  impressed  with  the  solemnity  of 
the  transaction,  and  concieving  ourselves  duly  authorized,  we  do  constitute 
and  declare  Elias  Johnson,  Ephraim  Elliot,  Joseph  Greely,  &  Samuel 
Woodbury  a  regular  church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 

The  council  do  not  mention  the  names  of  the  women  whom  they  admit- 
ted,! f^J"  ^^^  reason  (as  given  by  Eev,  Mr.  Abbot,  scribe,  in  a  note  to  the 
minutes)  "  that  they  tho't  it  sufficient  to  mention  the  names  of  the  men, 
as  the  male  members  are  considered  as  constituting  the  body  qualified  to 
transact  business  as  a  regular  chh." 

Immediately  after  their  organization,  the  church  extended  a  unanimous 
call  to  Mr.  Tompkins  to  become  their  pastor,  which  was  accepted,  and  he 
was  ordained  March  1st,  1797.  His  salary  was  $250  the  first  year,  with 
the  use  of  the  parsonage  buildings  and  lands,  and  wood  for  his  fires. 
After  that,  he  was  to  have  such  a  salary  as  should  be  agreed  upon.  It  is 
with  pleasure  we  record  the  fact,  that,  from  his  settlement  to  his  death, 
(in  1826)  the  connection  of  Mr.  Tompkins  with  his  church  and  parish 
was  uniformly  pleasant  and  satisfactory  to  all  parties.  After  his  death, 
the  parish  voted  his  widow  the  free  use  of  the  parsonage  house  and  adjoin- 
ing land  for  one  year. 

Eev.  Isaac  Tompkins  was  a  son  of  Christopher,  of  New  Bedford,  where 
he  was  born,  April  16,  1761.  He  received  his  theological  education  under 
the  direction,  principally,  of  Eev.  Samuel  West,  D.D.,  of  the  same  place. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  mental  powers,  well  indoctrinated  in  theology,  a 
decided  Calvinist,  an  argumentative  and  faithful  preacher,  unexceptionable 
in  moral  and  ministerial  character,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him,     Erom  respect  to  his  talents  and  acquirements,  Brown  University 

<*  The  council  met  at  the  house  of  Elias  Johnson, 
t  Nine  in  number- 


{582  HISTORY   OP   HAVERniLL. 

conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  as  early  as  1795. 
Mr.  Tompkins  died  November  21,  1826,  aged  G5  years." 

During  Mr.  Tompkins'  ministry,  thirty-one  adults,  and  forty-nine  chil- 
dren were  baptized,  and  sixty-one  persons  were  admitted  into  the  church. 
Twenty-five  of  the  latter  were  admitted  at  one  time,  —  April  11,  1813, 
—  and  eight  more  May  23,  of  the  same  year. 

Elias  Johnson  and  Francis  Swan  were  chosen  deacons,  on  the  day  of  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  Tompkins.  Thomas  Johnson  was  chosen  to  the  same 
office  April  12,  1812. 

After  Mr.  Tompkins  decease,  the  society  had  no  regular  supply  until 
1828,  when  Eev.  John  H.  Stevens,  who  had  been  the  minister  at  Stoneham, 
Mass.,  received  an  invitation  to  settle,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  was 
installed  in  April  of  the  same  yeaT.  Mr.  Stevens  remained  with  the 
society  until  the  spring  of  1833,  when  his  health  declined,  and  he  was 
dismissed  at  his  own  requcst.f  During  his  ministry  in  the  parish,  he 
baptized  nineteen  persons,  (nine  of  them  adults)  and  nineteen  were  admit- 
ted into  the  church. 

From  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Stevens,  until  the  early  part  of  1835,  the 
society  was  again  without  a  settled  minister.  In  May,  of  the  latter  year, 
Eev.  James  Eoyal  Gushing,  (who  had  then  supplied  the  pulpit  for  some 
time)  was  invited  to  become  their  pastoi',  and  accepted.  He  was  installed 
June  10,  1835. 

The  early  labors  of  Mr.  Gushing  in  the  parish,  were  particularly  suc- 
cessful. In  November,  1835,  twenty-two  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
church  by  profession  —  twelve  of  whom  were  baptized. 

In  March,  1837,  Tappan  Ghase  and  Nathan  Johnson  were  chosen  dea- 
cons, in  place  of  deacons  Foot  and  Johnson,  resigned,  "  on  account  of  age 
and  infirmity."  In  1839,  Gharles  Coffin  was  chosen  to  the  same  office,  in 
place  of  Tappan  Ghase,  removed  from  the  parish. 

In  1838,  the  old  meeting-house,  that  had  withstood  the  elements  for 
nearly  a  century,  was  taken  down,  and  the  present  house  erected,  nearly 
on  the  same  site.     Many  can  remember  the  venerable,  weather-beaten  old 

•  Mr.  Tompkins  married,  January  25),  1797,  Mary  Alden,  daughter  of  Captain  John  Alden,  of  Fair- 
haven,  Mass.,  who  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Alden,  the  Pilgrim.  They  had  seven  children,  Lois 
Alden,  Sarah,  Isaac,  Christopher,  Mary,  Samuch  Sprage,  and  Abigail  Weld.  Lois  A.  married  Judge 
Spooner,  of  Kairhaven  ;  Isaac  is  a  merchant  of  Chester,  N.  H. ;  Christopher  married  a  daughter  of  Enoch 
Foot,  Esq.,  of  East  llaverhill,  and  now  resides  in  this  town;  Mary  married  Charles  Chase,  and  Sarah 
married  Anthony  Chase,  (brothers)  of  East  Haverhill.  Jlrs.  Tompkins  was  born  February  10,  1767,  and 
died  August  30,  184C,  aged  79  years. 

t  Mr.  Stevens  returned  to  Stoneham,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred  a 
few  years  since. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  583 

cliurcli,  with  its  large  square  pews,  its  capacious  galleries,  its  lofty  pulpit, 
and  still  loftier  "  sounding-board."  We  shall  never  forget  our  childish 
speculation  as  to  the  support  of  the  latter,  nor  our  great  relief  when,  stand- 
ing on  the  back  seat  in  the  ancient  gallery,  we  actually  saw  with  our  own 
eyes  the  heavy  braces  that  kept  it  in  place ;  and  we  are  therefore  prepared 
to  sympathize  with  the  worthy  minister'^  whose  first  sermon  under  it  was 
delivered  in  the  constant  fear  of  being  crushed  by  its  fall ! 

In  April,  1844,  the  connection  between  Mr.  Gushing  and  his  charge  was 
dissolved,  the  parish  having  voted  "  not  to  raise  any  money  for  the  support 
of  preaching  the  ensuing  year." 

Mr.  Gushing  is  a  native  of  Salisbury,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  born  No- 
vember 23,  1800.  He  is  a  great-grandson  of  Eev.  James  Gushing,  the 
minister  of  the  North  Parish  from  1730  to  1764.  He  received  his  theo- 
logical education  at  the  Seminary  in  Bangor,  Me.,  and  was  first  settled  in 
the  ministry  at  Boxborough,  Mass.  Afterward,  he  was  for  a  short  time  a 
city  missionary,  at  Boston.  From  Haverhill,  he  went  to  Wells,  Me., 
where  he  remained,  settled  in  the  ministry,  for  some  ten  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Taunton,  Mass.,  where  he  is  now  pastor  of  a  society. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Gushing  in  this  parish,  he  baptized  fifteen 
children,  and  twelve  adults ;  and  twenty-eight  persons  were  admitted  to 
the  church. 

In  November,  1848,  the  society  extended  a  call  to  Eev.  Wm.  Gogswell, 
D.D.,  to  become  their  pastor,  but  he  declined.  At  the  same  time,  Stephen 
S.  Grosby  was  chosen  deacon,  in  place  of  Nathan  Johnson,  removed  from 
the  parish. 

In  June,  of  the  following  year,  Eev.  Wales  Lewis,  of  Kingston,  Mass., 
received  and  accepted  a  call  to  settle  in  the  parish.  Mr.  Lewis  continued 
with  his  charge  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his 
own  request.f  During  his  ministry,  eight  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
church  by  profession,  —  all  of  whom  were  baptized,  —  and  two  children 
were  baptized. 

In  August,  1857,  Eev.  Abraham  Burnham  accepted  an  invitation  to 
settle  in  the  parish,  and  was  ordained  the  following  October.  Mr.  Burnham 
is  still  the  pastor.  Since  his  settlement  over  the  society,  there  have  been 
six  admissions  to  the  church  by  profession,  and  two  by  letter. 

Mr.  Burnham  was  born  in  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  April  9,  1829  ;  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  in   1852,  and  at  Andover  in  1857.     He  commenced  his 

"  Eev.  Mr.  Tompkins. 

t  Mr.  Lewis  is  at  present  settled  in  Lyman,  Maine. 


584  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

labors  in  the  parish  immediately  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Lewis,  and 
received  an  invitation  to  settle  as  soon  as  he  had  completed  his  studies. 

First  Baptist  Cuurch. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  and  Society  in  this  town,  had  its  origin  in  a 
casual  visit  of  the  Eev.  Hezekiah  Smith  to  the  town  in  the  autumn  of 
the  year  17G4.  He  was  a  young  man,  who  had  recently  graduated  from 
the  college  in  Princton,  N.  J.,  and  been  ordained  to  the  christian  ministry, 
and  his  preaching  was  attended  with  remarkable  success.  At  first,  he 
ministered  in  the  pulpits  of  the  "  Standing  Order,"  but  when  converts 
were  multiplied,  and  there  were  indications  that  a  church  of  "  Separatists" 
under  this  "  New  Light  "  leader,  would  be  organized,  those  pulpits  were 
closed  against  him.  There  being  at  that  time  no  recognized  Baptist 
Church  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  the  brethren  in  Haverhill  were  obliged 
to  proceed  to  their  organization  without  council  from  abroad  ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, on  the  9th  of  May,  1765,  seven  brethren  and  sixteen  sisters,  in  all 
twenty-three  persons,  "after  solemn  fasting  and  prayer,  mutually  agreed 
to  walk  in  gospel  order  together,  having  been  first  baptized  by  immersion, 
but  not  joined  to  any  church."  With  one  exception,  these  persons  had 
all  been  baptized  by  Mr.  Smith. 

On  the  2Sth  of  June,  1765,  the  church  gave  Mr.  Smith  a  call  to  become 
their  pastor.  This  call  does  not  appear  to  have  been  either  accepted  or 
declined  until  August  22d,  1766,  when  Mr.  Smith  was  received  to  mem- 
bership, by  letter  from  the  Baptist  Church  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  The  call 
was  then  renewed,  and  on  the  12th  of  November,  1766,  Mr.  Smith  became 
the  pastor  of  the  church,  and  continued  in  that  office  until  his  decease. 
Though  Mr.  Smith  did  not  formally  become  the  pastor  of  the  church  until 
the  latter  part  of  1766,  he  "  advised  and  directed"  in  the  formation  of 
the  church,  and  "  constantly  preached"  from  that  time  forward. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  a  large  and  commo- 
dious meeting-house  was  erected,  and  finished  the  same  year.  It  stood 
near  the  present  church,  and  was  at  first  built  without  a  steeple.  The 
latter  was  added  in  1799. 

Previous  to  July  1,  1767,  those  admitted  members  of  the  church  were 
all  residents  of  this  town.  In  February  of  that  year,  the  church  voted 
"that  one  or  two  members  with  the  Pastor,  be  authorized  to  receive  any 
person  or  persons  into  this  church  whom  they  shall  esteem  to  be  meet  sub- 
jects, provided  the  person  or  persons  live  at  such  a  distance  that  they 
cannot  attend  to  be  received  into  the  church  according  to  usual  order." 
In  pursuance  of  this  vote,  persons  were  baptized  and  received  to  member- 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  585 

ship  in  the  churcli,  whose  residences  were  scattered  over  a  wide  extent  of 
territory  to  the  north  and  east  of  this  town.  The  pastor,  with  one  or  two 
of  the  brethren,  made  missionary  tours  from  time  to  time.  Falmouth, 
(Portland)  Gorham,  Sanford,  Narraganset,  (Damariscotta)  Berwick,  Saco 
Eiver,  and  other  places  in  the  State  of  Maine ;  Brentwood,  Stratham,  Exe- 
ter, Deerfield,  Hoj)kintoii,  Duubarton,  Nottingham,  and  other  settlements 
in  New  Hampshire  ;  and  Methuen,  Dracut,  Chelmsford,  Kowley,  and  other 
towns  in  Massachusetts,  experienced  the  effects  of  these  itinerating  ser- 
vices. The  records  mention  frequent  calls  from  these,  and  other  places, 
for  the  church  to  permit  their  pastor  to  come  and  baptize  them  and  assist 
them  in  forming  a  church,  &c.  As  early  as  July,  1768,  it  is  recorded  that 
the  church  "  approve  the  doings  of  the  Pastor  and  brethren  in  dismissing 
from  Haverhill  church  the  members  residing  at  the  eastward,  and  in  con- 
stituting them  into  two  Baptist  churches,  one  in  Gorham  and  the  other  in 
Berwick,  Me."  May  4,  1781,  several  persons  in  Eowley,  who  had  been 
baptized,  but  had  not  joined  any  church,  were  organized  as  a  branch  of 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Haverhill.  They  chose  Samuel  Harriman  elder, 
and  continued  as  a  branch  of  the  Haverhill  church,  until  1785,  when  they 
were  set  off  as  a  separate  church,  and  ei^ht  more  were  dismissed  from  the 
mother  church  to  join  thenu  In  the  same  year,  eleven  brethren  in  New- 
buryport  requested  the  same  privilege,  which  was  granted.  These  scattered 
churches  and  members  shared  largely  in  the  perplexities  suffered  by  the 
"  Separatists"  of  the  times,  and  frequent  appeals  were  made  to  the  parent 
church  in  this  town,  for  sympathy,  counsel,  and  assistance,  in  behalf  of 
those  distant  members. 

Nor  did  the  parent  church  herself  escape  those  perplexities,  —  not  to 
call  them  by  a  harsher  name.  Its  members  were  taxed  to  support  the 
churches  of  the  "  standing  order ; "  their  goods  were  not  unfrequently 
distrained  for  the  payment  of  these  taxes;  their  religious  services  Were 
disturbed  or  interrupted  ;  the  *'  standing  clergy  "  forbade  the  pastor  from 
preaching  within  parish  bounds  ;  and  in  one  instance,  as  he  was  delivering 
a  lecture  upon  a  week-day  evening,  in  a  private  house,  a  stone  was  hurled 
at  him  through  a  window.  Fortunately  the  missile  failed  to  accomplish 
the  intended  purpose. 

About  1744r,  the  law  of  the  province  was  so  modified,  that  Baptists  arid 
others  were  exempted  from  paying  taxes  to  the  "  standing  order,"  provided 
they  filed  certificates  to  the  effect  that  they  attended  worship  and  paid 
taxes  in  their  own  denomination.  The  Baptists  made  frequent  efforts 
toward  securing  a  more  perfect  religious  freedom,  and  were  finally  suc- 
cessful. 

74 


585  niSTORT   OF   nAVERHILL. 

On  the  Slst  of  July,  1767,  the  church  voted  unanimously  to  join  witB 
others  in  the  formation  of  the  Warren  Association.  In  their  letter  upon 
that  occasion,  they  state  that  their  original  number  was  twenty-three  j 
that  thirty-four  were  added  to  that  number  by  baptism,  in  the  year  1765  ; 
twenty-nine  in  1766  ;  and  twenty-one  in  1767;  thus  giving  them,  at  the 
date  of  the  letter,  one  hundred  and  seven  members.  The  Warren  Associa- 
tion was  organized  September  9,  1767,  by  the  churches  in  Warren  E.  I., 
Bellingham,  Middleboro,  and  Haverhill,  Mass. ;  the  first  organization  of 
that  character  ever  established  in  New  England. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Massachusetts  forces,  in  1775,  Eev.  Mr, 
Smith  was  appointed  chaplain  to  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Nixon,  in  whi'ch 
were  many  Haverhill  men.  Frofii  the  records  of  his  church,  under  date 
of  July  12,  of  that  year,  we  find  that  they  "  voted  that  our  Pastor  shall 
comply  with  the  request  of  Col  Nixon,  and  supply  as  chaplain  the  quarter 
part  of  the  time  for  the  future  in  his  regiment."  Mr.  Smith  accepted  the 
appointment,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  1780,  when  he  was  hon-. 
orably  discharged,  at  his  own  request,  and  returned  to  the  more  grateful 
labors  of  his  ministry  at  home.  Though  his  pastoral  labors  had  been  in 
the  meantime  suspended,  his  pastoral  connection  remained  unbroken.* 

In  February,  1793,  the  society  received  an  act  of  incorporation,  under 
the  name  of  The  First  Baptist  Society  in  Haverhill. 

In  1796,  the  society  made  an  effort  to  secure  for  themselves  a  share  in 
the  parsonage  lands  in  the  town,  but  without  success.  Similar  cfi'orts 
were  made,  from  time  to  time,  as  late  as  1818,  but  were  alike  un- 
successful. 

In  1799,  the  meeting-house  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  improved,  and 
a  steeple  erected.  Samuel  White,  Esq.,  presented  the  society  with  a  fine 
bell  for  the  latter,  which  was  acknowledged  by  a  handsome  vote  of  thanks 
and  a  vote  that  the  donor  should  be  exempt  from  all  taxes  for  the  recent 
repairs. 

^  After  a  faithful  and  successful  pastorship  of  a  little  more  than  forty 
years,  Mr.  Smith  was  called  to  a  higher  field  of  labor.     He  died  January 
.  24,  1805,  at  the  age  of  68  years. 

Eev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  D.D.,  was  born  on  Long  Island,  New  York,  April 
21,  1737,  of  pious  and  reputable  parents.  He  received  his  public  educa- 
tion at  Princeton  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1762,  and  took  his 
master's  degree  in  1765.  After  he  left  college,  by  advice  of  his  physician 
he  spent  some  time  in  travel,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.     On  his  arri- 

«  Mr.  Smith's  salary  Was  £65  in  1794 ;  £80  in  1798;  £90  in  1803  ;  and  $300  in  1804. 


"HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL,  587 

^al  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  he  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist;  after  which 
he  visited  various  parts  of  the  United  States; — in  one  year  travelling 
more  than  four  thousand  miles,  and  preaching  about  two  hundred  times, 
He  came  into  New  England  in  the  spring  of  1764:  intending  to  return  in 
the  fall.  He  preached  frequently  while  here,  and  came  to  Haverhill  to 
supply  the  pulpit  at  the  West  Parish  for  a  time.  His  preaching  was  re- 
markably successful.  He  was  endowed  with  a  commanding  presence,  rare 
social  qualities  and  pulpit  talent,  and  had  enjoyed  the  best  educational 
advantages  of , his  time.  He  preached  without  notes  ;  and  his  plain  and 
practical  sermons,  able  expositions  of  scripture,  (in  which  he  excelled) 
strong  and  commanding  voice,  and  impressive  manner,  drew  together  large 
numbers  from  the  neighboring  parishes.  When  it  became  known  that  the 
popular  preacher  was  a  Baptist,  (which  fact  was  not  at  first  even  sus- 
pected) it  added  fresh  fuel  to  the  smouldering  fires  in  the  above  parish, 
and  the  doors  of  the  pulpit  were  speedily  closed  against  him. 

Mr.  Smith  was  among  the  first  and  firmest  friends  of  Brown  University, 
and  travelled  through  various  parts  of  the  country  to  collect  monies  for 
its  benefit.  At  an  early  period  he  was  one  of  its  Fellows,  and  continued 
so  until  his  death.  Sensible  of  his  talents,  his  theological  knowledge,  the 
excellence  of  his  character,  and  its  indebtedness  to  him  for  his  great  exer- 
tions in  its  behalf,  that  University,  in  1797,  conferred  upon  him  the 
honorable  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

On  the  day  of  Mr.  Smith's  death,  his  society  met,  and  voted  to  pay  all 
the  expenses  of  the  funeral,  and  also  to  provide  the  widow,  her  daughter, 
*'  and  the  girl,"  with  "  a  suit  of  mourning." 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Smith,  three  hundred  and  five  persons  were 
admitted  to  the  church,  including  the  original  members. 

In  the  May  following  the  death  of  their  first  pastor,  the  church  secured 
the  services  of  Kev.  William  Bachelder,  whose  labors  with  the  church  in 
Berwick,  Me.,  for  som§  nine  years  previous,  had  been  attended  with  signal 
tokens  of  divine  favor.  In  September,  the  church  gave  him  a  call  to  set- 
tle permanently  with  them,  which  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Bachelder  was 
installed  on  the  4:th  of  December  in  the  same  year.  His  salary  was  $G00. 
In  this  office  he  continued  with  great  acceptance  and  success  until  his 
<ieath,  which  occurred  April  8th,  1818,  in  the  fifty -first  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  twenty-sixth  of  his  ministry." 

During  this  time,  two  hundred  and  nine  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
«hurch.     But  few  men  have  passed  from  among  us  whose  memories  are 

^  Mr.  Bachelder  was  Itorn  in  Boston,  Maroli  25,  1768. 


588  HISTCXRY    OT    nAVERHILL. 

more  ardently  eterished  lay  the  living,  than  is  that  of  Mr.  Bachelder, 
He  adorned  every  relation  in  life,  the  civil,  social  and  domestic.  He  "was 
unwearied  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  both  temporal  and  spiritual. 
The  Maine  Literary  and  Theological  Institution  will  long  cherish  his 
memory,  as  one  of  its  earliest  patrons  and  warmest  advocates. 

In  the  July  following  the  decease  of  Mr.  Bachelder,  the  Eev.  George 
Keely  came  to  Haverhill,  and  for  the  first  time  ministered  to  this  people. 
He  had  recently  arrived,  with  his  family,  from  England,  where,  having 
pursued  a  course  of  theological  study,  under  the  tuition  of  the  venerated 
John  Kyland  at  the  Seminary  of  the  Baptists,  in  Bristol,  he  had  been  for 
several  years  successfully  engaged  in  the  ministry.  On  the  21st  of 
August  following,  the  church  gave  him  a  call  to  settle,  which  was  accepted, 
and  he  was  installed  their  pastor  on  tiie  7th  of  October,  1818.  His  salary 
was  at  first  $800,  and  afterward  $G00. 

In  April,  1820,  a  plan  for  a  permanent  ministerial  Fund  was  adopted 
by  the  society.  The  Fund  was  to  be  formed  by  quarterly  contributions, 
donations,  &c.,  and  neither  principal  or  interest  were  to  be  used  until  it 
amounted  to  $1,000,  and  none  of  the  principal  until  it  amounted  to 
$10,000.  In  April,  1822,  the  amount  of  the  Fund  was  $95,90.  In  Octo- 
ber of  that  year,  Mrs.  Sarah  How  made  a  donation  to  the  Fund,  of  $1,000.- 
October,  1823,  Mrs.  Anna,  widow  of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  donated 
$500.  April,  1825,  Mrs.  Eebekah,  widow  of  James  Duncan,  Esq.,  also 
donated  $500.  The  trustees  of' the  Fund  were  incorporated  in  1823.  The 
quarterly  collections  were  discontinued  in  1828.  In  1830,  the  Fund  amount- 
ed to  $3,013,33.  In  1842,  about  ninety-three  acres  of  land,  which  was 
given  by  Mrs,  Sarah  How,  subject  to  the  life  estate  of  David  How,  Esq., 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  trustees.  In  April,  18G0,  the  Fund 
amounted  to  $3,094,76. 

In  1822,  stoves  were  for  the  first  time  placed  in  the  meeting-house. 
The  same  year,  $25  was  appropriated  for  the  "  support  of  the  music," 
which  appears  to  have  been  the  first  appropriation  of  the  kind.  In  1830, 
a  bass-viol  was  purchased  by  the  society;  and  in  1834,  a  double  bass-viol 
was  added, 

Eev.  Mr.  Keely  continued  pastor  of  the  church  until  April  13,  1832, 
when  he  was  dismissed,  upon  his  resignation,  after  a  settlement  of  nearly 
fourteen  years.  He  still  continues  to  reside  in  the  town,  and  retains  hia 
membership  in  the  church,  honored  and  revered.  During  his  ministry, 
one  hundred  and  twenty -five  personsVere  admitted  to  the  church. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVEKHILL.  589 

May  26th,  1832,  the  church  extended  a  call  to  Eev.  Stephen  P.  Hill,  in 
which  the  society  joined  on  the  4th  of  June.  Mr.  Hill  accepted  in  July, 
and  was  ordained  on  the  first  of  the  October  following. 

In  1833,  the  old  meeting-house  was  taken  down,  and  a  new  one  erected 
in  its  place.  A  neat  and  appropriate  building  was  also  erected  a  few  rods 
east  of  the  new  meeting-house,  for  a  vestry.  When  the  present  church 
was  erected,  the  vestry  was  removed  a  short  distance  directly  west,  to  How 
Street,  and  was  occupied  for  a  primary  school,  until  the  summer  of  1860, 
when  it  was  removed  to  the  rear  of  Washington  Street,  and  transformed 
into  a  carpenter's  shop.  The  hill  upon  which  the  old  meeting-house  stood 
was  cut  down  considerably  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  second  house, 
and  still  more  when  the  present  church  was  built.  The  new  meeting- 
house was  dedicated  November  8,  1833. 

In  the  fall  of  1833,  Eev.  Mr.  Hill  asked  and  obtained  leave  of  absence 
for  one  year,  from  October  1st,  on  the  score  of  impaired  health.  The  next 
April,  he  resigned  his  pastorship  entirely.  He  was  subsequently,  and  for 
several  years,  settled  in  Baltimore,  when  he  removed  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
where  he  now  resides. 

February  2d,  1835,  Eev.  Edward  N.  Harris  received  and  accepted  a 
unanimous  call  to  settle  with  the  church  and  society.  He  was  to  be 
allowed  a  part  of  the  time  until  the  next  November,  to  complete  his  stud- 
ies at  Andovcr  Theological  Seminary.  The  church  at  this  time  was  un- 
happily distracted  by  divisions,  and  Mr.  Harris  was  never  installed  as 
pastor.  He  resigned  April  1,  1836."'  During  the  four  years  intervening 
between  the  resignation  of  Eev.  Mr.  Keely,  and  the  settlement  of  a  per- 
manent successor,  sixty  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church  by  baptism. 

In  July,  1836,  Eev.  Arthur  S.  Train  entered  upon  his  ministry  with 
this  society,  and  on  the  5th  of  the  September  following,  received  a  call  to 
become  their  pastor.  The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  he  was  ordained 
October  20th  of  the  same- year.  His  salary  was  at  first  $600,  but  was 
gi'adually  increased,  until,  in  1856,  it  was  $1,200. 

In  July,  1848,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  new  meeting-house,  and  the  pre- 
sent imposing  struture  was  accordingly  erected,  at  an  expense  of  upward 
of  $17,000. 

Mr.  Train  continued  with  the  church  until  January  1,  1860.  During 
his  ministry,  three  hundred  and  ninety-one  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
church  —  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  of  them  by  baptism.     The  volun- 

<»  Mr.  Harris  afterward  became  a  Universalist,  and  April  19,  1838,  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  First 
TJniversalist  Society  in  Methuen,  Mass. 


590  DISTORT   OP   UAVERHILt. 

tary  contributions  of  tlie  church  and  congregation  during  the  same  period 
were  $20,327,41. 

Eev.  Arthur  S.  Train,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of  Framingham,  Mass.,  where 
he  was  born,  November,  1812.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in 
1833,  and  was  subsequently  Tutor  in  that  institution  until  September, 
1836.  In  June,  1859,  he  was  unanimously  elected  Professor  of  Sacred 
Rhetoric  and  Pastoral  Duties  in  the  Newton  Theological  Institution.  He 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  office  in  November,  although  his  pastoral 
connection  with  the  above  church  was  not  dissolved  until  January,  1860. 
During  his  ministry  in  Haverhill,  Mr.  Train  married  two  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  couples. 

CUEISTIAN    CutJRCH. 

The  first  meeting  of  those  persons  who  afterward  constituted  the  first 
Christian  Church  in  this  town,  was  held  in  Bradford,  December,  1803,  at 
the  house  of  John  Marble.  Eev.  Elias  Smith,  —  who  made  his  home  in 
Portsmouth,  where  he  had  a  church,  —  preached  on  the  occasion.  The 
following  is  a  full  copy  of  the  records  previous  to  April,  1805  :  — 

"  An  account  of  the  reformation  in  Bradford  and  Haverhill,  and  the 
gathering  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  its  proceedings. — 

"December  22,  1803.  A  Door  was  opened  in  Bradford  (by  Bro.  John 
Marble)  where  Elder  Elias  Smith  Preached  the  Gospel  the  first  time  in 
Bradford.     The  word  had  some  efi'ect. 

"  Sept.  26,  1804.  Elder  Smith  Preached  again  in  Bradford.  God 
blessed  the  word  to  the  awakening  of  some  Souls,  who  soon  after  found 
peace  in  believing. 

"  Nov.  27,  1801.  Elder  Smith  Preached  at  Mr.  Silas  Plummer's,  in 
Haverhill.     A  Solemn  time.     The  word  had  effect  on  some  minds. 

"  The  AVinter  following,  Elder  Smith,  Elder  Abner  Jones,"  Elder  Pot- 
tle, &  Bro.  John  E.  Palmer,  often  attended  meetings  in  Bradford  and 
Haverhill,  under  whose  improvement  the  reformation  was  carried  on." 

The  following  spring  (April  18,  1805,)  Elder  Smith  baptized  four  per- 
sons in  Bradford,  "  who  gave  a  reason  of  their  hope  to  a  number  of  Breth- 
ren that  attended,  and  were  considered  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
in  Portsmouth."!  Between  that  date,  and  the 'organization  of  the  church 
in  1806,  fifty-four  persons  (seventeen  males,  and  thirty-seven  females) 
were  baptized,  by  Elders  Smith  and  Jones.     Of  these,  thirty-nine  Avero 

«  Of  Charlestown. 

t  These  four  persons  were  Samuel  Heath,  Sally  Johnson,  Betsey  Kimball,  and  Eliza  Parker. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERniLL.  591 

baptized  in  Bradford.  The  greater  part  of  them  were  between  the  ages  of 
twelve  and  twenty-five  years. 

The  record  of  the  formation  of  the  church  is  as  follows:  — 

"April  9th  1806.  Thursday.  The  Church  met  at  Mr  Silas  Plum- 
mer's  in  Haverhill.'"'-  Elder  Smith  attended.  Most  of  the  Brethren 
present.  This  day  the  Brethren  and  Sisters  in  Bradford  and  Haverhill 
who  had  before  been  considered  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Ports- 
mouth, by  the  consent  of  the  Brethren  there,  and  their  own  agreement, 
consider  themselves  a  Church  of  Christ  to  act  in  all  things  respecting 
themselves,  and  at  the  same  time  to  be  in  connection  with  the  churches  in 
Portsmouth,  Boston,  Nantasket,  Chebacco,  and  Woodstock  Vermont,  as  all 
have  agreed  to  take  the  New-Testament  as  their  only  rule,  naming  and 
owning  the  name  of  Christ  (that  is  Christians)  laying  aside  all  human 
creeds,  articles,  platforms,  covenants,  associations,  councils,  and  every 
human  form  of  government,  for  the  government  of  Christ  and  that  only. 
Coppied  from  Bro  Smith's  hand." 

January  31,  1807.  The  church  met  at  Thomas  Plummer's,  in  Haver- 
hill, when  they  "  received  Bro  Palmer  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and 
consented  to  give  him  a  letter  of  recommendation  as  such." 

January  2B,  1808.  "  The  Brethren  appointed  Bro  John  Marble,  Bro 
John  Plummer,  and  Bro  Daniel  Buzzel,  to  collect  the  Church  Eecords  and 
copy  them  into  a  Book." 

In  the  June  following,  a  church  meeting  was  held  "  to  enquire  into  the 
minds  of  the  brethren  concerning  Bro  Frederick  Plummer,  whether  they 
thought  God  had  called  him  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  whether  he 
ought  to  be  Ordained  as  such."  The  brethren  decided  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  work  in  the  ministry,  and  on  the  15th  of  the  following  September 
he  was  ordained.  The  place  of  ordination  was  the  beautiful  grove  that 
stood  on  the  east  bank  of  Little  Kiver,  near  the  easterly  end  of  Walnut 
Street.! 

For  several  years  the  meetings  were  held  in  private  houses,  after  which 
a  large  room  was  obtained  in  the  upper  story  of  a  building  then  belonging 
to  George  W.  Ayer,  and  situated  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Whittier 
Block,  Merrimack  Street. 

The  church  was  prospetrous  and  united  for  a  number  of  years  after  its 
organization,  though  its  practice  and  defence  of  "  religious  freedom  in  act 

*  His  honse  was  situated  on  Merrimack  Street,  in  front  of  the  present  Baptist  Church, 
t  Mr.  Plummer  was  baptized  May  2,  1805,  by  Rev.  Elias  Smith. 


592  HISTORY    OP   HAVERHILL. 

and  belief"  brought  upon  it  no  small  sbare  of  opposition,  and  unpopular- 
ity. But  divisions  ere  long  began  to  creep  in  between  its  members,  a.nd 
were  soon  succeeded  by  general  coldness  and  indiflFerence.  The  interest 
gradually  declined  until  the  fall  of  1816,  when  the  meetings  appear  to 
have  been  discontinued  altogether,  and  the  body  ceased  to  act  as  a  church. 
The  last  entry  in  the  records  is  dated  October  8th  of  that  year.  The 
whole  number  recorded  as  baptized  previous  to  the  latter  date,  is  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two.  The  church  was  supplied  wholly  by  itinerant 
preachers  during  this  period  of  its  history,  of  whom  the  following  names 
are  preserved  in  the  records:  — Elders  Elias  Smith,  Abner  Jones,  Henry 
Pottle,  John  E.  Palmer,  Samuel  Eand,  Frederick  Plummcr,  Douglas  Farn- 
ham, Eamzey,  Asa  Foster,  and  John  Capron. 

In  the  fall  of  1821,  an  effort  was  made  to  revive  the  church.  A  meet- 
ing was  held,  October  16th,  at  which  Elder  Jones  preached,  but  the  effort 
to  resuscitate  was  unsuccessful.  Matters  thus  remained  until  the  winter 
and  spring  of  182.3,  when  another  effort  was  made,  and  this  time  with 
success.  At  a  meeting  in  April  (1823)  the  living  members  "covenanted 
anew,  and  were  reorganized  as  a  church.  Elder  Abner  Jones  being  present.'"' 
Soon  after,  several  persons  were  hopefully  converted.  This  was  followed 
by  a  glorious  revival,  in  which,  we  trust,  about  fifty  were  brought  from 
darkness  to  light." 

The  meetings  were  now  held  in  the  "  old  Haynes  house,"  so  called, 
which  stood  near  the  corner  of  Emerson  and  Merrimack  Streets.  Early 
the  next  spring,  (182-1)  the  church  commenced  the  erection  of  a  neat  brick 
chapel,  on  the  west  side  of  AVashington  Square,  which  was  completed  and 
dedicated  the  ensuing  October.  It  was  called  the  Christian  Union 
Chapel. 

In  April,  1825,  the  church  "  selected  Abel  Nichols  and  George  W.  Ayer 
for  Deacons,  upon  trial."  These  appear  to  have  been  the  first  ones  chosen.f 
At  the  same  time,  Henry  Plummer  was  "  selected  as  Bishop." 

June  16th,  of  the  same  year,  Elder  Ebcnezcr  Bobinson  was  "  acknowl- 
edged as  Pastor "  of  the  church.  He  was  engaged  to  preach  only  a  part 
of  the  time,  however,  and  continued  with  the  society  until  April  2,  1827, 
when  his  connection  was  regularly  dissolved. 

August  2,  1826,  Henry  Plummer  was  regularly  ordained  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  in  the  new  chapel,  and  became  the  regular  pastor  of  the 
church  ;  though,  through  an  informality.  Elder  Bobinson  remained  nomi- 
nally the  pastor  until  the  following  April. 

•  The  whole  number  was  thirty-two  —  eight  males,  and  twenty-four  females, 
t  Nidiols  resigned  the  office  April  9,  1832. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILI,.  593 

From  tlie  re-organiization,  in  April,  1823,  to  OctolDer  of  the  same  year, 
the  desk  was  principally  supplied  by  Elder  Jones ;  and  from  the  latter  date, 
to  the  settlement  of  Eobinson,  by  Elder  Henry  Tatem. 

In  December,  1829,  the  church  "acknowledged  Bro  John  Morse  as  a 
Deacon." 

At  a  church  meeting  August  2,  1830,  it  was  "agreed  that  the  male 
members  of  this  church  form  a  quorum  for  business,  without  the  voice  of 
the  female  members,  except  in  the  receiving  and  excommunicating  mem- 
bers." This,  however,  was  not  generally  satisfactory,  and  in  the  January 
following  it  was  "  repealed." 

May  3,  1832,  David  Evans  and  Oliver  H.  Koberts  were  chosen  deacons; 
and  in  the  following  month,  "  James  Palmer,  Samuel  Grreenleaf,  Richard 
Woodman,  and  others,  were  chosen  as  helps  in  the  church." 

The  number  of  worshipers  had  so  much  increased  under  the  constant 
and  earnest  labors  of  Elder  Plummer,  that  in  the  above  year,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  enlarge  the  chapel,  which  was  accordingly  done. 

Elder  Plummer  continued  the  faithful  and  successful  pastor  of  the 
church,  until  the  spring  of  1843,  when  his  connection  was  dissolved,  at 
his  own  request.  During  his  pastorship,  he  baptized  upward  of  three 
hundred  and  eighty  persons,  and  thirty  others  were  received  to  fellowship." 

From  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Plummer,  in  1843,  until  1856,  when  he 
again  assumed  the  pastoral  charge,  the  church  was  under  the  successive 

pastorship  of  Eev.'s  H.  P.  Guilford, —  Pierce,  Morrison, 

Timothy  Cole,  William  P.  Merrill,  Davis,  and  Martin. 

The  only  baptisms  from  December  31,  1843,  to  November  14,  1847,  were 
three,  all  by  Eev.  Mr.  Merrill,  at  the  latter  date.  Prom  this  time  there 
were  none  until  subsequent  to  January,  1850.  A  revision  of  the  records 
at  the  latter  date  found  two  hundred  and  seven  members  in  good  stand- 
ing.    December  1,  1854,  John  Bond  was  chosen  deacon, 

August  3,  1856,  Rev.,Mr.  Plummer  again  received  a  call  to  become  the 
pastor  of  the  church,  which  he  accepted.  At  the  same  time,  Oliver  H. 
Eoberts  was  chosen  a  deacon  of  the  church.  April  3,  1867,  John  Tenney 
and  John  Brown  were  chosen  to  the  same  office.  A  revision  of  the  church 
records  in  1858,  showed  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  members 
in  good  standing,  thirty -nine  of  whom  were  males. 

Mr.  Plummer  remained  as  pastor  of  the  society  until  the  spring  of 
1857.     He  was  succeeded  (August  29,  1858,)  by  Eev.  Leonard  B.  Hatch, 

"  From  the  rc-organization,  in  1823,  to  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Plummer,  in  1820,  thirty-five  persons 
were  received  by  baptism,  and  four  by  letters  of  recommendation. 

75 


594  HISTORY   OF   HAVEKHILE. 

who  subsequently  received  a  call  to  settle,  and  was  ordained  as  their  pas- 
tor January  5,  1859. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Hatch,  the  chapel  of  the  society  was 
thoroughly  re-modeled  and  repaired ;  and  a  steeple  and  hell  added.  The 
whole  expense  of  the  improvements  was  about  $8,000.  The  church  was 
re-dedicated  May  17,  18G0.  The  number  admitted  to  the  church  between 
February  1,  1859,  and  February  1,  18G1,  have  been  thirty-four,  nine  of 
them  by  letter. 

Mr.  Hatch  continued  with  the  society  until  April,  1861,  when  he  was 
dismissed  at  his  own  request.'-- 

Second  Baptist  Church. 

About  the  year  1817,  a  few  persons  of  the  Baptist  faith,  —  not  exceed- 
ing fifteen  in  number,  —  residing  in  the  extreme  easterly  part  of  the  town, 
conceived  the  idea  of  holding  regular  religious  services  in  the  old  school- 
house  on  the  common,  a  little  southeast  of  the  present  new  school  building. 
For  this  purpose,  they  joined  in  engaging  the  services  of  a  Mr.  Merrill, 
of  Amesbury,  a  lay  preacher,  and  from  that  time  regular  meetings  were 
held  on  the  Sabbath,  and  were  well  attenced.  Some  two  years  afterward, 
Mr.  Merrill  was  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Westcott  —  also  a  lay  preacher  — 
who  preached  regularly  until  the  latter  part  of  1820. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1821,  "A  respectable  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants in  Haverhill  and  Amesbury,  convened  at  Wm,  Chase's ;  "  signed  the 
articles  for  a  second  regular  Baptist  society  in  Haverhill ;  and  after  mak- 
ing choice  of  Cutting  Moody  as  moderator,  attended  prayers.  Having  in^ 
voked  the  divine  blessing  upon  their  proceedings,  they  completed  their 
organization,  by  choosing  Wm.  D.  S.  Chase  clerk  and  treasurer,  and  Cut- 
ting Moody,  Samuel  Pillsbury ,  and  William  Chase,  ' '  a  committee  to  pro- 
cure a  teacher  for  the  society,  and  draw  orders  on  the  treasurer."  At  a 
subsequent  meeting,  the  society  voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  $100  to  support 
preaching  that  year.  The  number  of  persons  who  united  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  was  eighteen.  Phineas  Nichols  and  Stephen  Bayley 
were  the  first  deacons. 

In  1822,  a  meeting-house  was  erected,  and  completed  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.f  In  the  year  following,  a  steeple  was  added.  The  cost  of 
the  building  was  about  $2,500. 

°  Mr.  Hatch  is  a  native  of  Bristol,  R.  I.  He  prepared  for  the  ministry  at  Madison  University,  Ham- 
ilton, N,  y. 

t  Tlie  land  (one-half  an  acre)  was  presented  to  the  society,  by  Wm.  D.  S.  Chase. 


HISTOKY   OF   HAVERHILL.  595 

In  1823,  William  Bowen,  then  a  student  at  Waterville,  Maine,  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  during  his  vacation,  and  with  such  acceptance,  that  he 
was  invited  to  settle  here  as  soon  as  his  studies  were  completed.  He  ac- 
cepted the  call,  and  was  ordained  in  the  spring  of  1825.  He  continued 
with  the  society  until  1828,  when  he  was  discharged  at  his  own  request. 
His  salary  was  $270  per  year,  with  the  privilege  of  three  Sabbaths' 
vacation. 

From  the  dismission  of  Eev.  Mr.  Bowen-,  in  1828,  the  society  was  for 
twelve  years  without  a  settled  minister.  During  this  time,  however,  sev- 
eral candidates  received  invitations  to  settle,'-'  but  declined.  The  diflSiculty 
•attending  the  settlement  of  a  new  minister,  we  understand  to  have  been 
the  limited  salary  oflfer^d,  and  not,  as  is  too  often  the  reason  in  similar 
cases,  the  want  of  harmony  among  its  members. 

Happily,  with  the  increase  of  years,  there  was  a  corresponding  increase 
in  the  resources  of  the  society;  and  in  June,  1839,  Eev.  Isaac  Wood- 
bury received  and  accepted  a  call  to  settle,  at  a  salary  of  $450.  Mr. 
Woodbury  continued  his  labors  with"  the  society  until  the  early  part  of 
1842.  In  March,  of  that  year,  Eev.  J.  M.  Harris  accepted  an  invi- 
tation to  become  their  pastor,  and  was  ordained  the  same  spring.  His 
salary  was  $350.     Mr.  Harris  remained  with  the  society  until  1848. 

In  July,  1850,  Eev.  A.  Brown  received  a  call,  and  was  ordained  the 
September  following  (September  11,  1850).  His  salary  was  the  same  as 
that  of  his  immediate  predecessor.  Mr.  Brown  continued  with  the  society 
until  early  in  1856.  In  March,  of  the  same  year,  Eev.  C.  Fletcher 
received  a  call  to  settle,  at  a  salary  of  $500,  —  but  declined. 

One  year  later,  Eev.  Edward  Humphreys  accepted  a  similar  invitation. 
He  was  ordained  May  28th,  and  remained  as  pastor  of  the  church  and 
■society  until  March,  1861,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 
The  present  number  of  church  members  is  about  eighty. 

In  1857,  the  meeting-house  was  thoroughly  re-modcled,  and  a  bell 
added  ;  and  the  house  was  re-dedicated  in  November  of  the  same  year. 

First  ITniversalist  Society. 

The  fiTst  mention  we  find  of  religious  services  being  held  in  the  First 
Parish  by  this  denomination,  is  in  February,  1811,  when  the  B^y.  Hosea 
Ballon  preached  in  the  meeting-house  belonging  to  the  above  parish,  for 
which  courtesy,  a  card  of  thanks  was  presented  to  the  parish,  by  "the 


»  Eev.  John  Jennings,  in  1836  ;  and  Eev.  John  Burden,  in  1838.    Besides  these,  the  pnlpit  was  occh<- 
pied  durins  this  time  by  Rev.  Asa  Niles  (1829),  Mr.  Knight  (1837),  and  others. 


59^  HISTORY   OF   nAVERniLLo 

members  of  the  Universalist  Society."'"'  There  was  not,  however,  a  regu- 
lar organization  in  the  town,  until  March  17,  1823,  when  fifteen  persons 
met  at  the  tavern  of  Asaph  Kendall,  "  and  organized  themselves  by  choos- 
ing Barnard  Goodridge  Moderator,  &  Thomas  Meady  Clerk  &  Treasurer." 
The  name  adopted,  was,  "  The  First  Universalist  Society  in  Haverhill  and 
adjacent  towns." 

The  first  sermon  before  the  new  society,  was  preached  by  Eev.  Mr. 
Ballou,  shortly  after  the  organization,  in  the  old  Masonic  (or  Assembly) 
Hall,  which  stood  on  the  north  side  of  Water  Street,  nearly  opposite  the 
ferry-way. 

Public  services  continued  to  be  held  in  the  above  Hall,  with  but  few 
interruptions,  until  their  new  meeting-house  on  Summer  Street  was  fin- 
ished.    The  latter  was  erected  in  1825,  and  dedicated  April  12,  1826. f 

February  28,  1820,^  Kcv.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth,  of  Newton,  received 
an  invitation  to  settle  with  the  society  as  their  pastor,  which  was  accepted^ 
and  he  was  installed  April  1 1  th  of  the  same  year. 

The  society  was  "  taken  into  Fellowship  "  by  the  General  Convention 
of  Universalists,  in  1828,  In  1829,  "  a  stove  and  funnel  and  other  appa- 
ratus for  warming  the  meeting  house,"  was  presented  to  the  society  by  a 
large  number  of  individuals.  The  next  year,  "  a  large  Base  Vial  "  was 
presented.  A  year  still  later,  the  present  of  a  set  of  blinds  for  the  win- 
dows was  also  suitably  acknowledged.  In  January,  183G,  a  fine  bell  was 
presented  to  the  society,  by  its  members. 

Mr.  Fiu-nsworth  continued  with  the  society  until  June,  1833,  a  period 
of  a  little  more  than  eight  years.J  On  the  27th  of  the  last  named  month,^ 
thirty-seven  members  of  the  society  were  dismissed,  "  to  become  members 
of  the  First  Parish."  For  an  explanation  of  this  movement,  we  refer  the 
reader  to  our  history  of  that  parish. 

At  the  close  of  the  memorable  strife  for  the  parish  funds,  the  seceding 
members  returned,  bringing  with  them  their  share,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  following:  — 
*'  To  the  Committee  of  the  First  Universalist  Society  in  Haverhill  — 

Gentlemen.  The  undersigned,  a  coiamittee  appointed  by  certain  per- 
sons, late  members  of  the  First  Parish  in  Haverhill,  have  certain  moneys 

o  Merriyaack  Intelligencer,  March  9, 1811. 

t  The  mccting-house  was  of  brick,  fifty-five  feet  long-  by  forty  wide,  and  "  with  five  arched  windows- 
each  side."     It  was  at  first  without  a  steeple.    The  latter  was  added  nbont  1835. 

X  Mr.  Farnsworth  was  aftcnvard  settled  over  the  Universalist  Society,  in  the  West  Parish.  In  IS-iZ, 
he  removed  to  New  Bedford,  where  he  was  installed  Joue  8th  of  the  same  year.  He  is  now  a  resident  ot 
Waltham. 


HISTORY    or    HAVERHILL.  597 

in  their  hands,  which  they  are  authorized  to  give  to  the  First  Univcrsalist 
Society  in  Haverhill,  on  the  following  conditions :  —  Said  Univcrsalist 
Society  are  to  receive  all  such  persons  of  the  late  seceders  from  the  First 
Parish  into  said  society  as  may  signify  their  wish  to  do  so  :  If  the  said 
moneys  are  accepted  by  the  said  First  Univcrsalist  Society,  they  are  to 
petition  the  Legislature  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  appoint  trustees 
to  manage  the  same :  The  income  of  said  moneys  to  be  expended  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  as  understood  by  the  Denomination  of  Christians 
called  Universalists. 

Jany  23,  1835.  Signed         Ira  Noyes  ")  Committee  of  the 

E  G  Eaton  >      Seceders  from 

Andrew  Johnson  j  the  First  Parish." 

A  meeting  was  held  February  2d,  and  the  money  accepted.  Trustees 
were  chosen  to  manage  the  fund,  and  a  petition  forwarded  for  an  act  of 
incorporation,  which  was  granted.--' 

June  2,  Kev.  Thomas  J.  Greenwood  was  invited  to  settle  with  the 
society.     He  accepted,  but  was  released  at  his  own  request,  August  15th. 

In  September,  (2d)  Eev.  Otis  A.  Skinner,  of  Baltimore,  received  and 
accepted  a  call  to  become  their  pastor.  He  commenced  his  labors  Novem- 
ber 1  st,  and  was  installed  over  the  society  the  following  January  (January 
20,  1836).f  Mr.  Skinner  labored  with  great  faithfulness,  and  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  until  December,  1836,  when 
the  society  reluctantly  yielded  to  his  request  for  a  dismission,  that  he 
might  accept  a  pressing  invitation  to  remove  to  a  more  important  field  of 
labor.  He  was  soon  after  installed  over  the  Fifth  Universalist  Society  in 
Boston. 

Mr.  Skinner  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  Mathew  Hale  Smith,  who  was  in- 
stalled February  21,  1837.  Mr.  Smith  continued  with  the  society  until 
January  14,  1838,  when  he  was  dismissed,  to  accept  a  call  to  settle  in 
Salem,  to  which  place  he  immediately  removed. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Smith,  a  church  was  organized  in  connection 
with  the  society.  It  was  organized  June  14th,  and  "  publicly  recognized," 
June  25,  1837.  The  officers  of  the  church  are,  a  moderator,  two  deacons, 
a  clerk,  and  a  treasurer.  The  pastor  is  ex-officio  moderator.  The  dea- 
cons, previous  to  1857,  were  John  Crowell,  Samuel  Johnson,  John  S. 
Fuller.  The  number  of  admissions  to  the  church  during  the  same  period 
were  forty-eight. 


■^  The  Society  was  incorporated  June  12,  1824. 

t  Rev.  J.  B.  Morse  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  at  the  same  time  and  place. 


598  niSTORT   OF  nAVERniLL. 

In  March,  1838,  Eev.  Henry  Bacon,  of  East  Cambridge,  received  and 
accepted  an  invitation  to  settle  with  the  society,  and  was  installed  April 
18th.  March  31,  1840,  Mr.  Bacon  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 
He  was  afterward  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  died,  in  185G. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Bacon,  the  society  was  without  a  settled  pas- 
tor a  little  more  than  a  year,  during  which  time  invitations  were  extended 
to  a  Eev.  Mr.  Quimby,  (July  12,  1840,)  and  Eev.  J.  Shrigley,  (August 
23,  and  again  November  30,  1840)  neither  of  which  were  accepted. 

Eev.  T.  P.  Abell,  of  Castine,  Me.,  commenced  preaching  for  the  society 
in  March,  1841,  and  with  such  acceptance,  that,  April  4,  he  was  invited 
to  settle  with  them.  He  accepted,  and  was  installed  June  15,  of  the  same 
year. 

Mr.  Abell  was  succeeded,  in  1844,  by  Eev.  Massenah  Goodrich,  who 
continued  with  the  society  from  November,  1844,  to  April,  1849. 

May  Gth.  1849,  Eev.  L.  B.  Mason  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of 
the  society.  He  accepted,  May  20th,  and  was  installed  on  the  30th  of  the 
following  October. 

In  July,  1853,  Eev.  Calvin  Damon,  of  South  Boston,  was  invited  to 
settle  with  the  society,  but  declined.  The  following  November,  Eev.  J. 
E.  Pomfret  received  a  similar  invitation,  which  was  accepted.  Mr.  Pom- 
fret  continued  to  labor  with  them  until  December  31,  1854,  when  he  was 
dismissed,  at  his  request.  He  immediately  took  charge  of  thg  society  in 
the  "West  Parish,  where  he  remained  until  1S58.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine,  in  Albany,  N.  Y. 

In  1853,  the  society  purchased  the  Sheriff  Bartlett  estate,  (where  the 
Exchange  Building  now  stands)  intending  to  erect  a  new  church  edifice  on 
that  eligible  site.  But  subsequently,  the  interest  centered  on  the  old 
site,  and,  in  1854,  the  above  property  was  sold  to  Dr.  George  Cogswell> 
of  Bradford,  and  the  society  proceeded  to  erect  the  j:)rcsent  elegant  church 
on  Summer  Street.     The  new  edifice  was  dedicated  January  10,  1856. 

In  1855,  the  call  to  Eev.  Mr.  Damon  was  renewed,  and  accepted.  Mr. 
Damon  labored  with  general  acceptance  until  October,  1857,  when  im- 
paired health  compelled  him  to  seek  a  relaxation  from  pastoral  labors,  and 
the  society  yielded  to  his  request  for  a  dismission. 

January  2d,   1857,  the  church  was  re-organized,  and  its   Articles  of 

Faith,  Covenant,  &c.,  revised.     The  following  is  its  Confession  of  Faith  : 

"  Articles  of  Faith.  —  1.  We  believe  in  One  Licit/ff  n.nd    True   Gody 

who  is  infinite  in    Wisdom,  Power,  and   Goodness,  and  in  every  possible 

perfection.     2.  We  believe  in  One  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  Son  of 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  599 

God,  the  promised  Messiah,  and  the  Savior  of  the  World.  3.  We  Ibelieve 
in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  as  being  a  revelation 
from  God,  as  containing  rules  for  the  regulation  of  our  conduct,  in  all  the 
relations  and  circumstances  of  life  ;  as  declaring  the  character  and  gov- 
ernment of  God,  the  rewards  of  virtue,  the  punishment  of  vice,  and  also 
revealing  the  great  truth  of  the  final  reconciliation  of  all  things  to  God, 
so  that  He,  at  last,  shall  be  '  All  in  All.'  1  Cor.  15,  18." 
•  Since  the  re-organization,  twenty-seven  persons  have  signed  the  church 
covenant  and  articles. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Damon,  was  Eev.  William  McNeil,  who  com- 
menced his  labors  with  the  society  early  in  1859,  and  continued  them 
until  January  1st,  1860,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 

Soon  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  McNeil,  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev. 
J.  W.  HansoiL  who  accepted,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  in 
November.     Mr.  Hanson  is  the  present  pastor  of  this  church  and  society.  =■■■= 

Centre  Congregational  Church. 

This  church  and  society  had  its  origin  in  the  controversy  which  arose  in 
the  First  Parish  during  the  pastorship  of  Eev.  Mr.  Phelps.  Soon 
after  the  dismission  of  the  latter,  in  November,  1832,  most  of  the  members 
of  the  church,  and  others  of  the  society,  seceded,  and  united  in  the  forma- 
tion of  an  "  Independent  Congregational  Society,  "f  The  first  meeting 
was  held  April  27,  1833,  at  which  about  one  hundred  persons  were  pre- 
sent, and  the  new  society  was  organized.  The  church  was  organized 
August  28,  1833,  with  ninety  members.  Barnard  Brickett  and  Samuel 
Chase  were  chosen  deacons,  and  on  the  same  day  Eev.  Joseph  Whittlesey, 
of  Connecticut,  was  installed  their  first  pastor. 

The  new  society  worshiped  for  a  time  in  the  Summer  Street  Church, 
then  in  the  First  Parish  Church,  and  for  a  while  in  the  Academy  Hall. 
The  corner  stone  of  their  first  meeting-house  was  laid  June  28,  1834,  and 

o  John  Wesley  Hanson  was  born  in  Boston,  May  12,  1823.  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  at  Went- 
worth,  N.  H.,  in  June,  ISiS,  where  he  remained  about  one  year,  when  h^lfeccepted  a  call  as  pastor  of  the 
First  Universalist  Society  in  Danvers,  JL".ss.  In  1848,  he  removed  to  Norridgwock,  Me.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  as  pastor  of  the  Universalist  Society  at  that  place.  Two  years  later,  he  accepted  a 
call  from  the  First  Universalist  Society  in  Gardiner,  Me.,  where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to  Haver- 
hill. In  addition  to  his  pastoral  labors,  Mr.  Hanson  has  been  almost  constantly  engaged  in  other  literary 
pursuits.  He  is  the  author  of  a  History  of  Danvers  (1847),  History  of  J\'orridi/wock  (1851),  History 
of  Gardiner  and  Pittston  (1853),  and  of  several  smaller  works.  From  1854  to  1860,  he  was  edi- 
tor of  the  Gospel  Banner,  a  weekly  paper,  published  at  Augusta,  Me.  In  1856  he  represented  the  city 
of  Gardiner  in  the  State  Legislature. 

t  In  1840  the  name  was  changed  to  "  Centre  Congregational  Society." 


600  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

the  edifice  was  dedicated  on  the  17th  of  the  December  following.-   Its 
cost  was  about  $8,000. 

In  February,  1837,  Mr.  Whittlesey  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 
During  his  pastorate  fifty  were  added  to  the  church.  In  183G,  Ezra  C. 
Ames  was  chosen  deacon,  in  place  of  Deacon  Brickett,  deceased. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  AVhittlesey,  the  society  experienced  consid- 
erable difiiculty  in  the  selection  of  a  successor.  Among  the  candidates 
was  Ecv.  Job  H.  Martyn,  who  occupied  the  desk  for  several  months. 
When  the  council,  called  to  consider  the  matter,  finally  decided  that  it 
was  inexpedient  to  settle  Mr.  Martyn  as  pastor  of  the  society,  sixteen 
members  of  the  church  withdrew,  and,  with  others,  united  in  organizing 
the  Winter  Street  "  Union  Evangelical  Church."  Finally,  a  call  was  ex- 
tended to  Eev.  Edward  A.  Lawrence,  who  accepted  and  was  ordained  and 
installed  May  4,  1839. 

Mr.  Lawrence  labored  with  much  acceptance  and  success  until  June  12, 
1844,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  During  his  pastorate, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-one  were  added  to  the  church. =■' 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Lawrence  was  Kev.  Benjamin  F.  Horsford,  who 
was  settled  May  21,  1845,  and  has  labored  with  great  faithfulness  and 
Buccess  until  the  present  time.f 

In  1858,  this  church  and  society  was  again  the  theatre  of  intestine  com- 
motion. The  trouble,  which  originated  from  a  variety  of  influences,  finally 
culminated  in  the  spring  of  1859,  in  the  withdrawal  of  nearly  one  hun- 
dred members  of  the  church,  who  immediately  united  in  a  new  organiza- 
tion, under  the  name  of  the  "  North  Church."  Soon  after  the  withdrawal 
of  the  above  members,  the  parent  society  remodeled  and  enlarged  their 
house  of  worship,  at  an  expense  of  about  11,000.  The  edifice  was  re- 
dedicated  January  27,  18G0.  Large  accessions  have  since  been  made  to 
the  church  and  society,  —  many  of  them  from  the  late  Winter  Street 
society  —  and,  at  the  present  time,  it  is  abundantly  blessed  with  peace 
and  prosperity. 


o  Mr.  Lawrence  was  born  in  St-  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  October  7,  1808,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in 
1834,  and  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1838.  A  few  months  after  leaving  Haverhill,  he  was  set- 
tled over  the  churfh  in  Marblehead,  where  ho  remained  until  July,  1854,  when  he  was  elected  Professor 
of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Pastoral  Theoloijy,  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  I'^ast  Windsor  Hill, 
Conn.,  to  which  place  he  removed. 

t  Mr.  Horsford  was  born  in  Thetford,  Vt,  November  11,  1817  ;  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1838,  and  at 
Andover  Thelogical  Seminary,  in  1841.     He  was  ordained  at  Haverhill  May  21,  1845 


history  op  haverhill.  601 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  earliest  mention  we  find  of  this  religious  denomination  in  the  town, 
is  in  the  records  of  the  West  Parish,  and  we  learn  from  persons  now  living 
that  Methodism  was  established  in  the  above  jjarish  many  years  before  it 
took  root  in  the  First  Parish.'*  As  near  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain, 
the  first  attempt  to  hold  regular  meetings  in  the  village,  was  in  1830, 
when  such  meetings  were  held  every  other  Sabbath,  for  a  period  of  six 
months,  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall,  near  the  ferry-way.  The  next  move- 
ment of  the  kind  originated  with  four  individuals,  —  Osgood  Gr.  Boynton, 
Moses  M.  Chase,  Joseph  T.  George,  and  Mrs. ,  —  who  com- 
menced meeting  as  a  "  class,"  in  April,  183G,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Boyn- 
ton. Their  success  was  such,  that,  in  the  following  July,  regular  weekly 
services  were  commenced  in  Academy  Hall.  For  about  a  year  their 
preaching  was  furnished  by  itinerants,  after  which,  they  were  regularly 
supplied  by  the  Conference.  The  church  was  regularly  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  and  continued  to  prosper  until  about  1842,  at  which  time 
it  numbered  about  two  hundred  members.  For  various  reasons  —  promi- 
nent among  which  were  the  distractions  attendant  upon  the  "  Miller 
delusion,"  —  the  interest  about  this  time  began  to  decline  rapidly.  In  the 
fall  of  1813,  the  place  of  meeting  was  removed  from  Academy  Hall,  to 
the  new  hall  in  the  rear  of  the  old  tavern  of  Kufus  Slocomb,  known  as 
Union  Hall.  At  this  place  the  meetings  continued  to  be  kept  up  for  about 
one  year,  when  they  were  discontinued  altogether. 

The  present  church  and  society  originated  in  the  formation  of  a  class 
of  fifteen  to  twenty  members,  August  18,  1851.  They  commenced  holding 
regular  services  in  Atheneum  Hall,  February  14,  1852,  with  an  audience 
of  forty  persons.  The  following  May,  a  Sabbath  School  was  organized, 
consisting  of  four  officers  and  six  scholars.  March  3,  1854,  the  society 
was  legally  organized,  in  conformity  with  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth, 
as  "  The  First  Methodist  Society  in  Haverhill,  Mass."  The  present  ele- 
gant church  edifice  on  Winter  Street  was  erected  tl^p  same  year,  at  a  cost 
of  about  $10,000,  and  dedicated  February  16,  1855.  From  that  time  to 
the  present,  the  society  has  continued  to  increase  and  prosper. 
Winter  Street  Church. 

This  church,  at  first  styled  the  "  Union  Evangelical  Church,  of  Haver- 
hill, Mass.,"f  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1839.     Its  origin  may  be 

"  It  will  be  seen,  by  a  reference  to  our  history  of  the  West  Parish,  that  the  Methodists  held  religious 
services  in  the  West  Parish  meeting-house  as  early  as  1806.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Universalism  and 
Methodism  both  made  their  first  appearance  in  the  town  in  the  West  Parish. 

t  The  name  was  changed  in  May,  1853. 

76 


602  HISTORY    OF   HATERHILl. 

principally  traced  to  the  differences,  or  divisions,  which  followed  the  nn- 
successful  effort  to  settle  Eev.  Job  H.  Martyn  over  the  Centre  Congrega- 
tional church  and  society.  Soon  after  the  final  decision  of  the  Ecclesiastical 
Council,  (in  January,  1839,)  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  instal  Mr.  Martyn 
over  the  last  named  church,  he  commenced  preaching  at  the  Academy 
Hall,  whither  his  earnest  manner,  and  popular  style,  drew  large  audiences. 
A  deep  religious  interest  was  soon  awakened,  which  finally  resulted  in  the 
organization  of  a  new  church,  of  which  he  was  at  once  the  founder  and 
the  first  pastor.  The  following  account  of  the  formation  of  this  church, 
is  mostly  taken  from  the  early  records  of  the  church  itself. 

"  A  number  of  brethren,  members  of  the  Congregational  and  Baptist 
churches  of  Haverhill,  feeling  that  the  interests  of  the  cause  of  Christ 
required  the  organization  of  a  new  church  in  this  place,  met,  at  the  house 
of  brother  Joseph  Johnson,  on  Thursday,  May  2d,  for  consultation  upon 
the  subject.  After  a  season  of  prayer,  and  a  free  and  protracted  discus- 
sion of  the  subject,  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  the  interests  of  the 
cause  of  Christ  demand  the  -srganization  of  a  new  church  in  this  village." 

One  week  later,  an  adjourned  meeting  was  held  at  the  same  place,  when 
"  A  Confession  of  Faith,  and  Form  of  Covenant,  together  with  several 
fundamental  principles  of  Congregational  Church  Government  were 
brought  forward  by  the  Moderator,  the  Eev.  J.  H.  Martyn ;  &  after  exami- 
nation and  discussion,  with  a  few  alterations,  were  approved  and  adopted." 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  Wednesday,  the  loth  inst.,  at  which 
time  "  The  brethren  and  sisters  who  were  to  compose  the  new  church, 
assembled,  at  9  oclk  A  M,  at  the  house  of  brother  Joseph  Johnson,  and 
spent  the  forenoon  in  prayer,  for  the  blessing  of  God  upon  their  enterprise. 
At  this  time  most  of  them  subscribed  the  Confession  of  Faith.  At  2  oclk 
P.  M.,  public  services  were  held  at  the  Academy  Hall.  The  Eev.  J.  H. 
Martyn  preached  a  sermon  on  the  nature  and  powers  of  a  church." 

After  the  sermon,  twenty-eight  individuals,'-'  "having  previously  ob- 
tained letters  of  disrafssal  from  the  several  churches  of  which  they  were 
members,  for  the  purpose,  proceeded  to  organize  themselves  into  a  church." 
(The  record  here  gives  the  names  of  the   persons,  and   then   proceeds.) 

"  The  principles  of  Church  Government,  the  Confession  of  Faith,  the 
Fence  to  the  Communion,  and  the  questions  for  self-examination,  were 
read  and  publicly  adopted.     ="'     '•'     ='  '-'     The  Church  then  proceeded 

•  Eleven  males  and  seventeen  females.    Three  of  them  were  received  "on  Confession  of  Faith." 


HISTORY   OF   IIAVERllILL.  6t)3 

te  tlie  choice  of  officers ;  who  were  chosen  by  ballot.  The  Eev.  J.  H. 
Martyn  was  chosen  Pastor,  and  Dea  Tappan  Chase,  and  Edward  K  Dike, 
were  chosen  Deacons."-' 

May  19th,  the  new  church  commenced  holding  their  regular  meetings 
in  the  school-house  near  the  foot  of  High  Street.  One  week  later,  thirty- 
one  persons  (twenty-one  of  them  males)  were  received  to  membership  in 
the  church,  by  profession.  Twenty-one  of  them  were  baptized  the  same 
day,  by  immersion,  and  six  by  sprinkling.  The  other  four  had  received 
baptism  in  infancy.  The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  adminis- 
tered to  the  church  on  the  above  occasion,  for  the  first  time. 

As  the  new  church  was  not  organized  by  a  council,  according  to  the 
custom  of  Congregational  churches,  some  of  the  neighboring  churches 
refused  to  recognize  it  as  regular,  and  declined  granting  letters  of  recom- 
mendation to  those  who  desired  to  join  it.  This  did  not,  however,  pre- 
vent the  new  church  from  receiving  such  persons.  They  were  "  received 
on  Confession." 

Within  a  month  from  the  first  meeting  to  organize  the  church,  a  lot  of 
land  was  purchased,  and  the  erection  of  a  meeting-house  commenced.  The 
site  selected,  was  that  on  which  the  church  now  stands ' —  on  the  north 
side  of  "Winter  Street,  corner  of  Franklin  Street.  So  rapidly  was  the 
work  pushed  forward,  that  services  were  held  in  the  new  house  July  28th, 
—  only  fifteen  days  after  the  frame  was  raised.  Temporary  seats  were  put 
up  while  the  house  was  being  finished. 

The  Society  was  regularly  organized  August  10,  1839,  by  virtue  of  a 
warrant  from  Charles  White,  Esq.,  on  the  petition  of  Ezekiel  Hale,  Jr., 
and  nineteen  others. 

The  pews  of  the  new  house  were  completed  in  the  following  March,  when 
tliey  were  appraised,  and  rented.  The  rents  were  payable  monthly.  This 
plan  of  raising  money  for  the  support  of  the  gospel,  continued  in  opera- 
tion until  the  house  was  remodeled,  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Comings, 
when  the  pews  were  appraised  and  sold,  and  the  more  common  plan  of 
raising  money  by  annual  subscription,  was  adopted. 

The  whole  number  admitted  to  membership  in  the  church,  during  the 
first  year  of  its  existence,  was  one  hundred  and  seventeen,  sixty-six  of 
whom  were  admitted  by  profession. 

*  June  16,  BenJ.  Emerson,  2d,  was  also  chosen  deacon.  In  Januarj',  1846,  Alfred  Gage  was  chosen,  in 
place  of  Edward  U.  Dike,  resigned.  In  1857,  Joseph  B.  Spillerwas  chosen,  vice  Tappan  Chase,  deceased. 
The  latter  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  prominent  of  the  first  members,  of  this  church  and  society. 
Says  one  who  knew  him  well :  "  Dea.  Chase  was  a  rare  man.  He  was  a  safe  counsellor,  and  an  efiicient 
actor.     He  was  ever  in  his  place.     The  church  lost  in  him  a  most  valuable  member." 


G04  HISTORY  OF  nATERnirx. 

May  3d,  1841,  Kev.  Mr.  Martyn  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,, 
after  having  labored  as  the  pastor  of  the  church  for  two  years.  The  whole 
number  admitted  during  his  pastorship,  was  one  hundred  and  twenty,  all 
but  three  of  whom  were  admitted  during  the  first  year.  Mr.  Martyn  im- 
mediately removed  to  New  York,  and  was  soon  after  settled  over  the 
Second  Congregational  Society  of  that  city.  He  has  since  left  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  and  engaged  in  the  j)ractice  of  medicine.  He  is  now  a> 
resident  of  New  Bedford. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1841,  an  invitation  was  extended  to  Eev.  Charles 
Fitch  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church.  He  accepted,  and  entered  upon 
his  charge  soon  after.  His  salary  was  $700.  Mr.  Fitch  continued  with 
the  church  but  one  3'ear,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  George  W.  Fin- 
ney. He  had  recently  adopted  the  views  of  the  somewhat  celebrated 
William  Miller,  concerning  the  second  coming  of  Christ.  He  preached 
his  farewell  discourse  to  the  society  May  8,  1842,  and  his  successor  com- 
menced his  labors  on  the  12th  of  the  following  month." 

Eev.  Mr.  Finney  labored  with  faithfulness  and  success  for  two  years. 
He  was  an  early  and  zealous  supporter  of  the  Washingtonian  movement, 
and  his  labors  in  that  direction  were  not  without  effect.  After  his  release 
from  the  pastorship  of  this  church,  he  was  for  several  years  employed  by 
the  State  Temperance  Society  as  its  Agent,  in  which  capacity  he  travelled 
somewhat  extensively.     He  is  now  a  resident  of  California. 

It  was  during  the  pastorship  of  Eev.  Mr.  Finney,  that  the  extraordinary 
religious  excitement  occurred,  of  which  we  have  already  made  mention. 
In  this  remarkable  delusion,  many  of  the  members  of  this  church  became 
participants,  and  it  was  nearly  ten  years  before  the  church  recovered  from 
the  disastrous  shock.  Some  idea  of  its  extent,  may  be  judged  from  the 
fact  that,  in  1845,  ten  members  of  the  church  were  excommunicated,  and 
nine  others  stricken  fi'om  the  roll.  These  were  "  those  who  went  qff'trom 
this  church  during  the  excitement  of  '43  and  '44,  called  the  Miller  ex- 
citement." From  March,  1843,  to  May,  1853,  we  find  no  society  records ; 
and  from  a  petition  dated  May  Gth,  of  the  latter  year,  we  learn  that,  "for 
the  want  of  officers,  the  society  were  unable  to  assemble  in  the  usual  man- 
ner," and  it  was  therefore  organized  anew. 

The  successor  of  Eev.  Mr.  Finney,  was  the  Eev.  D.  N.  Merritt,  who 
commenced  his  labors  with  the  church  January  1,  1844.  He  received  an 
invitation  to  settle,  in  January,  1846,  which  was  accepted  in  the  March 

<*  Mr.  Fitch  died  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  soon  after. 


HISTORY   OF    IIAVERniLL.  605 

following,  and  he  was  installed  in  April.  Mr.  Merritt  remained  pastor  of 
the  church  until  July  10,  1848,  when  he  resigned." 

In  the  November  following,  Eev.  E.  J.  Comings  received  a  call  to  settle 
as  pastor  of  the  church.  He  accepted,  and  entered  upon  his  diities  Decem- 
ber 5,  1848.  His  salary  was  $400.  He  served  as  pastor  until  April  25, 
1852,  when  he  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request.  He  soon  after  went  to 
Ohio,  and  subsequently  to  Vermont,  where  he  still  resides. 

April  28,  1850,  (during  the  pastorship  of  Eev.  Mr.  Comings)  the 
church  unanimously  voted  to  invite  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  consider 
the  subject  of  receiving  the  church  into  fellowship  with  the  other  churches. 
The  council  met  May  7th,  and,  after  due  deliberation,  resolved  to  recog- 
nize the  church,  and  receive  them  into  fellowship,  provided  they  would 
"  adopt  the  Congregational  platform  as  the  basis  of  their  ecclesiastical 
order."  May  10th,  the  church  unanimously  agreed  to  the  terms,  and  on 
the  15th  of  the  same  month,  it  was  publicly  recognized  and  received  into 
fellowship,  as  proposed. 

The  total  number  of  recorded  admissions  to  the  church,  from  the  close 
of  its  first  year  to  January  1,  1853,  is  forty.  We  find  no  record  of 
admissions  from  1852  to  December  1858,  though  it  is  certain  there  were 
admissions  during  that  period. 

March  16,  1853,  Eev.  Leonard  S.  Parker  was  unanimously  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  this  church.  He  was  installed  June  1st  of  the  same  year. 
His  salary  was  $800.  Under  his  ministry  there  was  a  steady  and  healthy 
growth  of  the  church  and  society,  the  former  nearly  trebling  in  numbers, 
and  the  latter  increasing  in  proportion.  The  Sabbath  school  became  one 
of  the  largest  in  town,  .including  many  children  whose  parents  attended 
public  worship  nowhere.  In  1854,  several  members  of  the  church  united 
in  building  a  house  to  be  occupied  as  a  parsonage.  In  1856,  a  fine  organ 
was  placed  in  the  church  at  an  expense  of  $1,000.  In  1858,  the  congre- 
gation had  increased  to  such  an  extent,  that  the  house  of  worship  was 
enlarged  by  the  addition  of  twenty  pews.  At  the  same  time  a  large  and 
convenient  vestry  was  built  in  the  basement,  and  other  extensive  improve- 
ments made  in  and  about  the  edifice.  The  whole  cost  of  these  changes  fell 
a  little  short  of  $3,000.  The  same  year  the  pastor's  salary  was  increased 
to  $1,000.  The  formation  of  the  North  Congregational  Church  led  to  the 
inquiry  whether  it  was  best  for  the  cause  of  Christ  to  have  three  churches 
of  the  same  order  in  the  village,  especially  as  the  religious  wants  of  the 
community  were  largely  met  by  the  new  churches  of  other  denominations. 
The  unhappy  revival  of  a  family  feud  soon  after,  which  found  its  way  into 

•*  In  1833,  he  was  deposed  from  the  ministry,  for  gross  immorality. 


606  niSl?ORT    OF    IIAVERniLt. 

tlie  church,  and  resisted  its  utmost  efforts  to  settle  it,  although  aided  by  the 
unanimous  decision  of  two  councils,  and  in  August,  1859,  issued  in 
the  secession  of  thirty-four  persons  from  the  church,  strengthened  the  opin- 
ion of  some,  that  the  disbandment  of  this  church  might  be  a  christian 
duty.  After  many  meetings  for  conference  and  prayer  in  reference  to  the 
subject,  and  taking  the  advice  of  the  neighboring  pastors  and  churches, 
the  conclusion  was  reached  to  unite  with  the  other  churches  in  town. 
Eev.  Mr.  Parker  accordingly  resigned  his  charge,  and  was  dismissed  by  an 
ecclesiastical  council  March  26,  1860,  and  a  few  months  later  was  installed 
as  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  and  Parish  in  Derry,  N.  H.  The  church 
having  previously  granted  letters  to  many  of  its  members,  on  the  25th  of 
June,  1860,  voted  letters  to  all  the  remaining  members  in  regular  stand- 
ing, and  then  voted  to  disband.  The  church  edifice  was  soon  after  sold 
to  the  Free-will  Baptist  Society  for  $11,000,  including  the  organ. 

Though  this  church  existed  but  twenty-one  years,  and  passed  through 
Bcvere  trials,  yet  its  usefulness  was  marked,  especially  during  a  part  of  its 
history.  The  stranger  was  ever  welcomed ;  and  the  young  were  particu- 
larly cared  for.  Probably  no  society  in  town  has  been  sustained  by  more 
cheerful,  generous,  and  self-denying  benefactions.  Many  of  its  former 
members  are  now  adding  to  the  strength  and  usefulness  of  other  churches, 
while  some  have  joined,  the  church  in  heaven. 

TuE  Tabernacle  Cuurcu. 

When  Eev.  Henry  Plummer  left  the  Christian  Union  Society,  in  1843-, 
he  was  accompanied  by  a  number  of  the  principal  members  of  that  church, 
among  whom  were  the  two  deacons, — Deacons  John  Morse  and  David 
Evans,  These  were  joined  by  others, '■■=  who  believed  with  them  that  the 
second  coming  of  Christ  was  then  near  at  hand,  and  immediately  after,  a 
temporary  building  was  erected  by  thera  for  worshipping  purposes,  in  the 
rear  of  Essex  Street,  near  the  freight  depot  of  the  Boston  &  Maine  Eailroad 
Company,  which  was  known  as  "  The  Tabernacle."  They  temporarily 
organized  by  the  choice  of  Mr.  Plummer  as  pastor,  and  the  above  named 
Morse  and  Evans  as  deacons. 

In  1852,  the  Tabernacle  building  was  removed,  and  the  present  larger 
and  more  pernianent  building  was  erected  in  its  place.  The  new  chapel 
was  dedicated  January  27,  1853. 

Mr.  Plummer  remained  as  pastor  of  the  society  until  1855,  when  ho 
resigned  his  charge,  and  entered  upon  a  new  field  of  labor  —  that  of  an 
Evangelist.     In  1858,  the  Tabernacle  building  was  sold  at  public  auction, 

•  Principally  from  the  Winter  Street  Church. 


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HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  607 

and  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Plummer,  who  immediately  re-commenced 
holding  regular  services  in  it,  at  the  solicitation  of  some  ten  or  twelve 
families  of  his  former  charge,  and  has  so  continued  from  that  time  to  the 
present. 

The  church  and  society  worshipping  in  the  Tahernacle,  at  the  time  of  the 
transfer  of  the  property,  in  1858,  immediately  removed  to  the  Atheneum 
Hall,  where  they  have  continued  to  hold  meetings,  a  part  of  the  time  only, 
until  the  present  time. 

Eev.  Henry  Plummer,  the  founder  of  the  Tabernacle  church  and  society, 
and  for  so  long  a  time  its  spiritual  leader,  is  a  native  of  this  town,  where 
he  was  born  February  22,  1794.  At  an  early  age  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  baker,  and  in  1823  established  himself  in  that  business  in  this  town. 
He  was  engaged  in  this  business  at  the  time  of  his  ordination  to  the 
ministry,  and  for  some  time  subsequently,  when  he  was  appointed  Agent 
of  the  Haverhill  &  Boston  Stage  Company,  and  relinquished  the  former 
business.  In  1831,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  engaged  in  the  shoe 
business,  with  his  brothers.  He  also  preached  in  that  vicinity  regularly 
upon  the  Sabbath.  While  in  Philadelphia,  he  was  frequently  urged  to 
return  and  take  charge  of  his  former  church,  and  finally  consented,  after 
being  absent  about  a  year.  Upon  his  return,  the  chapel  was  enlarged,  of 
which  we  have  already  given  an  account. 

It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  Mr.  Plummer  has  never  received  a  regular 
salary  as  pastor.  From  his  ordination,  in  1826,  to  his  removal,  in  1831, 
his  pastoral  labors  were  entirely  gratuitous,  unless  we  except  an  occasional 
individual  donation.  He  was  induced  to  return  to  his  former  charge  in 
1832,  by  assurances  of  an  adequate  support,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present  he  has  labored  faithfully  and  constantly  in  his  chosen  field,  relying 
upon  the  free-will  offerings  of  his  church  and  people.  He  believes  that 
"  the  gospel  should  be  free,"  and  that  its  preaching  should  never  be  made 
a  matter  of  bargaining;  and  for  nearly  forty  years  he  has  applied  the 
principle  to  his  daily  practice.  Mr.  Plummer  is  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  perseverance,  and  consistency ;  and  whether  we  regard 
him  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  or  as  a  neighbor  and  a  citizen,  he  has 
always  commanded  the  respect,  the  confidence,  and  the  love  of  all. 

St.  Gregory's  Church. 

The  first  time  that  religious  services  were  held  in  the  town,  upon  the 
Sabbath,  according  to  the  forms  of  the  Eoman  Catholic  Church,  was 
the  second  Sabbath  in  September,  1850.  Previous  to  this  time,  the  town 
had  been  occasionally  visited  by  the  ofliciatiug  priest  at  Lawrence,  who 


G08  HISTORY   OF   nAVERHILL. 

had  several  times  held  religious  services  with  the  people  of  that  faith,  upon 
a  week-day.  On  the  10th  of  August,  1850,  Eev.  John  T.  McDonnell,  a 
native  of  Galway,  Ireland,  arrived  in  Boston,  and  was  immediately  sent  to 
Haverhill,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  church  at  this  place."  On  the 
second  Sunday  in  September,  mass  was  performed  for  the  first  time.  A 
few  days  later,  the  foundations  for  a  church  edifice  were  laid,  and  on  the 
4th  of  July,  1852,  the  new  church  was  appropriately  dedicated.  A  commo- 
dious house  for  the  priest  was  also  erected  immediately  adjoining  the 
church.  In  1859  the  church  edifice  was  considerably  enlarged,  to  make 
room  for  the  increasing  congregation.  Soon  after  the  completion  of  the 
above  improvements,  a  school  for  Catholic  children  was  opened  in  the 
vestry  of  the  church,  by  Mr.  Francis  J.  Nichols,  which  is  still  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition. 

Trinity  Church. 

The  following  account  of  the  early  history  of  this  church,  is  principally 
taken  from  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  An  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Association  of  the  Eastern  District  of  the  Diocese  of  Massachu- 
setts," by  Eev.  AVm.  S.  Perry,  Boston,  1859:— 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1853,  a  renewed  missionary  spirit  seems 
to  have  pervaded  the  Association.  A  committee  appointed  at  the  forty- 
third  meeting,  held  at  St.  Stephen's,  Lynn,  July  19th  and  20th,  of  that 
year,  to  address  the  Diocesan  Board  with  reference  to  the  appointment  of 
an  itinerant  missionary  for  the  Eastern  district,  and  to  devise  means  for 
his  support,  reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting  the  favorable  answer  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board,  and  an  assessment  on  the  parishes  of  the  district 
for  the  amount  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  In  view  of  this  response,  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  town  of  Haverhill,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
visit  this  place,  and  to  hold  services  there  if  deemed  expedient.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  another  and  a  most  flourishing  parish. 

Forming,  as  it  did,  the  residence  of  the  Rev.  Moses  Badger,  M.  A., 
itinerant  missionary  of  the  venerable  society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Xew  Hampshire  and  parts  adjacent,  from  the  years  1767  to  1774, 
it  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  one  so  efficient  in  ferreting  out,  in  towns 
and  hamlets,  the  scattering  churchmen  of  his  cure,  should  not  have  occa- 
sionally held  services  in  Haverhill,  the  home  of  his  family  and  his 
connections  by  marriage.  In  confirmation  of  this  supposition,  we  may  refer 
to  casual  allusions  in  the  "  Frontier  Missionary,"  to  exchanges  between 

o  Rev.  Mr.  McDonnell  was  born  May  20,  1822.     He  was  educated  principally  at  Rome,  and  came  to 
America  soon  after  the  completion  of  his  studies. 


HISTORY    OP    UAVERHILL.  609 

the  Rev.  Jacob  Bailey,  of  Maine,  and  Mr.  Badger,  which  strengthen  the 
inference  that  the  services  of  the  church  were,  from  time  to  time,  held  at 
Haverhill.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  Eev.  Eana  Cossit,  who  was  licensed  by 
the  Bishop  of  London  to  officiate  in  New  England,  March  27th,  1773, 
and  who  seems  to  have  shared  to  a  certain  extent  the  itineracy  of  Mr. 
Badger,  is  expressly  registered  in  the  records  at  Fulham  as  incumbent  of 
"  Haverhill  parish."'-' 

From  this  time  until  about  the  year  1820,  but  few  services  appear  to 
have  been  held  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  f  At  this  date,  an  effort  was 
made  to  introduce  the  church  in  Haverhill,  and  services  were  celebrated  in 
a  hall  for  nearly  six  months,  with  a  regular  attendance  of  about  sixty 
persons,  embracing  some  of  the  most  intelligent  and  influential  men  of  the 
town.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Wainwright  and  Eaton, 
of  Boston,  l^lorss,  of  ISTewburyport,  and  others,  and  in  their  absence,  the 
services  were  conducted  and  sermons  read  by  Mr.  Hovey,  a  devoted  church- 
man of  the  place,  and  a  young  lawyer,  the  present  Hon.  J.  H.  Duncan. 
Soon  after,  Mr.  Hovey  was  removed  by  death,  and,  for  want  of  ability  to 
secure  the  services  of  a  resident  clergyman,  the  effort  was  discontinued. 

Occasional  services  were,  however,  held  from  1833  to  1835,  mainly 
through  the  personal  exertions  of  A.  W.  Thayer,  Esq.,  now  of  Northampton, 
Mass.  The  Rev.  James  Cook  Richmond,  at  that  time  in  deacon's  orders, 
officiated  several  times,  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  during  the  winter  of 
1833  and  the  following  summei'.  On  Sunday,  March  1st,  1835,  the  Rt. 
Eev.  Alexander  V.  Griswold,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Eastern  Diocese, 
preached  three  times  to  large  and  attentive  congregations,  in  one  of  the 
meeting-houses  of  the  town. 

Early  in  the  month  of  June,  1855,  Charles  Wingate.f  a  parishioner  of 
St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia,  removed  from  that  city  to  Haverhill,  his  native 
town.  Anxious  to  extend  to  his  relatives  and  friends  the  privilege  of  the 
church  of  his  love,  he  at  once  began  his  efforts  by  opening,  on  the  1 7th  of 
the  same  month,  as  a  preparatory  step,  a  Sunday  school  in  a  neighboring 
school-house.  A  correspondence  with  the  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Boston, 
requesting  a  supply  of  Testaments  for  the  little  school,  revealed,  inci- 
dentally, to  Mr.  Wingate,  the  fact  that  another  gentleman  in  that  vicinity, 

»  See  p.-'.ge  37  S. 

t  We  find,  in  the  Merrimack  Intdligcncer  of  Auafust  20,  1S14,  the  following: — "The  Eev.  Asa  Eaton, 
Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Boston,  is  expected  to  preach  to  the  Episcopal  Society  in  this  town,  tomorrow." 
This  is,  we  believe,  the  only  reference  of  the  kind  we  have  noticed  in  an  examination  of  a  nearly  complete 
file  of  Haverhill  newspapers  from  1793  to  181G. — G.  W.  C. 

X  Mr.  Wingate  is  a  son  of  Moses  Wingate,  Esq.,  and  is  now  Rector  of  a  flourishing  church  in  New- 
port, R.  I. 

77 


610  HISTORY    OF    HAVERniLL. 

Mr.  B.  K.  Downes,  of  Bradford,  was  a  churchrQan.  An  interview  with 
Mr.  Downcs  resulted  in  the  securing  of  the  Unitarian  meeting-house  for 
July  22d ;  on  which  occasion  the  llev.  Dr.  Packard  of  Lawrence  officiated 
morning,  afternoon,  and  evening,  to  large  and  interested  congregations. 
So  great  an  interest  was  excited,  that  a  vigorous  effort  for  the  introduction 
of  the  church  in  this  important  town  was  resolved  upon.  In  view  of  the 
pressing  need  of  immediate  action,  the  Rev.  Thomas  F.  Tales,  of  Waltham, 
wrote  at  once  to  the  Eev.  W.  Colvin  Brown,  at  that  time  connected  with 
the  diocese  of  Missouri,  inviting  him  in  behalf  of  the  Association,  to  take 
charge  of  the  new  movement,  and  offering  to  be  personally  responsible  for 
his  salary  until  his  appointment  was  confirmed.  Mr.  Brown,  accepted  this 
invitation,  reached  Haverhill  on  the  11th  of  August,  and  the  following 
day  held  the  first  regular  service  of  the  new  enterprize  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Centre  Congregational  Society.  Beginning  with  a  congregation  of  from 
twenty  to  thirty  at  the  morning  service,  and  a  fuller  attendance  at  Evening 
prayer,  the  increase  was  steady  and  promising.  The  Association  at  their 
next  meeting  approved  the  course  of  Mr.  Fales,  and  immediately  undertook 
the  whole  support  of  Mr.  Brown.  On  the  8th  of  October,  1855,  a  parish 
was  organized  by  the  name  of  Trinity  Church,  and  the  Eev.  Mr.  Brown 
invited  to  the  rectorship.  Pledges  to  the  amount  of  $2,000  for  church- 
building  purposes  were  immediately  secured  in  the  town,  which  were  con- 
siderably increased  in  Lowell,  and  subsequently  in  Boston ;  and  so  speedy 
was  the  success  of  this  new  movement,  that  on  the  15th  of  the  following 
May,  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  laid  the  corner  stone  of  a  neat  and  beautiful 
building,  which,  on  the  7th  of  January,  1857,  was  consecrated  by  him  to 
the  worship  of  Almighty  God.  The  consecration  of  this  new  church, 
costing,  with  the  ground,  $6,500,  of  which  amount  $4,800  was  raised  in 
Haverhill,  and  the  remainder  contributed  by  friends  in  Boston,  Lowell, 
Waltham,  Andover,  and  Lawrence,  was  rendered  doubly  pleasant  to  the 
parishoners  by  the  meeting  at  the  same  time  of  the  Church  Missionary 
Association  of  the  Eastern  District,  to  whose  willing  help  this  rewarding 
result  was  mainly  due. 

Eev.  Mr.  Brown  remained  with  this  church  until  June,  1858,  when  he 
accepted  the  Eectorship  of  Zion  Church,  Newport,  E.  I.,  where  he  still 
resides.  In  October  of  the  same  year,  Eev.  Charles  H.  Seymour  commenced 
his  labors  with  this  church,  under  whose  care  it  has  steadily  continued  to 
increase  and  prosper.  The  number  of  church  members  at  the  present  time 
is  about  seventy. 

Mr.  Seymour  is  a  native  of  Watcrtown,  Conn.,  where  he  was  born  May 
15,  1829.     He  graduated  at  Trinity  College,  Hartford,    in  1851  ;    was 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  611 

admitted  to  Deacon's  orders  in  1855,  and  Priest's  orders  in  1859.  In 
1850,  (continuing'Ms  college  studies  in  the  meantime)  he  became  connected 
with  the  Military  school,  at  Hamden,  as  instructor,  where  he  remained 
about  three  years,  when  he  established  a  similar  school  at  West  Hartford, 
under  the  name  of  "  St.  James'  School."  In  1854  he  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  this  school,  and  soon  after  opened  another  upon  the  same 
general  plan,  at  Litchfield,  in  the  same  State,  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Wolcott  Institute."  Both  of  these  schools  are  still  in  successful  opera- 
tion. In  1855  he  was  elected  Principal  of  the  "  Punchard  Free  School,  " 
at  Andover,  Mass.,  to  which  place  he  immediately  removed,  and  where  he 
remained  until  called  to  take  charge  of  the  above  church,  in  1858. 

The  Third  Baptist  Church. 

The  flattering  and  almost  unexampled  prosperity  of  the  First  Baptist 
Society  in  the  years  immediately  preceding  1858,  led  to  the  consideration 
of  the  question  whether  it  was  best  to  provide  adequate  worshiping  accom- 
modations for  the  large  and  rapidly  increasing  number  of  applicants,  by 
an  enlargement  of  the  already  capacious  church  edifice,  or  by  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  new  society.  After  much  consideration,  the  latter  course  was 
decided  upon,  and  thirty  members  of  the  church  withdrew  for  that  purpose, 
and  commenced  holding  religious  services  in  the  Town  Hall,  on  Sunday, 
December  12,  1858,  under  the  direction  of  Eev.  Benjamin  Wheeler. 
Early  in  the  following  February,  the  new  church  was  regularly  organized. 
They  continued  to  worship  in  the  above  named  hall  until  January,  1861, 
when  they  removed  to  the  new  building  on  Winter  Street,  near  Spring 
Street,  known  as  Music  Hall,  and  which  had  been  erected  by  some  of  the 
members  of  the  society,  partly  for  that  purpose.  The  present  number  of 
church  members  is  about  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

Piev.  Benj.  Wheeler,  the  pastor  of  this  church  and  society,  is  a  native  of 
Salem,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  born  March  14,  1807.  He  fitted  for  the 
ministry  principally  at  New  Hampton,  N.  H.,  and  was  ordained  as  first 
pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Society  in  Plaistow,  N.  H.,  in  November,  1836. 
With  this  society,  the  fruit  of  his  first,  earnest,  and  well-directed 
ministerial  labor,  he  remained  until  April,  1852,  when  he  accepted  an 
invitation  to  a  larger  field  of  labor,  and  was  settled  over  the  First  Baptist 
Society  in  Eandolph,  Mass.  In  1858,  impaired  health  induced  him  to 
resign  his  position  as  pastor  of  the  above  church,  and  accept  the  charge  of 
the  proposed  new  society  in  Haverhill.  He  came  to  this  town  in  Decem- 
ber, 1858,  immediately  entered  upon  the  work,  and  was  installed  as  its 
first  pastor,  at  the  organization  of  the  new  church,  in  February,  1859. 


612  history  of  hateriiill. 

The  North  Church. 

The  North  Congregational  Society  was  organized  March  1,  1859,  an^ 
the  Church  was  constituted  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month.  This  Church 
had  its  origin  in  the  diflPerences  which  convulsed  the  Centre  Church  and 
Society  in  the  year  prcccdiug,  and,  with  a  few  exceptions,  was  at  first  com- 
posed of  members  of  the  latter,  who  had  been  regularly  dismissed  for  that 
purpose.  April  12th,  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev.  B.  F.  Horsford,  to  become 
the  pastor  of  the  new  church,  which  was  declined.  Soon  after,  an  eligible 
lot  of  land  was  purchased,  situated  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Maine  and 
White  Streets,  and  July  20th  the.corner  stone  of  a  new  church  edifice  was 
laid,  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  July  28th  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev. 
Alonzo  U.  Quint,  of  Jamaica  Plain,  which  was  also  declined. 

The  new  church  edifice  was  completed  the  following  winter,  and  was 
dedicated  February  21,  1860.  The  cost,  including  the  organ,  was  within 
a  fraction  of  $30,000.  The  number  of  pews  is  one  hundred  and  thirty-two, 
ninety-three  of  which  were  sold  for  a  total  of  $22,500.  From  the  organi- 
zation of  the  church,  until  their  new  place  of  worship  was  ready  for 
occupancy,  regular  services  were  held  in  the  First  Parish  Church. 

June  4,  1860,  a  call  was  extended  to  Eev.  E.  H.  Seeley,  which  was 
accepted,  and  he  was  installed  August  8th  of  the  same  year. 

Eev.  Eaymond  H.  Seeley,  is  a  native  of  Norwalk,  Conn.  He  graduated 
at  the  New  York  City  University,  in  1839,  and  at  the  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  New  York  city,  in  1842,  and  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Bristol,  Conn,,  July  5,  1843.  In  March,  1849, 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorship  of  the  North  Church  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  until  February,  1858,  when  he  was  selected  to  take 
charge  of  the  American  Chapel,  in  Paris.  He  remained  in  Paris  until 
November,  1859,  when  he  i*eturned  to  Springfield,  from  which  place  he 
removed  to  Haverhill,  in  August,  1860. 

Free-will  Baptist  Church. 

This  society  originated  in  1858,  when  a  number  of  persons  in  Haverhill 
and  Bradford,  believing  in  the  principles  of  faith  as  laid  down  in  the  order 
of  the  Free-will  Baptist  denomination,  commenced  holding  regular  meetings 
in  the  Atheneum  Hall,  on  Main  Street.  The  first  services  were  held  June 
27th,  by  Eev.  William  C.  Clark.  Soon  after,  a  lot  of  land  was  purchased 
on  the  east  side  of  White  Street,  near  Winter  Street,  and  a  vestry,  capable 
of  accommodating  two  hundred  persons,  was  immediately  erected  on  the 
rear  of  the  lot.     The  building  was  dedicated  January  6,  1859,  at  which 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  613 

time  a  cKurch  was  regularly  organized.     The  latter  consisted  of  twenty- 
three  members. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  a  difficulty  arose  among  its 
members,  which  finally,  December  10,  1859,  resulted  in  a  division  of  the 
church,  —  or,  rather,  the  secession  of  a  part  of  its  members,  including  its 
pastor.  A  few  months  later,  (April,  I860,)  the  original  society  purchased 
the  church  edifice  of  the  Winter  Street  Congregational  Society,  then 
recently  disbanded,  at  a  cost  of  $11,000,  and  immediately  removed  to  that 
place. 

A  call  was  soon  after  extended  to  Eev.  Joseph  S.  Burgess,  then  of 
Lewiston,  Me.,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  was  regularly  settled  over  the 
church  and  society  in  the  following  October. 

Kandall  Church. 

This  church  and  society  had  its  origin  in  the  schism  which  took  place  in 
the  Free-will  Baptist  Church,  in  1859,  and  was  originally  composed  of  the 
members  who  seceded  from  that  church,  December  10,  1859.  Soon  after 
the  above  division,  the  seceders  commenced  holding  meetings  in  a  hall 
finished  for  that  purpose  in  the  house  of  their  pastor,  Eev.  Mr.  Clark,  on 
Duston  Street.  On  the  13th  of  April,  1860,  the  hall  was  formally  dedi- 
cated, and  a  church  regularly  organized  by  a  council,  under  the  name 
of  the  "  Eandall  Church."  ■■■=  The  latter  now  numbers  fifty-four  members. 
Though  organized  by  a  council,  the  church  as  yet  stands  as  an  "  indepen- 
dent" church,  not  having  applied  for  admission  to  the  fellowship  of  the 
other  churches  of  the  denomination. 

Eev.  Wm.  C.  Clark,  the  pastor,  is  a  native  of  Middleborough,  Mass., 
where  he  was  born,  September  13,  1817.  He  prepared  for  the  ministry 
principally  at  Holliston  Wesleyan  Academy,  and  was  ordained  at  Lowell, 
in  1846,  by  the  N.  E.  Wesleyan  Methodist  Conference,  as  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Leicester,  Mass.  In  1848  he  removed  to  Duxbury,  where  he 
remained  as  pastor  of  a  similar  church,  until  1850,  when  he  accepted  a  call 
from  the  church  in  Eockport,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  one  year,  when  he 
removed  to  Exeter,  N.  H.  He  continued  with  the  church  in  Exeter  until 
1855,  when  he  removed  to  Elliot,  Me.  Two  years  later,  he  removed  to 
Hampton,  where  he  resided  until  called  to  take  charge  of  the  new  movement 
in  this  town,  in  1858. 

Free  Evangelical  Church. 

In  May,  1858,  a  new  religious  society  was  organized  in  the  Central 
village,  under  the  name  of  the  Free  Evangelical  Church.     Eev.  Charles  H. 

o  Xhe  church  is  named  for  Benjamin  Randall,  the  founder  of  the  Free-will  Baptist  denomination  in  1780. 


14  HISTORY    OF   HAYERHILL. 

Cole,  (who  had  been  for  some  time  employed  as  a  missionary  in  the  town,) 
was  chosen  pastor.  The  object  of  the  organization  of  this  society,  was,  to 
provide  a  free  meeting  for  all  who  could  not,  or  did  not  choose  to  attend 
any  other  church.  Sustained  by  the  contributions  of  the  public  generally, 
it  was  for  a  time  successful  in  accomplishing  its  object.  The  attendance 
was  quite  large,  —  many  being  induced  to  attend  who  had  long  been 
strangers  in  a  religious  meeting,  —  and  the  interesting  Sabbath  school 
connected  with  the  society  was  the  means  of  exerting  an  extensive  and 
favorable  influence  over  large  numbers,  who  otherwise  would  not  have  been 
reached.  Owing  to  a  variety  of  causes,  prominent  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  formation  of  several  other  new  churches,  and  the  extensive 
increase  of  worshipping  accommodations,  this  society  failed  to  receive 
sufficient  support,  and,  after  an  existence  of  about  two  years,  the  organiza- 
tion was  abandoned. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  615 


CHAPTEE  XXX. 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  GENEALOGY. 


Ayer,  John,  SalislDury,  1640,  had  Hannah,  bom  21st  December,  1644, 
removed  to  Ipswich  1646,  Haverhill  1647,  there  died  31st  March,  1657. 
(See  page  73).  John,  Haverhill,  son  of  the  preceding,  born  in  England, 
married  oth  May,  1646,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  "Williams  of  the  same, 
and  next,  after  1659,  Susanna,  daughter  of  Mark  Symonds,  of  Ipswich, 
and  removed  to  Brookfield  as  one  of  its  first  settlers,  there  killed  by  the 
Indians  when  they  destroyed  the  town,  3d  August,  1675.  He  kept  the 
inn,  and  his  children  were  (besides  Sarah)  Samuel,  John,  Thomas,  Joseph, 
Mark,  Nathaniel,  and  Edward,  of  whom  some  lived  at  Brookfield  after  its 
renovation.  Another  John,  perhaps  a  son,  perhaps  a  nephew  of  the  pre- 
ceding, was  of  Ipswich,  lately  from  Haverhill,  in  1679,  and  had  a  wife 
Mary.  Peter,  of  Haverhill,  1646,  youngest  son  probably  of  the  first 
John,  married  8th  October,  1659,  Hannah,  daughter  of  "William  Allen, 
was  freeman  in  1666,  a  representative  in  1683-5-9,  and  90,  and  died  at 
Boston  3d  January,  1699,  aged  about  66.  Eohert,  of  Haverhill,  brother 
of  the  preceding,  freeman  1666,  married  in  1659,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Henry  Palmer,  of  the  same,  and  had  Samuel.  Samuel,  of  Haverhill,  son 
of  Piobert,  freeman,  1683,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Simon  Tuttle, 
had  Obadiah,  (Harvard  College,  17lO,)  John,  and  James;  was  selectman 
and  killed  by  the  Erench  and  Indians  when  they  surprised  the  town  in 
August,  1708.  Thomas,  of  Haverhill,  1646,  was  probably  son  of  John 
the  first,  and  may  have  removed  to  Newbury,  there  had  John,  born  May 
12,  1657,  and  was  freeman  1666.=-"' 

Badger,  Gen.  Joseph,  was  the  eldest  child  of  Joseph  Badger,  a  mer- 
chant of  Haverhill,  where  he  was  born  January  11,  1722.  His  mother, 
Hannah,  was  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  one  of  the  wealthi- 
est and  most  influential  men  of  this  town. 

The  first  person  of  that  name  in  this  vicinity,  was  Giles  Badger,  who 
settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.,  1643,  and  died  July  17,  1647.  His  son,  John 
Badger,  born  June  30,  1643,  by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth,  had  John,  died 
in  infancy;  John,  born  April  26,  1665  ;  Sarah,  and  James.     Mrs.  Badger 

°  The  above  \»  from  Savage's  Uist.  and  Gen.  Diet. 


616  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

died  April  8,  1669.  He  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Hannah  Swett, 
February  23,  1671,  hy  whom  he  had  Stephen,  Hannah,  Nathaniel,  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Euth,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Abigail,  and  Lydia.  John  Badger  died 
March  31,  1691,  of  the  small  pox,  and  his  wife  soon  after,  of  the  same 
disease.  John  Badger,  Jr.,  a  merchant  in  Newbury,  married  Eebecca 
Brown,  October  5,  1691,  and  had  John,  James,  Elizabeth,  Stephen, Vo^ep^, 
(born  1698)  Benjamin,  Dorothy.  Joseph  Badger,  son  of  John,  Jr.,  was 
the  above  mentioned  merchant  of  Haverhill,  and  the  father  of  seven  chil- 
dren, Joseph,  Judith,  Mchetable,  Mary,  Nathaniel,  Mary,  and  Peaslee. 
Only  two  of  them  lived  to  settle  in  life,  viz. :  Joseph  and  Judith.  Mrs. 
Badger  died  January  15,  1734.  July  29,  1735,  he  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Hannah,  the  widow  of  Ebenezer  Pearson,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Moody.  She  had  by  her  first  husband,  six  children,  Hannah,  Moody, 
Euth,  Ebenezer,  Thomas,  and  Samuel.  By  her  second  husband,  Mr.  Bad- 
ger, she  had  three,  Enoch,  Nathaniel,  and  Moses.  Moses  married  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Saltonstall,  and  settled  as  an  Episcopal  minister  in 
Providence,  E.  I.  Enoch  moved  to  Gilmanton,  N.  H.,  and  died  in  San- 
down.     Mr.  Badger  died  April  7,  1760,  aged  62. 

Gen.  Joseph  Badger,  son  of  Joseph,  the  merchant,  married  Hannah 
Pearson,  daughter  of  his  father's  second  wife,  by  a  former  husband,  Janu- 
ary 31,  1740.='  Their  children  were  AVilliam,  Hannah,  Mehetable, 
Joseph,!  Eebecca,  Euth,  Peaslee,  Ebenezer,  Mary  and  Nathaniel  (twins), 
Sarah,  and  Judith.  Gen.  Badger,  (then  Capt.)  went  to  Gilmanton,  N.  H., 
then  a  new  settlement,  in  the  spring  of  1763,  sowed  and  planted  his  land, 
and  removed  his  family  in  the  July  following.  His  was  the  eighteenth 
family  in  the  new  settlement,  and  at  the  raising  of  his  barn  that  season, 
(the  first  framed  building  erected  in  the  town,)  he  had,  as  he  often  after- 
ward related,  every  man,  woman,  and  child,  to  take  supper  with  him.  J 
Before  removing  to  Gilmanton,  he  lived  in  Haverhill  and  Bradford. 

Gen.  Badger,  while  a  youth,  served  in  the  militia  in  the  capacity,  suc- 
cessively, of  Ensign,  Lieutenant,  and  Captain.  He  was  frequently  a 
selectman  of  the  town,  and  moderator  of  its  meetings.  He  was  appointed, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  a  Deputy  Sheriff  for  the  County  of  Essex, 
which  office  he  held  until  he  removed  from  Massachusetts  to  New  Hamp- 

•»  His  only  sister,  Jndith,  married  at  the  same  time  Nathaniel  Cogswell,  a  merchant  of  Haverhill,  by 
whom  she  had  nineteen  children. 

t  Afterward  known  as  the  Hon.  Joseph  Badger,  and  the  father  of  Hon.  Wm.  Badger,  late  Governor 
of  New  Hampshire. 

t  Mr.  Badger  became  a  proprietor  in  the  new  town  by  purchasing  shares  that  were  forfeited  and  sold 
at  auction. 


HISTORY    or   HAVERHILL.  617 

sliire,  in  1763.  He  was  tlie  first  magistrate  in  the  place,  and  his  commis- 
sion as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  was  renewed  in  176S.  He  also  officiated  in 
various  offices  in  the  town.  In  July,  1771,  he  was  appointed  Colonel  of 
the  Tenth  Kegiment. 

In  the  time  of  the  Eevolution,  Col.  Badger  was  an  active  and  efficient 
officer.  He  was  muster-master  of  the  troops  raised  in  his  section  of  the 
State,  and  was  employed  in  furnishing  supplies  for  the  army.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  also  of  the  Convention  which 
adopted  the  Constitution. 

In  1784,  he  received  the  commission  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Quo- 
rum throughout  the  State.  The  same  year,  he  was  commissioned,  in 
company  with  John  Wentworth,  John  Plumer,  and  Ebcnezer  Smith,  to 
administer  the  oaths  of  office  and  allegiance  to  the  civil  and  military  offi- 
cers of  the  County.  He  was  appointed  Brigadier-General,  June  27,  1780, 
and  Judge  of  Probate  for  Strafford  County,  December  6,  1784,  which 
office  he  held  till  May  13,  1797,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Council  in  1784,  1790,  and  1791. 

As  a  military  man.  Gen.  Badger  was  commanding  in  his  person,  well 
skilled  in  the  science  of  tactics,  expert  as  an  officer,  and  courageous  and 
faithful  in  the  performance  of  every  trust.  With  him,  order  was  law, 
rights  were  sacred,  and  the  discharge  of  duty  was  never  to  be  neglected. 
He  was  a  uniform  friend  and  supporter  of  the  institutions  of  learning  and 
religion.  He  not  only  provided  for  the  education  of  his  own  children  by 
procuring  private  teachers,  but  he  also  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  early 
establishment  of  common  schools  for  the  education  of  children  generally. 
Not  content  with  such  efforts  merely,  he  did  much  in  founding  and  erecting 
the  Academy  in  Gilmanton.  He  was  one  of  the  most  generous  contribu- 
tors to  its  funds,  and  was  one  of  its  trustees,  and  the  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trust,  until  his  death.  He  was  also  a  generous  supporter  of 
the  gospel,  a  consistent  christian,  and  to  his  hospitable  mansion  the  minis- 
ters of  religion  always  found  a  most  hearty  welcome. 

Gen.  Badger  was  nearly  six  feet  in  stature,  somewhat  corpulent,  light 
and  fair  in  complexion,  and  dignified  and  circumspect  in  his  manners  and 
conversation.  His  whole  life  was  marked  by  wisdom,  prudence,  integrity, 
firmness,  and  benevolence.  Great  consistency  was  manifested  in  all  his 
deportment.  He  died  April  4,  1803,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age,  ripe  in 
years,  in  character,  in  reputation,  and  as  a  christian.  The  text  selected 
for  his  funeral  sermon  was  strikingly  appropriate :  —  "  And  behold,  there 
was  a  man  named  Joseph,  a  counsellor ;  and  he  was  a  good  man  and  a 
just." 

78 


618  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

His  •widow  died  February  19,  1817,  aged  95.  Her  children  were  twelve, 
grand-cliildren  forty-five,  gi-eat-grand-children  ninety-five,  and  her  great- 
great-grand-children  tvFenty-five.'"' 

Baetlett,  Hon.  Bailey.  The  following  sketch  of  this  estimable  man  is 
from  the  Essex  Gazette,  of  September  11,  1830: — 

"  Died  in  this  town,  on  Thursday  last,  (September  9,  1830,)  the  Hon. 
Bailey  Bartlett,  the  venerable  Sherifi"  of  Essex  County,  aged  LXXX. 
Mr.  Bartlett  was  descended  from  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Newburyport. 
His  paternal  ancestor,  John  Johnson,  was  settled  in  Haverhill,  by  a  formal 
writing  with  its  principal  inhabitants  in  1657,  who  conveyed  to  him  a 
house  on  the  site  of  the  mansion  of  Sheriff  Bartlett,  on  condition  of  his 
doing  the  Smith's  business  for  the  Village  for  seven  years.  Mr.  Johnson 
lived  to  an  advanced  age,  when  he  and  his  wife  were  butchered  by  the 
Savages,  and  his  house  burnt,  when  Haverhill  was  attacked  in  1708.  His 
grand-daughter  was  married  to  Dr.  Joshua  Bayley,  a  distinguished  Surgeon 
in  the  British  Navy,  and  afterwards  Physician  in  the  village  of  Haverhill. 
Sherifi"  Bartlett  was  the  only  son  of  one  of  his  three  daughters,  and  was 
named  for  his  grand-father.  His  father  was  an  importing  merchant,  and 
kept  an  English  Goods  sto»e,  as  did  the  Sherifi",  until  1789.  Mr.  Bartlett 
received  only  a  common  school  education,  but  a  taste  for  reading  marked 
every  period  of  his  life  from  youth  to  old  age ;  and  very  few  men  in  the 
country  have  read  more  than  Mr.  Bartlett.  He  also  had  a  great  taste  for 
agriculture,  to  which  he  devoted  much  time,  and  in  this  pursuit  he  made 
many  useful  and  successful  experiments.  He  was  early  a  member  of  the 
Agricultural  Society  of  the  State  and  of  the  County.  A  taste  for  Mechanics 
was  also  a  distinguished  trait  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Bartlett.  In  his 
ofiice  he  kept  a  Lathe  and  the  tools  of  a  joiner,  and  some  of  the  handsomest 
pieces  of  furniture  were  made  by  him  for  the  various  members  of  his  family  ; 
this  was  indeed  his  favorite  amusement.  He  particularly  directed  his 
attention  to  the  art  of  constructing  bridges  and  suggested  many  improve- 
ments in  that  art. 

Living  at  the  most  interesting  period  of  our  revolution,  he  early  mingled 
in  political  life.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  constant  friends  of 
the  venerable  John  Adams,  and  the  fellow  boarder  with  him  and  Samuel 
Adams,  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  4th  of  July  1776.  He  was  present  in  the 
yard  of  Congress  Hall,  when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  first 
proclaimed,  and  he  has  often  observed  that  it  was  received  with  great 
murmuring  by  the  crowd  there  assembled.     In  1783  he  represented  the 

"  The  above  notice  of  Gen.  Badijer,  and  his  family,  is  mostly  taken  from  Lancaster's  History  of 
Gilmanton,  y.  H. 


\ 


itiMufii>rd:<  lUh.Bo-'l^" 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  619 

town  of  Haverliill  in  the  House  of  Eepresentatives,  and  in  1789,  the  County 
of  Essex  in  the  Senate.  On  the  first  of  July  of  that  year  he  was  appointed 
Sherifi"  of  Essex.  Gov.  Hancock  presented  him  the  Commission  in  person, 
and  stated  to  him  that  he  did  it  with  peculiar  pleasure  as  it  was  the  only 
nomination  during  his  administration  that  met  the  unanimous  concurrence 
of  his  council.  He  held  the  Office  until  the  day  of  his  death,  with  the 
exception  of  about  six  months,  from  Dec.  5th,  1811,  to  June  20th,  1812, 
when  he  was  made  the  victim  of  the  unfortunate  policy  of  Gov.  Gerry, 
which  resulted  in  his  defeat  at  the  subsequent  election.  During  the  time 
that  Mr.  Bartlett  was  thus  out  of  Office,  his  fellow  citizens  with  gi-eat 
unanimity  elected  him  Treasurer  of  the  County.  In  his  Office  of  Sheriff 
he  was  distinguished  by  his  courtesy  —  his  house  was  the  mansion  of 
elegant  hospitality.  Kind  and  indulgent  almost  to  a  fault  to  the  unfortu- 
nate victims  of  the  law,  his  purse  often  paid  the  exactions  of  the  unfeeling 
creditor  rather  than  imprison  the  poor  debtor.  In  all  cases  of  difficulty 
he  was  firm,  fearless  and  immoveable.  Though  decided  in  his  politics,  he 
never  suffered  political  feeling  to  enter  into  his  official  duties,  and  many  of 
his  deputies  were  his  warmest  political  opponents.  His  kind  treatment  to 
the  victim  of  a  political  libel  estranged  some  of  Mr.  Bartlett's  political 
friends,  but  added  to  his  character  one  of  his  brightest  laurels.  The  same 
thing  took  place,  when  during  the  great  excitement  of  the  late  war,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  tax  the  humane  Marshal  of  Massachusetts  with 
barbarous  treatment  of  the  British  prisoners,  the  Sheriff  immediately  fear- 
lessly vindicated  the  character  of  Marshal  Prince  and  bore  testimony  to 
his  humanity. 

Sheriff  Bartlett,  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  that  adopted  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  and  that  which  was  called  to  amend  the 
Constitution  of  Massachusetts  in  1820.  In  1797  he  succeeded  Judge 
Bradbury  as  Eepresentative  of  Essex  North  District,  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  of  which  he  was  a  member  four  years ; — he  being  a  member 
of  the  last  Congress  holden  at  Philadelphia  and  of  the  first  which  met  at 
Washington.  He  was  member  of  Congress  during  the  contest  between 
Mr.  Jefferson  and  Aaron  Burr,  and  whilst  a  member,  was  the  chamber 
companion  of  the  lamented  Chief  Justice  Parker,  between  whom,  until  the 
death  of  the  latter,  the  warmest  and  most  cordial  friendship  continued  to 
exist.  Speaking  of  Sheriff  Bartlett,  just  before  the  commencement  of  the 
late  trial,  to  which  they  both  fell  victims.  Judge  Parker  says  in  a  letter  to 
a  friend,  "he  is  one  of  the  last  men  whose  feelings  I  would  intentionally 


620  HISTORY    OF    HAVEEUILt. 

wound,  having  for  more  than  thirty  years  known  the  purity  and  integrity' 
of  his  character,  both  public  and  private." 

These  two  friends  devoted  their  last  moments  to  duty  and  society ;  and 
though  Sheriif  Bartlett,  at  the  advaned  age  of  80,  was  afflicted  with  a 
malady  which  would  have  excused  a  young  man  of  thirty  from  attending 
Court,  still  he  was  determined  whilst  he  held  his  office  to  discharge  its 
duties.  Nineteen  days  before  his  death,  he  attended  Court,  when  the 
sentence  of  death  was  pronounced  on  the  unhappy  Knapp.  He  returned 
to  Haverhill  the  same  day,  when  he  arrived  at  his  house,  it  took  several 
men  to  remove  him  from  his  chaise.  He  immediately  took  to  his  bed  and 
never  left  it.  It  was  his  last  sickness  as  it  was  his  first.  He  never  having 
been  severely  indisposed  before.  A  life  of  the  greatest  temperance  secured 
health  to  a  good  old  age,  and  in  his  last  sickness  he  scarcely  felt  a  pain. 

Mr.  Bartlett  was  one  of  the  Electoral  Candidates  on  the  federal  ticket 
in  1804,  and  was  elected  an  Elector  in  1828.  Mr.  Bartlett  was  the  oldest 
public  officer  living  in  Massachusetts,  except  the  clerk  of  the  County  of 
Middlesex,  and  he  has  probably  held  the  office  of  Sheriif  longer  than  any 
other  individual  ever  held  it.  The  best  commentary  on  his  public  life  is^ 
that  without  a  dissipated  or  extravagant  habit,  he  leaves  his  family  less 
than  half  the  property  he  possessed  when  appointed  Sherifi". 

Such  was  the  public  life  of  this  amiable,  honest,  faithful  and  unostenta' 
tious  public  servant.  But  the  brightest  trait  of  his  character  cannot  be 
known  to  the  world.  To  see  that,  they  must  know  the  family  he  has 
reared,  trained  and  stamped  with  his  own  similitude.  Fifteen  children, 
thirteen  gi'own  to  middle  age,  and  eleven  who  survive  him,  who  never  knew 
an  angry  passion  or  a  selfish  feeling.  This  is  the  brightest  gem  in  the 
diadem.  Seven  daughters  softening  the  dying  bed  of  virtuous  old  age,  is 
a  scene  which  celibacy  cannot  witness  without  effect.  Blessed  was  he  ia 
life,  and  thrice  blessed  in  its  close." 

Bartlett,  Hon.  Isaac.  The  Bartlett  families  are  said  to  have  come  into 
England  with  William  the  Conquerer  in  1006;  and  one  of  them  —  Adam 
De  Barrtlot  —  settled  in  Stapham,  Sussex.  However  this  may  be,  it  is 
certain  that  the  Bartletts  who  settled  at  Bart^ett's  Cove,  in  Newbury, 
Massachusetts,  came  into  this  country  from  1634  to  1637.  John  Bartlett 
came  in  1634,  from  the  County  of  Kent,  England,  He  died  in  1678. 
Kichard  Bartlett,  a  shoemaker,  supposed  brother  of  the  first  John,  came  ia 
163-7,  and  died  in  1647.  His  son,  Samuel,  married  Eliza  Titcomb,  and 
died  in  1732.  His  youngest  daughter  married  the  Eev.:  Matthias  Plant, 
who  has  left  MSS  relating  to  his  own  time.  Thomas  Bartlett,  son  of  the 
above  Samuel,  married  Sarah  AVcbster,  and  died  in  1744.     His  wife  died 


HON.   ISRAEL   BARTLETT. 


I 


HON.  SAMUEL   BLODGET. 


JllSTORY   OF   HAVERHILL,  621 

in  1728.  Their  ctildren  were  Israel,  Tabitha,  Enoch,  (who  was  the  father 
of  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett,  of  Haverhill,)  Dorithy,  Nehemiah,  James,  Thomas, 
and  Sarah. 

Israel  Bartlett,  son  of  the  above  Thomas,  married  Love  Hall  in  1738, 
and  died  in  1754.  His  wife  died  in  1806.  Their  children  were  Joseph 
Hall,  Sarah,  Thomas,  Israel,  Mary,  and  Josiah. 

Israel  Bartlett,  son  of  the  above  Israel,  was  born  in  Nottingham,  N.  H., 
May  8,  1748,  and  died  in  Ha\'erhill,  April  21, 1 838.  He  married  Tabitha, 
Walker,  June  8,  1775.  She  died  December  18,  1824.  Their  children 
Were  Samuel,  Enoch,  Mary,  Henry,  James,  John,  Sarah,  George,  and 
Charles.  Only  one  of  these  (John)  are  now  living.  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  which  occurred  when  Israel  was  but  six  years  of  age,  the  latter 
went  to  reside  with  his  uncle,  at  Bartlett's  Cove,  where  he  remained  until 
he  went  as  an  apprentice  to  the  Goldsmith's  trade,  to  a  Mr.  Mouiton,  in 
Newburyport.  When  his  term  of  apprenticeship  was  completed,  he  came 
to  Haverhill,  and  established  himself  in  the  same  business. 

Though  his  early  education  was  limited,  Mr.  Bartlett  made  such  good 
use  of  his  odd  hours,  that  he  became  well  versed  in  ancient  and  modern 
history,  and  familiar  with  the  standard  literature  of  his  day.  He  enjoyed, 
deservedly,  the  respect  and  attachment  of  all  who  knew  him.  In  his 
earlier  years,  he  was  active  in  the  service  of  his  country ;  he  was  present 
at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  and  has  left  a  brief  account  of  that  expedi- 
tion. In  1810  and  11,  also  from  1816  to  21,  he  served  the  Commonwealth 
as  a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  He  sustained  various  offices  in  the  town, 
and  always  discharged  his  duties  with  great  fidelity.  Shortly  before  his 
death,  at  the  advanced  age  of  90,  he  received  a  renewal  of  his  appointment, 
as  a  justice  of  the  Peace, 

For  very  many  years  he  was  an  honored  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Eirst  Church  in  this  town,  and,  at  the  ripe  age  of  90  years,  he  went  down 
to  his  grave  strong  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious  immortality. 

Blodget,  Samuel,  better  known  to  our  elderly  citizens  as  Judge  Blodget, 
was  a  native  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  and  a  man  of  superior  ingenuity,  intelli- 
gence, and  enterprise.  He  was  at  the  taking  of  Louisburg,  in  1745,  and 
came  to  Haverhill  some  time  previous  to  1748,  in  which  year  he  married 
Hannah  White,  of  "Haverhill  District."  In  1759,  he  established  pot 
and  pearl  ash  works  in  this  town,  which  were  among  the  first  in  the 
country,  and  kept  them  in  successful  operation  for  many  years.  Eemoving 
to  New  Hampshire,  some  time  previous  to  the  Revolution,  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Inferior  Court,  in  the  County  of  Hillsborough,  which  office 
he   held    for    some    years.      Judge    Blodget    was   possessed    of    great 


622  niSTORY  OF  haverhill. 

jnechanical  ingenuity,  and  was  the  originator  of  several  valuable  inVen* 
tions.  In  1783,  he  bought  a  ship  which  was  stranded  near  Plymouth, 
and  with  a  machine  of  his  own  invention  raised  the  vessel,  and  recovered 
the  whole  cargo.  The  latter  was  mostly  tea,  which  the  Judge  carefully 
dried,  and  sold,  making  quite  a  fortune  by  the  operation.  Encouraged  by 
this  success,  he  went  to  Europe,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  from  a 
rich  Spanish  ship,  but  was  not  permitted  to  make  the  attempt.  He*  then 
went  to  England,  and  sought  permission  to  attempt  the  raising  of  the 
Royal  George,  one  of  the  largest  ships  in  the  British  Navy,  but  with  no 
better  success.  He  was  looked  upon  as  a  Yankee  enthusiast.  Returning 
to  the  United  States,  he  soon  after  established  in  this  town  a  factory  for 
the  manufacture  of  linen  duck.  A  part  of  the  machinery  was  of  his  own 
invention,  and  his  factory,  which  was  one  of  the  very  first  in  the  country, 
was  one  of  the  principal  objects  of  attention  in  the  town  at  the  time  of 
President  Washington's  visit.  The  enterprise  proving  unprofitable,  it  was 
finally  abandoned. 

Judge  Blodget  was  one  of  the  first  to  advance  the  idea  that  it  was  the 
duty  of  the  government  to  encourage  and  protect  home  manufactures,  and 
in  the  hope  that  his  influence  might  make  a  greater  impression  upon  the 
public  mind,  he  was,  in  1791,  chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  General 
Court. 

In  1793,  he  began  a  canal  at  Amoskeag  Falls — known  as  Blodget's 
Canal.  Upon  this,  and  in  attempting  to  lock  the  falls  he  labored  several 
years,  and  expended  all  his  property  —  but  without  accomplishing  his 
object. 

The  Judge  was  a  generation  ahead  of  his  time,  which  will  account  for 
nearly  all  his  failures.  He  was  possessed  of  a  genius  which  would,  under 
proper  cultivation,  and  favorable  circumstances,  have  immortalized  his 
name.  He  intended  to  have  lived  to  the  age  of  100  years,  at  least.  Eigid 
temperance,  activity,  and  sleeping  with  open  doors  and  windows,  were, 
in  his  opinion,  the  true  elixer  vitce.  He  therefore  slept  with  the  windows 
of  his  chamber  open,  in  all  weathers  and  at  all  seasons,  and  never  allowed 
himself  to  wear  either  "great  coat"  or  mittens.  He  enjoyed  uninter- 
rupted vigor,  cheerfulness  and  health,  until  his  Both  year,  when  his  scheme 
like  so  many  of  his  others,  failed.  Early  in  1807,  in  travelling  from 
Boston  to  Haverhill  on  a  cold  and  stormy  night,  in  an  open  sleigh,  he  was 
so  thoroughly  chilled,  that  on  arriving  home  he  was  unable  to  speak,  and 
was  with  great  difficulty  rescued  from  immediate  death.  •  From  this  shock 
he  never  recovered,     In  the  following  August  he  died,  of  consumption. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  623 

Bradley,  Isaac.  "  Died. — In  this  town,  on  the  15tli  inst.,  Mr.  Isaac 
Bradley,  aged  83.  It  is  remarkable  that  his  grandfather  assisted  to  build 
the  first  meeting  house  in  this  town  ;  his  father  the  second  ;  and  he  the 
third  in  the  same  parish.  His  grandfather  was  killed  by  the  Indians  ; 
and  his  father,  a  captive  among  them,  made  his  escape  at  15  yrs  old  thro 
the  trackless  wood  from  Winnepiseogee  Pond  to  Saco  fort  without  any 
guide  but  sun  and  stars,  or  rather  a  kind  and  wonderful  Providence.  The 
subject  of  this  obituary  sustained  a  state  of  almost  helpless  infirmity  for 
30  years  with  patience  and  unrepining  submission.  Near  his  death  he 
called  around  him  his  children  and  grandchildren,  and  like  a  good  old 
patriarck,  gave  them  his  affectionate  blessing  and  pious  counsels.  He 
died  full  of  the  hopes  of  that  religion  of  which  he  had  been  a  professor 
thro  alonglife."— O&A-err^r,  (Haverhill)  Jan.  22,  1802. 

Brickett,  Gen.  James,  was  a  native  of  Haverhill.  He  practiced  physic 
successfully  for  many  years,  in  this  town,  both  before  and  after  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  He  was  Surgeon's  mate  in  Col.  Frye's  Eegiment,  at  Fort 
Frederick,  from  March  30,  1759,  to  July  30,  1760,  and  perhaps  longer. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  dispute  between  the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain, 
he  ranked  himself  with  the  Whigs,  and  became  a  firm  and  devoted 
patriot.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  movers  in  the  organization  of  the 
Haverhill  Artillery  Company,  in  1774,  and  was  its  first  Captain.  He  was 
a- member  of  the  first  "Committee  of  Inspection"  in  the  town,  (1775.) 
On  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities,  in  April  1775,  he  hastened  to  Cambridge, 
where  he  was  commissioned  (May  20)  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  Col.  Frye's 
Essex  Regiment.  Owing  to  the  illness  of  the  latter,  Lieut.  Col.  Brickett 
commanded  the  regiment  at  the  occupation  of  Bunker  Hill,  on  the  night  of 
June  16,  1775,  and  until  wounded  on  the  day  following.  =•■'=  He  was  subse- 
quently (July  5,  1776,)  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Colonel  of  a  Battalion  to  be  raised  in  the  Counties  of  Essex,  &c. 
A  few  days  later,  (July  11,)  he  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  of  the 
forces  to  be  sent  to  Canada,  and  commanded  the  Massachusetts  Levies  for 
the  Northern  Army,  arriving  at  Ticonderoga,  August  12th,  1776.  He  was 
President  of  a  Court  Martial  held  at  Albany,  December  2,  177G,  for  the 
trial  of  Arnold,  on  complaint  of  Col.  Hazen,  (5  Am.  Arch,  iii,  1012).  In 
September,  1777,  he  went  as  a  volunteer  with  the  company  which  marched 
from  Haverhill  to  the  Plains  of  Stillwater,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Nathaniel  Marsh,  and  arrived  just  after  the  cessation  of  arms  had  been 
declared.  He  was  appointed  (October,  1777,)  one  of  Gen.  Gate's  Briga- 
diers, and  commanded  an  escort  of  about  five  hundred  militia,  detached  to 

»  See  page  392. 


6'24^  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

guard  a  division  of  Gen.  Burgoyne's  troops  from  Saratoga  to  Boston.""'  In 
this  expedition  he  incurred  considerable  expense,  and  when  he  laid  his 
account  before  Congress,  that  body  refused  to  remunerate  him,  because  he 
was  not  then  an  officer  of  the  army. 

He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  town  of  Haverhill  in  1786, 
and  drafted  the  reply  to  the  town  of  Boston,  addressed  to  all  the  towns  in 
the  State  concerning  the  common  interests  of  the  country,  which  was  char- 
acterized by  the  most  ardent  patriotism,  and  signal  ability.f 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  at  Boston,  in  June, 
1780  ;  was  chairman  of  several  important  committees  in  the  town  during 
the  great  struggle  for  Independence,  and  an  active  and  influential  member 
of  most  of  them  ;  was  moderator  of  the  town  meetings  from  1780  to  1784, 
inclusive;  and  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  from  1779  to 
1782,  inclusive,  during  which  time  the  board  were  also,  ex-ojfficio,  assessors 
and  overseers  of  the  poor.  Gen.  Brickett,  or,  as  he  was  usually  called  by 
his  townsmen,  "  Dr.  Brickett,"  was  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
as  a  kind  and  skilful  physician,  an  obliging  neighbor,  a  genial  compan- 
ion, a  liberal  and  enterprising  citizen,  and  a  man  of  undoubted  honor, 
patriotism,  and  integrity.     He  died  December  9,  1818,  aged  81  years. 

Brown,  Henry  Young,  was  born  in  Haverhill  October,  1730,  and  died 
at  Fryeburg,  Me.,  October  15,  1796.  He  married  Elizabeth  Lovejoy,  of 
Andover.  Their  only  child  who  survived  infancy  was  Elizabeth,  (born 
1757,  died  1790,)  who  married  Col.  Joshua  B.  Osgood,  senior,  also  a 
native  of  Haverhill,  (bom  1753,  died  1791). 

Captain  Brown  was  a  prominent  and  influential  man.  A  Captain  in 
the  French  War,  he  had  granted  him,  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts, a  township  of  land  adjoiniug  Fryeburg,  Maine,  to  which  he  gave 
his  name  —  Brownfield.  The  limits  of  the  town  originally  included  a 
part  of  Fryeburg  Village,  and  the  Brown  mansion  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Main  Street,  where  his  descendants  still  reside.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  Fryeburg  Academy  ;  was  a  man  of  great  energy,  and  public  spirit, 
and  has  left  a  memory  that  will  not  soon  die  in  that  region  of  country. 

Chase,  Aquila,  mariner,  said  to  have  been  from  Cornwall,  England, 
was  in  Hampton  in  1640;  he  then  married  Anne,  dauglfter  of  John 
Wheeler,  formerly  of  Salisbury,  England.  He  had  a  grant  of  four  acres 
of  laud  at  Hampton.  His  dwelling  was  near  the  landing.  In  1646,  he 
removed  to  Newbury,  that  town  having  "  Granted  to  Acj[uilla  Chase,  anno 
1646,  four  acres  of  land  at  the  new  towne  for  a  house  lott  where  it  is  to 

«  See  page  402.  t  See  pnge  438. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  625 

foe  had,  also  on  condition  that  he  do  go  to  sea,  and  do  service  in  the  towne 
with  a  boat  for  foure  years."--^  There  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  that  he 
was  the  first  person  who  brought  a  vessel  over  Newbury  bar.  The  chil- 
dren of  Aquila  were  Sarah,  Anne,  Priscilla,  Mary,  Aquila,  Thomas,  John, 
Elizabeth,  Euth,  Daniel,  and  IMoses.  Aquila,  sen,,  died  December  27, 
1670,  aged  52.  His  will  is  dated  December  19,  1G70.  His  estate  was 
inventoried  at  £336.14.3. 

John,  son  of  Aquila,  born  November  2,  1655  ;  the  first  Chase  who  set- 
tled in  upper  Newbury ;  married,  first,  Elizabeth   Bingley  ;   and,  second, 

Lydia  .      His    children  were  William,  Phillip,  Charles,  Jacob, 

Abraham,  John,  Phebe,  Mary,  Lydia,  Elizabeth,  and  David. 

David,  born  October  20,  1710,  the  eleventh,  and  probably  youngest 
child  of  John  (by  his  wife  Lydia)  married  Sarah  Emery,  November  24, 
1729,  and  had  several  children  :  —  David,  born  December  1,  1730  ;  Joshua, 
born  October  21,  1733;  Anthony,  born  December  6,  1735;  Tristram, 
born  January  23,  1737  ;   Simeon,  and  three  daughters. 

Anthony,  son  of  the-  above  David,  and  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  expedi- 
tion to  Cape  Breton,  married  Abigail  Woodman,  of  Newbury,  June  29, 
1758,  and  settled  where  Deacon  Charles  Coflan  now  lives,  in  East  Hav- 
erhill. He  pui'chased  the  water  privilege  and  about  two  acres  of  land  at 
that  place,  about  a  year  previous  to  his  marriage,  and  at  once  erected  a 
clothing-mill  and  a  dwelling-house.  He  subsequently  erected  a  saw  and 
grist-mill,  and  became  in  time  a  large  land  owner.  His  children  were 
Eobert,  1759;  Sarah,  1761;  Eobert,  1763;  Woodman,  1765;  Stephen, 
1767;  Joseph,  1769;  Abigail,  1771;  John,  1773.  He  married,  second. 
May  1,  1782,  widow  Sarah  Swett,  of  Haverhill,  by  whom  he  had  Nancy, 
1784;  and  David,  1787. 

Joseph,  son  of  Anthony  and  Abigail,  born ,  1769,  married  Debo- 
rah Williams,  of  Amesbury,  born ,  1763,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now 

owned  and  occupied  by  John  B.  Nichols,  Esq.,  in  East  Haverhill.     Their 

children  were  Nancy,  born  ,    1793;  Tappan,  born  May  22,   1795, 

died  March  6,  1796;  Mary,  born  August  14,  1797;  Tappan,  born  Janu- 
ary 16,  1800;  William,  born  March  10,  1802,  died  October  14,  1831. 
Joseph,  the  husband,  died  February  17,  1845;  Deborah,  the  wife,  died 
May  14,  1847. 

Tappan,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah,  was  born  January  16,  ISOO,  and 
married,  September  14,  1825,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Johnson,  of 
Haverhill,  born  July  8,  1S03,  and  settled  on  the  farm  above  mentioned. 
Their  children  were  George  Wingate,  born  June  19, 1826  ;  Abigail  Johnson, 

«»  Kewbury  Town  Records. 

79 


626  HISTORY    OV    HAVERHIIL. 

born  April  23,  1828,  died,  unmarried,  July  1,  1847  ;  Matilda,  Iborn  Jan- 
uary 17,  1830,  died  May  7,  1834  ;  Sarah,  born  February  14,  1832,  died, 
unmarried,  August  4,  1848  ;  Matilda,  born  February  7,  1834,  died,  un- 
married, August  27,  1852;  William,  born  December  27,  1835;  Charles 
Tappan,  born  August  28,  1837,  married,  October  8,  1857,  Charlotte  Eliz- 
abeth Burr,  born  May  22,  1837,  children,  Emeline  Frances,  born  August 
4,  1858,  Frederick  Henry,  born  September  12,  1860;  Emeline,  bora 
July  23,  1841,  died  August  10,  1841.  Deacon  Tappan  Chase  died  April 
27,  1857. 

George  Wingate,  son  of  Tappan  and  Hannah,  married,  December  29, 
1849,  Frances  A,,  born  June  9,  18^)0,  daughter  of  Christopher  Dyer, 
Esq.,  of  New  Sharon,  Me.  Children,  Charles  Dj^er,  born  November  16, 
1850  ;  Abigail  Matilda,  born  June  19,  1853  ;  Sarah  Ann,  born  May  21, 
1861. 

Cogswell,  Nathaniel,  Esq.,  son  of  Hon.  Thomas  Cogswell,  was  born 
ii^  Haverhill,  January  19,  1773,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1794, 
studied  with  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Durham,  N.  H.,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  the  law  in  1805.  He  soon  after  took  the  tour  of  Europe, 
returned,  and,  in  1808,  established  himself  in  Newburyport.  He  was 
appointed  Aid  to  Major-General  Brickett,  afterward  went  to  Mexico, 
where  he  became  a  General  in  the  Spanish  Patriot  army,  and  died  at  the 
Eapids  of  Eed  Kiver,  in  August,  1813,  aged  40. 

Hon.  Thomas  Cogswell,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Judith  (Badger)  Cogs- 
well, was  born  in  Haverhill,  August  4,  1746.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
nineteen  children.  At  the  age  of  24,  (February  26,  1770,)  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Ruth  Badger,  daughter  of  General  Joseph  Badger,  of  Gilmanton, 
N.  H.  He  lived  in -Haverhill,  where  he  had  three  children,  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Eevolutionary  War,  when  he  entered  the  army,  and  his 
wife  and  children  went  to  reside  with  her  father,  in  Gilmanton.  He  was  out 
during  nearly  the  whole  war.  He  entered  the  service  as  Captain,  and  rose 
to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Gilmanton, 
settled  near  his  wife's  father's,  and  was  soon  a  prominent  man  in  the  town. 
He  served  as  moderator,  and  frequently  as  selectman,  and  was  one  of  the 
original  trustees  of  the  Academy.  In  1784,  he  was  appointed  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  which  office  he  held  till  his  decease, 
in  1810.  He  had  eleven  children,  one  of  whom,  Nathaniel,  was  the  second 
graduate  at  Dartmouth '  from  Gilmanton.  Two  other  sons  died  in  the 
army,  during  the  war  of  1812  :  —  Francis,  who  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
College,  in  1811,  and  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army,  died  at  Plattsburgh, 
N.  Y.,  December  8,  1812;  and  Thomas  was  killed  at  Chatteaugay,  N.  Y., 


MISTORr    0?    HAVERHILT-.  627 

Octolser  26,  1813.  Judge  Cogswell  was  twice  a  candidate  for  Eepresenta- 
tive  to  Congress.  In  September,  ISOi,  he  donated  $75  to  the  First 
Congi'egational  Church  in  his  town,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a  "  sac- 
ramental service  "  for  its  use.  After  his  decease,  the  church  erected  a 
large  pair  of  grave-stones  to  his  memorj.  He  died  September  3,  1810, 
aged  64  years.     His  widow  died  October  16,  1839,  aged  88  y^ars. 

Corliss,  George,  was  born  in  England  about  the  year  1617,  and  came 
to  this  country  1639.  He  married  Joanna  Davis,  October  26,  1645  ;  she 
came  from  that  part  of  England  called  Wales ;  they  had  one  son  and  seven 
daughters.  Corliss  died  October  19,  1686.  He  left  an  extensive  farm  in 
the  west  part  of  Haverhill,  which  he  divided,  by  will,  among  his  children, 
giving  his  home  farm  to  his  son  John.  To  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Xeflr, 
he  gave  the  farm  one  mile  east  of  his  home  farm,  being  the  farm  where 
William  Swasey  now  lives.  Mrs.  Ifeff  was  taken  by  the  Indians  with 
Mrs.  Duston,  and  remained  with  her  through  the  whole  captivity. 

John,  son  of  the  above  George,  was  born  March  4,  1647,  and  married 
Mary  Milford,  December  17,  1684 ;  they  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
He  lived  and  died  on  the  same  farm  and  over  the  same  cellar  where  his 
father  had  lived  and  died.  He  died  February  17,  1698,  leaving  the  farm 
to  his^ldest  son,  John. 

John,  grandson  of  George,  was  born  March  14,  1686,  married  Euth 
Haynes,  of  Haverhill,  about  1711.  They  had  thirteen  children.  He  was' 
a  man  of  large  stature,  more  than  six  feet  in  height  and  well  proportioned. 
He  had  a  commanding  voice,  spoke  loud  and  distinctly,  and  was  often  well 
understood  at  the  distance  of  more  than  a  mile.  He  died  November, 
1766.  At  his  death,  his  son  Joseph  came  into  possession  of  the  farm — - 
having  previously  received  a  deed  of  it  from  his  father,  who  reserved  a 
privilege  in  it  for  himself  and  wife. 

Joseph,  son  of  the  last  named  John,  was  born  in  1724.  He  married 
Mary  Emerson,  February  19,  1746,  and  had  seven  children.  He  died 
November  3,  1762,  leaving  his  farm  to  his  sons,  Joseph  and  Ephraim. 

Ephraim,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  August  13,  1751.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  he  came  into  possession  of  that  half  of  the  farm  which  his 
father  left  him,  by  will,  and  soon  after,  he  purchased  of  his  brother  Joseph 
the  remainder  of  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  married  Lydia 
Ayer,  of  Haverhill.  Twelve  days  after  his  marriage,  he  joined  a  com- 
pany of  militia,  and  served  three  months  as  a  private  soldier,  travelling 
more  than  nine  hundred  miles  that  winter.  He  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  and  died  OctobeF.  25,  1824. 


628  HISTORY   OF   nAVERHILt. 

Ephraim,  son  of  Ephraim,  was  born  March  13,  1782,  married  J'el)ra-' 
ary  21,  182G,  had  one  son  and  two  daughters,  and  died  July  5,'  18r)8^ 
leaving  his  homo  farm  to  his  son,  Cliarles,  (of  the  seventh  generation) 
who  now  lives  on  the  farm  inherited  from  his  father,  and  the  same  that 
was  first  owned  by  George  Corlisg,  in  IGIO. 

Duncan,  George,  son  of  George,  (who  lived  an(i  died  in  Ireland)  came 
to  this  country  with  the  early  settlers  of  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  accompanied 
with  his  second  wife,  Margaret  Cross,  and  his  seven  children.  They  were 
John,  the  eldest  by  a  former  marriage;  and  George,  "William,  Eobert, 
Abraham,  Esther,  and  James,  by  the  second  marriage. 

James,  son  of  the  above  George,  married  Elizabeth  Bell,  third  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Bell,  and  was  a  merchant  in  Haverhill,  Mass.     He 

died  in  1818,  aged  92  years.     His  wife  died  in ,  aged  about  47 

years.  Their  chiklren  were,  John,  who  died  unmarried;  Samuel,  of 
Grantham,  N.  H.,who  married  a  Miss  Emerson,  and  had  several  children; 
Eobert,  who  was  a  Representative  of  Grantham,  married  a  Miss  Emerson, 
had  a  son,  Samuel  B.,  and  died  in  1S07  ;  Abraham  ;  \Yilliam,  who  lived 
in  Concord,  N.  H.,  married  a  Miss  Harris,  had  a  son  James,  and  three 
daughters,  and  died  about  17^5,  (his  widow  removed  to  Ohio  with  her  son 
James,  and  died  in  1835)  ;  James,  who  married  Rebecca  "White,  of  Hav- 
erhill, and  died  January  5,  1822,  leaving  two  sons,  Col.  Samuel  W.,  who 
died  October  21,  1824-,  aged  34,  and  Hon,  James  H.,  who  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  AVillis,  of  Boston ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  John 
Thaxter,  Esq.,  of  Haverhill,  and  afterward  Joshua  Carter,  of  Boston  ; 
Margaret,  who  married  Thomas  Baldwin,  D.D,,  of  Boston  ;  Mary ;  and 
three  others. 

Ho7i.  James  H.  Duncan,  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  December  5, 
1793.  His  father,  James  Duncan,  Esq.,  was  a  prominent  merchant,  and 
a  descendant  of  the  colony  of  Scotch-Irish  who  settled  Londonderry,  N.  H^ 
His  mother,  Rebeccah  AVhite,  was  a  descendant  of  William  White,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Haverhill.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  early  mani- 
fested a  love  for  books,  and  having  passed  the  usual  course  of  preparation 
at  Phillips'  Exeter  Academy,  entered  Harvard  University,  in  1808,  at  the 
early  age  of  fourteen.  Notwithstanding  his  youth,  he  maintained  a  high 
rank  in  scholarship,  and  graduated  in  1812,  with  an  honorable  part. 
Having  pursued  the  study  of  the  Law  in  the  offices  of  Hon.  John  Varnunj, 
at  Haverhill,  and  I-cverett  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  at  Salem,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Essex  Bar  in  1815,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  in  Haverhill,  and  continued  in  it  with  fidelity  and  success 


-^^-t^^l^^ 


<^i;^72^j=/ 


W^ 


'^<iyn.<::^y>'i. 


HISTOKY   OF   HAVERHIIL.  629 

until  he  took  Lis  seat  in  Congress,  in  1849,  when  lie  resigned  the  active 
duties  of  the  profession. 

A  short  time  previous  to  his  admission  to  the  Bar,  he  was  elected  En- 
sign in  the  Haverhill  Light  Infantry  Company,  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
and,  passing  through  the  various  grades  of  militia  service,  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  Colonel,  which  office  he  held  several  years,  and  until  he  resigned 
his  commission.  Being  extensively  engaged  in  farming,  in  which  he  has 
always  taken  a  lively  interest,  he  was  early  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  Essex 
Agricultural  Society,  of  which  he  was  also  President  from  1836  to  1839. 
On  the  formation  of  the  National  Eepublican  party,  in  1827,  he  was,  by 
the  united  votes  of  the  Federal  and  Democratic  parties,  elected  to  the 
House  of  Kepresentatives,  and  in  the  following  year  to  the  Senate,  of 
which  he  continued  a  member  three  successive  years,  and  until  he  declined 
a  re-election,  In  1837,  and  1838,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House,  and 
in  the  two  following  years  to  the  Council  of  Massachusetts.  On  the  adop- 
tion of  the  district  system,  in  1857,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House  of 
Eepresentatives,  where  he  at  all  times  held  an  honorable  and  influential 
position. 

On  the  passage  of  a  State  Insolvent  Law,  in  1838,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  Commissioners  in  Insolvency  ;  and  on  the  passage  of  the  United 
States  Bankrupt  Law,  in  1841,  he  was  appointed  Commissioner  in  Bank- 
ruptcy, which  office  he  held  until  the  law  was  repealed. 

In  1839,  he  was  elected  as  delegate  to  the  National  Eepublican  Conven- 
tion at  Harrisburg,  which  nominated  General  Harrison  for  President.  In 
1848,  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  disti-ict,  —  then  the  largest  manu- 
facturing district  in  the  LTnited  States  —  in  Congress,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term,  in  1850. 

Having  always  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  all  literary  and  benevolent 
institutions,  his  education  and  character  have  marked  him  as  a  prominent 
member  of  many  of  them,  particularly  those  of  the  Baptist  denomination, 
of  which  he  is  a  member.  Since  1835  he  has  filled  the  office  of  Eellow  of 
Brown  LTniversity. 

Mr.  Duncan  is  one  of  our  largest,  and  most  liberal,  as  well  as  enterpris- 
ing real  estate  owners,  and  has  done  much  toward  promoting  the  general 
business  prosperity  of  the  town.  He  has  for  many  years  resided  upon  the 
beautiful  estate,  corner  of  Main  and  Sumner  Streets,  originally  owned  by 
Moses  B.  Moody,  Esq.  The  elegant  mansion  was  designed  by  the  celebrated 
architect,  Haviland,  and  we  believe  there  is  but  one  other  of  the  same 
style  of  architecture  in  the  United  States. 


630  HISTORY    OF    UAVERUILL. 

Eames,  Theodore,  was  a  native  of  Haverhill,  and  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Leverett  Saltonstall,  at 
Salem,  and  for  several  years  successfully  practised  in  that  city.  He  after- 
ward, and  for  a  number  of  years,  was  Principal  in  the  Salem  Grammar 
School.  From  Salem  he  removed  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  to  take  charge  of  a 
school  in  that  city ;  and  was  subsequently  appointed  Police  Judge,  which 
office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1847.  He  was  a  man  of  strict 
integrity,  great  energy,  and  universally  resj^eeted. 

Eaton,  Peter, .D.D.,  was  a  native  of  Haverhill;  one  of  the  early  pupils 
at  Phillips'  Academy,  at  Andover,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  of 
the  class  of  1787.  After  completing  his  professional  studies  at  Haverhill, 
he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Boxford,  in  1789,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  labor  until  his  death,  April  14,  1848,  at  the  age  of  83  years, 
and  in  the  58th  year  of  his  ministry.  His  erect  and  manly  bearing  ;  his 
ardent  piety ;  his  frank  and  cordial  greeting ;  his  generous  hospitality, 
and  open-handed  charity,  will  not  soon  be  forgotton  by  the  many  who 
knew  him  and  loved  him. 

Emerson,  Capt.,  Nehemiah,  was  a  descendant  of  Michael  Emerson, 
who  settled  in  Haverhill  in  1656,  married  Hannah  Webster,  and  whose 
eldest  daughter,  Hannah,  married  Thomas  Duston,  of  heroic  memory. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  one  of  those  who  "  marched  on  ye  alarm  April  19, 
1775."  When  the  alarm  reached  Haverhill,  he  was  at  work  on  the  roof 
of  Deacon  Dodge's  house,  corner  of  Main  and  Vestry  Streets.  He  at 
once  hurried  home,  changed  his  clothes,  joined  the  company  of  Lieutenant 
Samuel  Clements,  and  made  all  haste  to  the  scene  of  action.  Erom  a 
private  he  gradually  rose  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  served  through  the 
whole  of  the  war,  visiting  his  home  but  once  during  the  whole  period.'-' 
He  was  at  Bunker  Hill ;  at  Valley  Forge,  during  that  memorable  win- 
ter ;  at  Burgoyne's  surrender ;  and  was  one  of  the  guards  at  the  execution 
of  Andre.  His  persevering  patriotism,  courage,  and  integrity,  secured 
him  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  Washington,  Lafayette,  Kosciusko,  and 
Steuben,  the  memory  of  whom  was  dearly  cherished  by  him  to  the  end  of 
life.  Several  years  after  the  war,  as  Mr.  Willis  of  this  town  was  walking 
through  the  grounds  at  Mt.  Vernon,  he  met  President  Washington,  who 
engaged  in  conversation  with  him.  On  learning  that  he  was  from  Haver- 
hill, Washington  enquired  particularly  about  Captain  Emerson,  who,  he 
observed,  was  "a  brave  officer,  a  good  disciplinarian,  and  never  lost  his 
temper  .^^ 

°  Four  of  his  brothers,  —  Jonathan,  Samuel,  Nathan,  and  Moses,  —  were  also  in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution, 


\ 


'nil 


■•''(rs) 


^^/£^^^7'v^:^M."^^r^^^^^^^^^-^ 


HISTORY    OF    HAVEKHILL.  631 

Mr.  Emerson  settled  on  the  old  homestead,  so  long  in  possession  of  his 
family,  -where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  He  was  a  kind- 
hearted,  gentlemanly  man,  not  ambitious  of  Avorldly  distinction,  but 
honest  and  upright ;  and  his  memory  is  cherished  with  respect.  He  died 
December  11,  1S32,  aged  84  years. 

How,  Datid,  son  of  Deacon  James  How,  was  born  in  Methuen,  Mass., 
in  1758.  He  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  —  six  sons  and 
four  daughters.  All  the  sons  served  in  the  Eevolution.  Three  of  them 
were  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

David  was  a  currier  by  trade,  having  learned  the  business  while  living 
with  his  grandfather  (Farnham)  at  Andover,  Mass.  He  was  one  of  those 
who  marched  to  Cambridge  on  the  Lexington  Alarm,  and  was  also  of  the 
number  that  occupied  Bunker  Hill  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  June.  On 
the  day  of  the  battle,  he  was  stationed  in  the  "  fort,"  and  thus  took  an 
active  part  in  the  struggle.  Just  at  the  close  of  the  action,  having  dis- 
charged his  gun,  the  soldier  who  stood  at  his  side  was  shot  down,  when 
How  seized  his  comrade's  gun,  "  let  fly"  at  the  British,  and  under  cover 
of  the  smoke,  retreated  from  the  fort.  Air.  How  always  gave  a  large  part  of 
the  credit  due  for  the  glorious  work  of  that  day,  to  Col.  Prescott.  Many 
years  after  that  eventful  day,  and  bu£  a  few  months  before  his  death,  a 
person  read  to  Mr.  How  an  article  from  a  Boston  paper,  relating  to  the 
battle,  and  asked  his  opinion  of  Gen.  Putnam.  He  replied  that  he  "  never 
heard  anything  against  him  in  the  army."  He  was  then  asked  what  he 
thought  of  Col.  Prescott.  He  answered,  "had  it  not  been  for  Col.  Pres- 
cott there  would  have  been  no  fight."  ^  Pretending  that  he  was  not  quite 
understood,  the  person  repeated  the  question,  but  the  answer  was  the 
same.  Not  yet  satisfied,  tne  question  was  again  pressed,  when  How  arose 
from  his  chair,  stood  erect,  and,  raising  his  hand,  exclaimed,  with  all  the 
power  of  voice  he  could  summon  —  (for  some  years  his  voice  had  been 
scarcely  audible.)  — "I  tell  ye  that,  had  it  not  been  for  Col.  Prescott, 
there  would  have  been  no  fight.  He  was  all  night,  and  all  the  morning 
talking  to  the  soldiers  and  moving  about  his  short  sword  among  them,  in 
such  a  way,  that  they  all  felt  like  fight." 

On  the  27th  of  the  December  following  the  above  battle.  How,  then 
scarcely  seventeen  years  of  age,  enlisted  for  the  war.  Though  young,  his 
spirit  had  already  caught  the  true  patriotic  fire,  and  through  all  the  long 
and  arduous  struggle,  he  never  for  a  moment  doubted  the  final  result. 
He  was  at  Haarlem  Heights,  and  at  Trenton.  At  the  latter  battle,  he  took 
from  a  Hessian  soldier  his  gun  and  knapsack,  both  of  which  are  still  in 
the  possession  of  his  grandson,  David  W.  Howe,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


632  HISTOBY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  How  went  to  New  London,  N.  H.,  where 
he  bought  and  partly  cleared  a  lot  of  land,  intending  to  settle  upon  it  as 
a  farmer.  But  his  wife  was  so  unwilling  to  remove  thus  far  into  the 
wilderness,'-'  that  he  gave  up  the  idea  of  becoming  a  farmer,  and  finally 
removed  to  Haverhill,  where  he  commenced,  in  a  very  humble  way,  in  the 
basement  of  a  small  shop  on  Water  Street,  the  business  of  currying.  His 
peculiar  suavity  of  manner,  strict  integrity,  industry,  and  Yankee  pro- 
pensity to  "trade  and  dicker,"  soon  secured  him  a  firm  hold  upon  the 
business  of  the  place.  He  gradually  added  a  variety  of  other  articles  of 
trade  to  his  little  stock  of  leather,  until  in  time  he  became  the  largest 
trader  in  the  town. 

From  his  little  shop  on  Water  Street,  he  removed  to  a  store  near  the 
west  end  of  the  Bannister  Block,  on  Merrimack  Street.  Subsequently  he 
built  the  block  now  occupied  by  John  Davis,  and  Willett  &  Co.,  (next  but 
one  south  of  Mechanics'  Court,  west  side  of  Main  Street,)  to  which  he 
removed.  He  occupied  nearly  the  entire  building,  which  was  kept  liter- 
ally filled  with  goods.  Still  later,  he  was  instrumental  in  the  erection  of 
the  pile  of  brick  buildings  extending  from  the  bridge  to  the  Essex  Block, 
on  Merrimack  Street,  and  had  charge  of  their  erection.  The  two  west 
stores  were  owned  by  him;  the  next  two  by  James  Duncan,  Esq.,  and  the 
rest  of  the  block,  to  the  toll-keeper's  house  on  the  bridge,  was  owned  by 
Wm.  B.  Bannister,  Esq.,  of  Newbury  port. 

Mr.  How  was  among  the  first  to  engage  in  the  wholesale  manufacture  of 
shoes  in  the  town,  and  was  the  first  one  who  manufactured  them  in  large 
quantities,  for  a  distant  market.  During  the  war  of  1812,  he  sent  a 
large  lot  of  them  to  Philadelphia,  by  his  own  team,  realizing  a  handsome 
profit  on  them.  He  was  the  first  to  keep  on  hand  large  quantities  of 
leather,  to  exchange  for  shoes.  Such  was  his  interest  in  the  business,  and 
his  energy  and  enterprise  in  carying  it  on,  that  he  may  almost  be  called 
the  founder  of  the  shoe  business  in  this  town. 

An  idea  of  the  large  amount  of  business  done  by  him  may  be  judged 
from  the  fact  that  during  the  war  of  1812,  he  was  offered  ^100,000,  for 
the  stock  of  goods  he  then  had  in  his  store,  but  refused. 

With  his  early  love  of  farming,  Mr.  How  invested  largely  in  farming 
lands,  and  was  at  one  time  probably  one  of  the  largest  laud  owners  in  the 
County,  if  not  in  the  State.     Liberal  minded  and  enterprising,f  he  ira- 

*  His  first  wife  wiis  a  Whittier,  of  Mefhuen ;  his  second,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Refldington,  Esq.,  of  Hav- 
erhill; and  h'.a  third,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  White,  Esq.,  also  of  this  town. 

t  Mr.  How  was  the  first  one  to  introduce  and  advocate  the  use  of  plaster  on  lands.  Td  prove  its 
efficacy,  he  caused  it  to  bo  sown  in  a  peculiar  manner,  on  the  southerly  side  of  Gulden  Hill,  and  for 
months  afterward,  the  mammoth  "  D  U  "  etched  in  living  green,  proved  to  the  passers-by  its  claims  to 
confidence. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  633 

parted  a  like  spirit  to  his  fellow-townsmen,  the  surpassing  influence  of 
which  cannot  be  estimated.  Thousands  upon  thousands  of  apple  and  pear 
trees,  now  in  the  full  vigor  of  maturity,  and  yielding  their  ample  crops  of 
delicious  fruit, '  are  visible  and  tangible  monuments  of  his  enterprise  and 
practical  forethought.  Through  all  the  sixty  years  of  his  residence  in 
this  town,  Mr.  How  commanded  the  unqualified  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  who  knew  him.  Mr.  How  was  never  an  office-seeker,  and  therefore  the 
fact  that  he  represented  his  town  in  the  General  Court  for  twelve  years, 
is  ample  proof  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow-citizens. 
During  the  early  years  of  the  Merrimack  Bank,  he  was  its  President.  He 
was  a  large  owner  in  the  Haverhill  Bridge,  and,  indeed,  was  more  or  less 
connected  with  every  worthy  local  enterprise  of  the  day. 

His  farming  operations  were  never  profitable,  from  the  fact  that  he 
could  not  personally  oversee  such  extensive  operations,  and  at  the  same 
time  carry  on  a  large  commercial  business. 

For  many  years,  he  was  a  sort  of  "  savings  bank  "  for  those  of  his  towns- 
men, and  others,  who  happened  to  have  money  that  they  did  not  wish  to 
make  use  of  for  the  time."  Such  were  always  glad  to  have  him  invest 
their  money  for  them,  and  his  simple  promissory  note  was  considered 
equally  as  secure  as  the  best  bank  stocks  of  the  present  day. 

The  knowledge  on  the  part  of  those  to  whom  he  was  thus  indebted,  that 
bis  farms  were  rather  a  pecuniary  damage  to  him,  and  that  his  liabilities 
were  large,  ultimately  proved  his  misfortune.  A  rumor  (unfounded,  but 
equally  fatal,)  that  he  had  recently  become  embarrassed  by  heavy  losses, 
led  to  a  sudden  "  run  "  upon  him  by  these  persons.  Unable  to  meet  the 
sudden  torrent  of  demands,  and  refusing  security,  (never  having  done 
such  a  thing  in  his  life  ! )  suits  were  piled  upon  suits,  and  costs  upon 
costs,  until  a  large  property  was  nearly  consumed.  It  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  that,  at  the  time  the  panic  occurred,  not  a  dollar  of  the  large 
property  then  in  his  hands  was  mortgaged  ! 

Mr.  How  died  February  9,  1842,  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age.  Many 
yet  living  have  ample  cause  to  remember  him  with  love  and  respect.  To 
the  poor,  he  was  no  ordinary  friend.  His  hand  was  always  open  to  their 
wants,  and  they  never  failed  to  find  relief  in  his  charities.  His  enter- 
prise furnished  employment  for  many  an  humble  individual,  whose  wages 
were  regulated  by  no  miserly  standard.  He  was  a  "  father  of  the  town," 
in  the  highest  sense  of  the  title,  and  will  long  be  remembered  for  his 
sterling  worth. 

°  The  first  Bank  in  the  town,  was  incorpor«ted  in  1814.  The  Savings  Bank  was  not  established  until 
1829. 

80 


634  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILI.. 

Isaac  Redington  How,  son  of  David  How,  Esq.,  was  bom  in  Haverhill, 
March  13,  1791.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  ISIO,  and  after  pursuing  his 
legal  studies  with  Hon.  "William  Prescott,  of  Boston,  commenced  his  pro- 
fession at  Haverhill,  and 'acquired  in  it  a  highly  respectable  rank.  But 
his  taste  and  inclination  led  him,  mainly,  to  literary  pursuits,  and  he 
gradually  avoided  his  practice  in  the  law.  He  was  a  constant  and  severe 
thinker,  and  wrote  much  for  the  press.  He  was  especially  interested  in 
whatever  related  to  the  mechanics  and  the  arts,  and  in  these  matters  his 
mind  was  far  in  advance  of  his  age.  He  was  never  selfish  or  partizan  in 
his  character,  or  committed  his  conduct  or  opinions  to  the  dictation  of 
others,  but  aimed  at  truth,  and  the  general  good.  He  was  a  useful  and 
respected  citizen,  and  a  high-minded,  intellectual,  christian  gentleman. 
He  died  at  Haverhill,  January  15,  1860. 

Johnson,  John,  the  first  of  this  name  who  settled  in  Haverhill,  was  a 
son  of  William,  a  brick-maker  of  Charlestown,  Mass.  He  came  to  Hav- 
erhill in  the  fall  of  1657,  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Elias  Maverick,  of  Charlestovi^n,  and  one  child,  John,  who  was  born 
August  3,  1657.  He  settled  near  the  corner  of  what  is  now  Main  and 
Water  Streets,  and  a  part  of  his  original  house-lot  is  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  his  lineal  descendants."'  As  a  blacksmith's  shop  in  those  days  was 
one  of  the  most  public  places  in  a  town,  it  is  quite  probable  that  his  set- 
tlement in  that  place  was  a  prominent  reason  why  the  principal  business 
of  the  town  became  located  in  that  vicinity.  Besides  the  house-lot  and 
other  town  accommodations  given  him,  February  9,  1659,  to  encourage 
him  to  settle  here,  he  bought  parcels  of  land,  at  various  times,  until  he 
became  quite  a  large  land-holder,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  bad  sold 
aud  given  away  to  his  children,  all  but  about  seventy-five  to  one  hundred 
acres  —  some  of  which  was  situated  in  th6  town  of  Charlestown. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  an  active  and  useful  citizen,  and  became  the  founder 
of  one  of  the  largest  and  most  respectable  families  in  this  town.  He 
represented  the  town  in  the  General  Court,  in  1691  ;  was  one  of  the  dea- 
cons in  the  church  ;  and  an  officer  in  the  militia.  At  the  terrible  slaugh- 
ter of  the  inhabitants  by  the  Indians,  August  29,  1708,  he  was  killed  at 
his  own  house,'  and  buried  in  the  old  burying-ground,  with  the  other  offi- 
cers in  the  militia,  near  Mr.  Eolfc,  their  pastor. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  three  times,  —  first,  to  Elizabeth  Maverick, 
October  15,  1656,  who  died  March  22,  1673—1 ;  second,  to  widow  Sarah 
Gillo,  of  Lynn,  March  3,  1674-5,  who  died  July  24,  1676^at  the  time 

O  Sec  pajfc  83. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  635 

iier  tvrin-daughters  were  born  ;  and  third,  September  8,  1680,  Katherine, 
widow  of  Jolm  Maverick,  and  formerly  Katherinc  Skipper,  of  Boston> 
who  was  killed  by  the  Indians- at  the  same  time  as  was  her  husband. 

He  had  at  least  ten  children:  John,  born  Augusts,  1657;  Elizabethj 
born  November  18,  1659;  Euhama,  born  September  10,1661;  William 
born  November  14,  1663;  Sarah,  born  August  2,  1665;  Euth  ;  Ruth, 
born  February  14,  1669;  Timothy,  born  June  31,  1672;  and  Mary  and 
liebecca,  twins,  born  July  17,  1676. 

Timothy,  son  of  John,  married  Ann  Maverick,  and  died  September  21  ^ 
1696,  leaving  one  child,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  Joshua  Bailey,  by 
whom  she  had  Ann,  Mary,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Anna,  (who  was  the 
first  wife  of  Enoch  Bartlett,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Bailey,  who  was 
the  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett, =••)  and  Abigail,  (who  married  Isaac  Osgood, 
from  Andovcr), 

yb/i«, .  (a  blacksmith,  and  who  was  also  called  Li-eut.  Johnson,)  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Maverick)  Johnson,  was  also  married  three  times,  — 
first,  to  Mary  Mousall,  September  8,  16S0;  second,  to  Lydia  Clement, 
Pebruary  19,  1G89  ;  and  third,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  a  Joseph  Johnson, 
May  17,  1697.  He  died  March  9,  1723-^4.  His  children  were  —  John, 
1683  ;  Thomas,  1685,  (ancestor  of  most  of  the  Johnsons  of  Haverhill 
and  Bradford)  ;  William;  Lydia,  1689  ;  Nathaniel,  1691  ;  Mary,  1693-4; 
Sarah,  1695-6;  Elizabeth,  1699;  Timothy,  1701;  Rebecca;  Maverick; 
Hannah,  1707  ;  William,  (who  succeeded  his  father  as  blacksmith)  1709  , 
Abigail,  1711-12;  Samuel,  1715-16. 

Thomas,  son  of  John,  Jr.,  and  Mary  (Mousall)  Johnson,  settled  on  the 
northeast  side  of  Kenoza  Lake,  where  Daniel  Hoyt  now  lives,  which  farm 
was  given  him  by  his  father.  He  married,  first,  Euth  Bradley,  November 
13,  1706,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  the  same  day  ;f  and  second, 
Rachel  Ordway,  who  died  1764.  Mr.  Johnson  died  July  22,  1754.  His 
ten  children  were  —  Lydia,  1707;  Euth,  1710;  Daniel,  1711-12,  who 
with  his  brother,  Maverick,  had  the  homestead;  Maverick,  1714,  one  of 

<^  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett  married  Peggy,  daughter  of  John  White,  Jr.,  of  this  town,  and  had  Anna  B., 
born  1787,  who  is  the  widow  of  the  Hon.  Wm.  Jarvis,  of  WeathcrsCeld,  Vt. ;  Elizabeth,  1780,  married 
Hon.  Joseph  E.  Spr.igue,  of  Salcm ;  Margaret,  1790,  married  Dr.  Rufus  Longley,  of  Haverhill;  Harriet 
died  unmarried ;  Sarah  L.,  1793,  married  Hon.  J.  E.  Sprague  above  (for  second  wife) ;  Bailey,  179-1:,  now 
resides  in  Lawrence;  Mass.;  Katherinc,  179j;  Edwin,  1790;  Mary;  Abigail  0.,  married  Rev.  Moses 
Kimball,  of  Weatherslield,  Vt. ;  Charles  L.,  1802;  Mary  A.,  1804,  married  John  Tenney,  Esq.,  of 
Methuen,  Mass. ;  JFred.  A. ;  i'rancis,  180G  ;  and  Louisa,  1809,  who  married  Oliver  Carleton,  of  Salem. 

t  Mr.  Johnson's  grandfather  was  sluin  in  1708,  but  the  savages  spared  their  infant,  —  which  was  prob- 
ably the  same  child  that  Mirick  says  was  in  the  anns  of  its  step-great-grandmother,  when  she  was 
liilled. 


636  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

whose  children  was  the  late  Col.  John  Johnson,  of  the  Eocks'  Village,  who 
died  1861;  Nathan,  1718;  Peter,  1721,  who  settled  near  his  father; 
Seth,  1723,  who  settled  on  the  farm  next  south-west  where  Joshua  Lake 
now  lives ;  Kachel,  1726;  Anna,  1728,  and  Moses,  1730. 

Captain  Daniel,  son  of  Thomas  and  Rachel  (Ordway)  Johnson,  mar-^ 
ried,  first,  April  3,  1734,  Susanna  Bixby,  of  Boxford,  and  second,  Widow 
Susanna  Russell,  in  1779.  He  died  in  March,  1794.  His  children  were 
— Deacon  Elias,  1735,  who  built  the  house  (1772)  and  settled  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  John  B,  Nichols,  Esc[.,  and  where  his  son  Daniel 
afterward  lived  and  died;  Captain  Timothy,  1737,  an  officer  in  the  Revo- 
lution ;  Lydia,  1739;  Susanna,  1743;  Mary,  1749;  and  Rachel  1753. 

Seth,  son  of  Thomas  and  Rachel  (Ordway)  Johnson,  married  Hannah 
Greeley,  March  25,  1756,  and  had  seven  children,  viz. :  Thomas,  1757  ; 
Thomas,  1760,  who  settled  near  Cottle's  Ferry,  where  he  erected  and 
owned  a  grist-mill;  Nathaniel  1762;  Seth,  1764,  settled  in  Campton, 
N.  H. ;  Nathaniel,  1767,  who  settled  near  Cottle's  Ferry,  and  one  of  whose 
sons,  Joseph,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  (Williams) 
Chase,  of  East  Haverhill;  John,  1772,  a  blacksmith,  who  finally  settled 
in  the  village,  and  died  September  3,  1843  ;  and  Benjamin,  1774. 

Deacon  Thomas,  son  of  Seth  and  Hannah  (Greeley)  Johnson,  who  set- 
tled near  Cottle's  Ferry,  married  Lydia  .Noyes,  of  West  Newbury,  and 
died  January  13,  1845.  His  children  were  Hannah,  1786  ;  Frederick, 
October  26,  1789,  who  settled  in  West  Bradford,  and  married  Nancy, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Chase-*;  Nathaniel,  1794,  a  farmer  in  East  Haverhill; 
Leonard,  July  27,  1796,  a  shoe  manufacturer,  resides  in  Bradford;  Fran- 
cis, 1798,  unmarried;  Louisa,  1804;  Lucinda,  1806;  and  Mary  Brick- 
ett,  1812. 

John,  son  of  Seth  and  Hannah  (Greeley)  Johnson,  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Wingatc)  Bradley,  of  Haverhill,  August 
27,  1795.  She  died  September  26,  1831,  aged  62  years  and  11  months. 
Their  children  were,  —  Andrew,  born  October  7,  1796,  married  Ruth, 
daughter  of  Wm.  Edwards,  of  Haverhill ;  Samuel,  born  January  5,  1798, 

*  The  children  of  Frederick  nnd  Nancy  Johnson,  were,  Leonard,  born  1815,  died  nnmarried  at  Honoluin , 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  18o2;  Wm.  Fred,  horn  1816,  resides  in  Mnscatine,  Iowa,  married,  first,  Sarah  Ann 
Vanderbuilt,  and  second,  Sarah  Troctor ;  George,  born  October  14,  1818,  an  extensive  shof-mannfacturer 
and  dealer  in  leather  in  lioston,  resides  in  Bra 0 ford,  who  niaiTicd  KnimaEldredgc  Ho()g»kiiis,  of  Ncwburj- 
porj,  and  has  Geo.  Hazcn,  born  December  n,  1848,  Herbert  Morris,  born  December  8,  18")0,  Emma  Ann, 
died  young,  Frederick  Wm.,  born  October  24,  18.J3,  Helen  Lonise,  born  July  7,  I8J5,  Alice  Rebecca,  born 
July  12,  1856,  and  Allan  Macfarlaii,  born  January  13,  1800,  died  Augnst  22,  186(1;  Ann  Maria,  born 
October  13,  1S2U,  married  John  Girdler  of  Manchester,  Mass.,  both  deceased;  Haze.n  TK,  born  1812, 
died  1839  ;  James  T.,  died  young;  Emeline  L.,  born  1826,  died  1841 ;  Ahhy  Hazeliine,  born  March  25. 
1828,  is  Preceptress  of  Bradford  Academy  ;  and  Charles  Everett,  born  November  1,  1830. 


Jf/./luffird-'  liUz-Po'tpr^ 


fllSTORt    OF   HAVERHILL. 


637 


married,  first,  Sally,  daughter  of  David  Gleason,  second,  Abigail  S.  George* 
and  third,  Mary,  widow  of  Samuel  Eussell,  and  died  November,  1845; 
Sally,  born  Februarys,  1801,  died  unmarried  in  1822;  Hannah,  born 
July  8,  1803,  married  Tappan,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  Chase;  "Wash* 
ington,  born  August  22.  1805,  a  blacksmith,-'  married  Harriet,  •widow  of 
Samuel  S.  Burr,  of  Haverhill;  Abigail,  born  February  14,  1808,  died 
unmarried,  August  29,  1841 ;  Nathan,  February  15,  1810,  married  first, 
Elizabeth  H,,  daughter  of  John  "Whittaker,  second,  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Wyded  Sawyer,  and  third,  Lois  Ann,  daughter  of  Joshua  Davis;  and 
William,  born  January  10,  1813,  married  Maria  L.  Anderson,  of  Hamp- 
stead,  N.  H. 

Lo*iGLEY,  Dk.  Euftjs,  was  a  native  of  Shirley,  Mass.  Having  pur-» 
sued  the.  preparatory  studies  at  Lawrence  Academy,  in  Groton,  he  entered 
Harvard  L^niversity,  and  remained  there  about  two  years,  but  left  College, 
with  a  number  of  his  Class,  before  he  had  completed  his  collegiate  course. 
An  Honorary  degree  was  subsequently  conferred  on  him  by  that  InstitU" 
tion.  Having  completed  a  full  course  of  medical  studies,  and  received  a 
medical  degree  from  Dartmouth  College,  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Haverhill,  in  1812.  His  talent,  manly  bearing,  and  profes- 
sional ability,  soon  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people,  which  he 
retained  undiminished  to  the  close  of  life.  He  was  an  eminently  useful 
citizen,  taking  a  lively  interest  in  the  well-being  of  the  community,  and 
his  fellow-citizens  were  glad  to  place  him  in  municipal  offices  whenever  he 
would  accept  them.  In  politics,  a  decided  and  consistent  yet  liberal  dis- 
ciple of  the  school  of  "Washington,  he  was  always  active  and  zealous  in 
the  support  of  the  principles  to  which  he  was  attached ;  but  although 
favorably  known  through  the  County,  his  professional  engagements  would 
not  allow  him  to  be  a  candidate  for  political  office,  except  that  he  yielded 
to  the  wishes  of  the  District  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  Harrison  Electors 
of  President  in  1840.  Such  was  the  confidence  in  his  integrity  and 
ability  that  a  full  share  of  the  responsibilities  of  this  community  were 
devolved  upon  him.  He  was  for  many  years  President  of  the  Savings 
Institution,  and  also  of  the  Merrimack  Bank,  which  latter  office  he  held 
at  his  decease ;  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Merrimack  Lodge  of 
Free-masons  in  this  place,  and  was  its  Master  from  1817  to  1826,  and 
also  from  its  re-organization,  in  1852,  to  his  death,  in  1854.  It  may  be 
mentioned,  as  a  somewhat  remarkable  fact,  in  his  forty-three  years  of  pro- 
fessional experience,  that  his  first  patient  in  the  town  was  also  the  last  to 

•  See  page  88, 


./ 


638  niSTORY    OF    lIAVEfeHlLt. 

receive  a  professional  visit  from  liim.  Mr.  Longley  died  March  12, 1854, 
Aged  06  years. 

Marsh.  This  is  the  name  of  an  ancient  family  in  the  town,  whose 
descendants  have  become  numerous  and  gone  out  into  every  part  of  our 
wide  land. 

Onesiphorus,  who  was  the  son  of  George  Marsh  who  was  admitted  a 
"freeman"  in  the  Mass.  Colony,  in  1635,  and  settled  in  Hingham,  im- 
migrated to  this  town  within  ten  years  of  its  settlement.  He  located  at 
what  was  long  called  "  Marsh's  Hill,"  a  mile  west  of  the  village.  He 
left  at  least  three  sons  and  two  daughters, — -Onesiphorus,  Jr.,  John, 
Thomas,  Mary,  and  Abigail.  'J'homas  died  1690,  of — as  it  is  called  in 
the  town  records  —  the  "  Canada  pox  ;  "  the  other  children  married  and 
had  large  familes. 

John  married,  November  16,  1688,  Lydia  Emerson,  a,nd  had  ten  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth,  born  August  13,  1689  ;  Sarah,  born  June  2,  1691  ;  John, 
born  August  19,  1693  ;  Thomas,  born  October  23, 1695;  David,  born  Jan- 
uary 21,  1098;  Jonathan,  born  Jijne  15,  1700;  Mehitabel,  born  July  20, 
1702;  Abigail,  born  May  28,  1705;  Hiinnah,  born  November  27,  1707; 
and  Ephraim,  born  April  2,  1710.  Lydia,  the  wife  of  John,  died  in  1719, 
and  he  married  widow  Mary  Eaton,  in  1720.  In  1721,  he  was  chosen 
deacon  of  the  First  Parish  Church,  and  died  November  24,  1734. 

David,  son  of  John,  married  Mary  Moody,  of  Newbury,  August  1722, 
and  had  twelve  children :  Elizabeth,  born  June  29,  1723;  Mary,  March 
12,  1725;  Judith,  May  5,  1727;  Cutting,  March  20,  1728;  David, 
March  27,  1731;  Moses,  February  9,  1732;  Jonathan,  May  25,  1735; 
Enoch,  August  3,  1737;  Nathaniel,  December  31,  1739;  John,  Novem- 
ber 2d,  1743;  Lydia,  February  5,  1745;  and  Abigail,  April  3,  1747. 
David,  senior,  was  chosen  deacon,  instead  of  his  deceased  father,  in  17374 
and  filled  the  office  until  his  death,  November  2,  1777.  Mary,  his  widow, 
long  survived  him,  and  died  May  12,  1794,  in  the  91st  year  of  her  age. 
This  family  presents  a  rare  example  of  long  life  in  all  its  members.  The 
shortest  lived  one,  Enoch,  lived  to  be  68  years  old  ;  and  the  average  of 
the  twelve  was  eighty-two  years  and  one  month.  Perhaps  the  cause  lay 
in  the  temperance,  frugality,  and  industry,  of  which  they  were  all  bright 
examples.  Their  parents  removed,  about  1731,  from  Marsh's  Hill  to  the 
village — to  the  site  adjoining,  on  the  north,  the  Centre  Church,  and  still 
in  possession  of  a  descendant. 

jMoscs,  son  of  David,  married  Eebckah  Walker,  February  6,  1759,  and 
had  twelve  children:  Lydia,  born  June  23,  1700,  died  aged  8  years; 
Moses,  born  December  21,    1701;  Mary,  born   August  23,  1763;  Lydia 


i^s^H 


"\ 


H, 


-"^Sn 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  639 

born  July  28,  1765;  David,  born  July  26,  1767;  James,  born  October  6, 
1769  ;  Nathaniel,  born  August  11,  1771,  died  young;  Nathaniel,  born 
July  1.  177!^;  Eebekah,  born' February  1 1 ,  1777;  John,  born  February 
10,  1780;  Jonathan,  born  July  30,  1782;  and  Samuel,  born  January  19, 
1786.  Of  this  once  numerous  family,  only  Samuel,  the  youngest,  sur- 
vives at  the  present;  he  resides  in  New  York,  and  enjoys,  amid  active 
pursuits,  comfortable  health.  The  father  died  October  20,  1820,  and  the 
mother,  January  15,  1823,  the  former  aged  88,  and  the  latter  84.  Most 
of  the  children  also  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  David,  whose  likeness  is 
here  inserted,  copied  from  a  portrait  painted  when  he  was  about  77  years 
old,  died  August  30,  1854,  in  his  88th  year.  While  he  passed  his  long 
life  in  the  humble  paths  of  mechanical,  mercantile,  and  agricultural  occu- 
pations yet  no  one  of  the  name  is  more  worthy  to  be  contemplated  by  his 
numerous  relatives,  as  a  model  of  every  virtue.  Many,  on  seeing  the 
likeness,  will  recall  pleasant  recollections  of  events  long  since  passed 
away. 

In  partnership  with  his  brother,  John,  he  did  business  for  nearly  fifty 
years  on  Merrimack  Street,  in  a  store  on  the  river-side,  just  east  of  the 
residence  of  John  Plummer,  while  their  residences  were  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street — the  fifth  and  sixth  houses  from  Little  Eiver.  There 
they  manufactured  hand-cards  for  carding  wool,  before  machines  for  that 
purpose,  driven  by  water,  were  introduced  here.  After  their  introduction, 
and  during  the  second  war  with  England,  they  began  to  make  the  machines 
also,  and  the  cards  with  them.  They  made,  probably,  the  first  carding 
machine  used  in  this  part  of  the  country,  for  Mr.  Marl  and,  of  Andover, 
and  under  his  direction.  Subsequently,  they  sent  many  into  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Maine.  They  were  engaged,  too,  for  some  years,  in  the  earlier 
stage  of  the  business  here,  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes.  And,  in  the 
long  course  of  their  business,  the  example  of  David  and  John  Marsh 
became  proverbial,  not  only  for  the  fairness  of  their  dealings  and  their 
promptness  to  meet  all  obligations,  but  likewise  for  the  brotherly  kindness 
which  marked  their  intercourse  with  each  other. 

Merrill,  Hon.  James  Gushing,  son  of  Eev.  Gyles  Merrill,  was  born 
in  Haverhill,  September  27,  1784,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1807.  He  settled  in  Boston  as  a  lawyer,  and  was  afterward  Judge  of  the 
Police  Court  in  Boston.  He  married,  November  28,  1820,  Anna,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  by  whom  he  had  four  children.  Judge 
Merrill  died  October  4,  1853.     His  widow  still  resides  in  Haverhill. 

MiNOT,  Hon.  Stephen  was  born  in  Concord,  Mass.,  September  28, 
1776,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1801.     He  studied  law  with 


640  HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 

Hon.  Samuel  Dana,  of  Groton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Middlesex  bar,  in 
1804,  He  practiced  his  profession  about  one  year  in  New  Gloucester,  and 
Minot,  Me.,  and  then  removed  to  Haverhill,' where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  April  6,  1861.  In  1810,  he  purchased  a  water  privilege 
at  Methuen  village,  and  soon  after  erected  the  first  cotton  mill  at  that 
place,  which  he  continued  to  operate  for  several  years.  He  was  at  one 
time  County  Attorney  for  Essex,  and  was  Judge  from  1811  to  1820. 

His  mind  was  clear  in  its  perception  and  logical  in  its  conclusions. 
Firm  in  purpose,  exact  and  punctual  in  method  and  habits,  of  strict  integ- 
rity, fearless  in  spirit,  he  was  ever  prompt  to  say  or  do  whatever  his 
judgment  approved.  He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  institutions  of 
religion,  whose  ministrations  he  attended  with  great  regularity,  as  long  as 
his  infirmities  would  admit.  Of  great  regularity  and  temperance  in  his 
manner  of  life ;  in  his  private  relations,  a  true,  affectionate,  generous 
friend.  In  conversation,  he  was  genial,  and  rich  in  anecdote.  During 
the  latter  part  of  his  life,  having  withdrawn  from  professional  labors, 
he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  mathematical  studies,  in  which  he  took  great 
delight,  and  in  reading  the  Latin  classics.  The  late  George  Minot,  Esq., 
a  sound  and  able  lawyer,  of  Boston,  author  of  Minot's  Digest,  a  work  well 
known  to  the  profession,  was  his  youngest  son. 

MooERS,  GE>f.  Benjamin.  As  Gen.  Mooers  was  a  native  of  Haverhill, 
we  copy  the  following  obituary  notice  of  him  from  the  Plattsburg  (New 
York)   Whiff,  of  the  24th  February,  1838:  — 

"Died  in  this  village,  on  the  20th  inst.,  Major  General  Benjamin 
Mooers,  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age. 

The  venerable  man  whose  loss  the  public  are  called  to  mourn,  was  born 
in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  April  1st  1758  —  and  consequently  would  have  been, 
had  he  lived  to  the  first  of  April  next,  eighty  years  old.  In  1776,  when 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  entered  the  army  as  a  volunteer.  In  the 
summer  of  this  year,'  he  was  at  Ticonderoga,  at  which  place  he  read,  for 
the  first  time,  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  adopted  by  Congress  on 
the  4th  of  July  of  that  year.  In  the  winter  following  he  was  appointed 
ensign  in  the  1st  Congress  Eegiment,  or  as  it  was  usually  termed  'Con- 
gress' own.'  This  was  a  favorite  regiment,  made  up  mostly  of  Canadian 
refugees  —  said  to  be  as  brave  and  gallant  a  corps  as  any  in  the  army. 
This  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col  Moses  Hazen,"-  a  gallant  ofiicer, 
who  subsequently  rose  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier,  but  retained  through  the 
war  the  Colonelcy  of  his  regiment  of  '  Congress'  own.'  Ensign  Mooers 
was  soon  after  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  of  the 

Also  a  native  of  Hftverhill. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  641 

a*egiment  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  The  regi- 
ment to  which  he  was  attached  was  not  an  idle  one  in  the  great  struggle 
which  was  then  going  on,  and  consequently  Adj't  Mooers  saw  much  mili- 
tary service.  Besides  various  other  active  duties,  he  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  Gren.  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga,  and  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
and  at  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  in  1783,  he,  with  two  other  officers  and  8 
privates  of  his  regiment  (now  disbanded)  left  the  head  quarters,  at  New- 
burgh,  and  came  to  this  country,  then  a  perfect  wilderness.  There  was  not 
at  this  time  a  civilized  inhabitant  within  the  borders  of  this  county. 

Gen.  Mooers  has  been  a  citizen  of  this  county  ever  since  he  first  landed, 
now  nearly  fifty  years." 

He  was  the  first  Sheriif  of  this  county  —  and  represented  the  County 
in  the  Assembly  of  this  State  four  terms.  He  has  also  served  four  years  in 
the  Senate  of  this  State,  and  was  chosen  President  pro  tern  of  that  body. 
He  became  an  officer  in  the  militia  at  an  early  day,  and  finally  rose  to  the 
rank  of  Major  General,  in  which  capacity  he  was  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  in  1812;  and,  with  the  detached  militia,  commanded 
at  the  siege  of  Plattsburg  in  1814:,  with  so  much  credit  to  himself  as  to 
merit  the  commendation  of  the  legislature  of  his  state,  and  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  sword.  For  thirty-eight  successive  years  Gen.  Mooers  was  the 
treasurer  of  the  County. 

In  all  the  charitable  and  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day,  General 
Mooers  was  always  conspicuous  — -  was  President  of  the  Clinton  County 
Bible  Society,  and  of  the  County  Temperance  Society. 

General  Mooers  sustained  all  the  relations  of  life  without  reproach. 
As  a  citizen  his  example  is  worthy  of  all  imitation.  As  a  husband,  father, 
neighbor  or  friend,  he  was  kind  and  affectionate,  but  just.  As  a  subject 
of  the  laws  of  his  country,  he  obeyed  with  alacrity  all  their  obligations, 
moral,  civil  and  social.  As  a  military  man,  he  combined  the  rare  qualifi- 
ications  of  moderation  and  firmness.  In  his  civil  employments,  he  always 
acted  with  sound  judgment  and  uncompromising  principle  ;  and  he  never 
failed  to  secure  the  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  acted,  or  of  his  con- 
stituents." 

Newell,  Harriet.  Harriet  Atwood,  afterward  Mrs.  New«ll,  was  a 
daughter  of  Moses  Atwood,  an  extensive  and  respected  merchant  of  Hav- 
erhill, where  she  was  born  October  10,  1793.=-'-=     Of  a  cheerful  disposition 

"  The  house  in  which  she  first  saw  the  light  is  still  standing,  and  is  the  one  next  west  of  the  Firet 
Parish  Church.     It  is  partly  occupied  by  Robert  Willis,  Esq.,  whose  wife  is  a  sister  of  Harribt  Newell. 

81 


642  HiSTOEY    OF   HAVERHILt. 

and  ardent  feelings,  she  early  manifested  a  strong  love  of  books,  and  at 
thirst  for  mental  improvement.  In  the  summer  of  1808,  she  attended 
Bradford  Academy,  aod  while  there,  a  powerful  religious  awakening,  in 
which  she  was  a  participant,  visited  the  school.  During  that  revival,  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  became  hopefully  pious,  and  engaged  in  the  work 
of  her  Master  with  all  the  ardor  for  which  she  was  so  greatly  distinguished 
a  few  years  subsequently. 

In  the  fall  of  1810,  when  she  had  just  completed  her  seventeenth  year, 
her  attention  was  first  turned  to  the  subject  of  missionary  labor  among 
the  heathen.  Under  date  of  October  10,  of  the  above  year,  she  thus 
writes :  — 

"  A  female  friend''-'  called  upon  us  this  morning.  She  informed  me  of 
her  determination  to  quit  her  native  land  for  ever,  to  endure  the  sufferings 
of  a  christian  amongst  heathen  nations,  to  spend  her  days  in  India's  sul- 
try clime.  How  did  the  news  affect  my  heart !  Is  she  willing  to  do  all 
this  for  God ;  and  shall  I  refuse  to  lend  my  little  aid,  in  a  land  where 
divine  revelation  has  shed  its  brightest  rays  ?  I  have  felt  more,  for  the 
salvation  of  the  heathen,  this  day,  than  I  recollect  to  have  felt  through 
my  whole  past  life." 

A  few  days  later,  she  had  her  first  interview  with  her  future  companion 
in  life.  She  thus  speaks  of  it :  —  "  Oct  23,  Mr  M  introduced  Mr  Newell 
to  our  family.  He  appears  to  be  an  engaged  christian.  Expects  to  spend 
his  life  in  preaching  a  Savior  to  the  benighted  pagans." 

(Eev.  Samuel  Newell  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and  pursued 
his  studies  for  the  ministry,  at  Andover.  In  June,  1810,  he  and  four 
other  young  men,f  consecrated  their  future  labors  to  the  cause  of  foreign 
missions,  and  offered  their  services  for  this  object  to  the  General  Associa- 
tion of  Massachusetts,  then  in  session  at  Bradford.  This  offer  led  to 
the  establishment  of  the  "American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,"  under  whose  direction  they  placed  themselves.) 

In  the  following  April,  Miss  Atwood  received  a  formal  proposal  from 
Mr.  Newell  to  become  his  wife,  and  with  him  devote  her  life  to  missionary 
labor.  The  letter  called  for  an  immediate  answer.  She  was  then  in  Bos- 
ton, but  immediately  hastened  home,  to  ask  a  mother's  advice.  Of  the 
interview,  she  thus  writes:  —  "  Dejected  and  weary,  I  arrived  at  the  deaf 
mansion  where  I  have  spent  so  many  happy  hours.  My  dear  mother  met 
me  at  the  door  with  a  countenance  that  bespoke  the  tranquility  of  her 
mind.     ■•'     '■'     '-=     "     =•'     With  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  said  '  If  a  convictiou 

<»  Miss  Nancy  Haseltine,  afterward  Mrs.  Judson. 

•f  Adoniram  Judson,  Jr.,  Samuel  Nott,  Jr.,  Samuel  J.  Mills,  and Hall. 


HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL.  643 

of  duty,  and  love  to  the  souls  of  the  perishing  heathen,  lead  you  to  India, 
as  much  as  I  love  you,  Harriet,  I  can  only  say,  Go.'  "  She  accepted  the 
proposal. 

After  a  few  months'  preparation,  the  hour  of  her  final  departure  drew 
near.  On  the  6th  of  February,  1812,  the  missionaries  were  ordained  at 
Salem ;  on  the  9th  of  the  same  month,  she  was  married  to  Rev.  Samuel 
Newell,"  and  ten  days  afterward,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newell,  and  their  mis- 
sionary associates,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson,  sailed  from  Salem,  in  the  Cara- 
van,  for  Calcutta. 

After  a  tedious  voyage,  they  arrived  at  Calcutta  on  the  17th  of  the  fol- 
lowing June.  They  found  the  East  India  Company  violently  opposed  to 
missions,  and  within  a  short  month  were  "  ordered  by  the  government 
to  leave  the  British  territories,  and  return  to  America  immediately."  The 
captain  of  the  Caravan  was  refused  a  home  clearance  for  his  vessel,  un- 
less he  engaged  to  take  the  missionaries  with  him.  Finally,  after  many 
trials,  and  perplexities,  they  obtained  liberty  to  go  to  the  Isle  of  France, 
where  they  heard  the  English  governor  favored  missions,  and  where  there 
was  a  large  field  of  labor. 

They  embarked  on  the  4th  of  August.  The  next  day  Mrs.  Newell  was 
ill  of  a  fever,  but  after  a  few  days  recovered,  and  again  enjoyed  a  fair 
degree  of  health.  After  nearly  a  month  of  contrary  winds  and  bad 
weather,  during  which  but  little  progress  was  made,  the  ship  sprung  a-leak 
and  put  about  for  the  nearest  port,  which  happened  to  be  Coringa,  a  small 
town  on  the  Coromandel  coast.  Four  days  before  their  arrival  at  that 
port,  Mrs.  Newell  was  again  prostrated  by  sickness,  but  after  a  fortnight's 
rest,  she  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  re-embark.  Three  weeks  after 
leaving  the  port,  she  gave  birth  to  a  daughter.  Four  days  later,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  severe  storm,  the  "  little  Harriet  "  took  cold,  and  the  next 
day  expired  in  its  mother's  arms.  In  a  few  days,  the  symptoms  of  that 
dread  disease  which  numbers  so  many  among  its  victims,  and  which  had 
already  claimed  her  father  and  several  of  her  family  connexions,  made 
their  appearance,  and  she  gave  up  all  hope  of  recovery. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  they  came  to  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Port 
Louis.  Her  husband  in  a  few  days  rented  a  small  house  in  a  healthy  part 
of  the  town,  and  removed  her,  but  her  symptoms  became  worse,  and  she 
continued  to  fail.     On  Monday,  the  30  th  of  November,  1812  ;  at  the  early 

o  From  the  Merrimack  Intelligencer  of  February  15,  1S12,  we  copy  the  following :  —  "  Married,  at 
Bradford,  Rev.  Adouiram  Judson,  missionary  to  India,  to  Miss  Nancy  Haseltine.  In  this  town,  Rev. 
Bamuel  Newell,  missionary  to  India,  to  Miss  Harriet  Atwopd." 


644  HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL, 

age  of  19  years  and  two  months;  she  ealmly  fell  asleep,  and  was  hnrie^ 
at  that  port. 

A  marble  monument  has  since  been  erected  over  her  grave,  with  the 
following  inscription :  — 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mrs  Harriet  Atwood,  wife  of  Kev.  Samuel 
Newell,  missionary  at  Boinbay.  Born,  Haverhill,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A.,  Oct. 
10,  1793.  Died,  after  a  distressing  voyage  from  India  to  this  place,. 
November  30,  1812.  Early  devoted  to  Christ,  her  heart  burned  for  the 
Heathen ;  for  them  she  left  her  kindred  and  her  native  land,  and  wel- 
comed danger  and  sufferings.  Of  excellent  understanding,  rich  in  accomp- 
lishments and  virtues,  she  was  the  delight  of  her  friends,  a  crown  to  her 
husband,  and  an  ornament  to  the  Missionary  cause.  Her  shoi-t  life  was 
bright,  her  death  full  of  glory.  Her  name  lives,  and  in  all  Christian 
lands  is  pleading  with  irresistable  eloquence  for  the  heathen.  This  hum- 
ble monument  to  her  memory  is  erected  by  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions." 

Peaslee,  Joseph,  came  from  England,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass. 
He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1642,  and  removed  to  Haverhill  before  1646. 
For  a  time  he  supplied  the  place  of  a  minister  in  Amesbury,  as  a  lay 
preacher,  a  "  gifted  brother,"  as  the  church  records  call  him,  and  occa- 
sionally, he  practiced  medicine.  His  wife's  name  was  Mary.  He  died  in 
1661,  leaving  two  children,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Haverhill,  September  9,  1646,  and  died  Nov- 
ember 5,  1723.  He  was  a  physician,  and  married  Euth  Barnard.  Col. 
Nathaniel  Peaslee,  of  this  town,  was  his  son,  and  was  born  June  25, 1682. 
The  latter  married  for  his  first  wife,  Judith  Kimball,  by  whom  he  had 
Hannah,  born  May  1,  1703,  married  Joseph  Badger,  a  merchant  of  Hav- 
erhill, and  was  the  father  of  Gen.  Joseph  Badger,  of  Gilmanton,  N.  H.  : 
Susanna,  bom  May  10,  1712,  married  Kev.  Christopher  Sargeant,  of 
Methuen,  who  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Peaslee  Sargeant, 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts.  Col.  Peaslee's 
wife  died  August  15,  1741.  He  married  for  a  second  wife,  Abiah  Swan, 
of  Methuen,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Abigail.  The  latter  married 
Humphrey  Moody,  of  Haverhill,  the  father  of  William,  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College.  For  her  second  husband,  Mrs.  Moody  married  Gen. 
James  Erickett,  a  physician  of  distinction.  Gen.  Brickett  married,  for 
his  third  wife,  Mrs.  Martha  Hutchins,  whose  maiden  name  was  Greelee. 
Col.  Nathaniel  Peaslee  was  a  merchant,  and  a  large  land-owner,  and  a 
prominent  man  in  the  town. 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  645 

Saltonstall,  Hon.  Gurdon,  eon  of  Nathaniel,  was  born  in  Haverhill, 
March  27,  16G6,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1684,  where  he 
was  distinguished  as  a  profound  scholar,  and  gave  promise  of  his  future 
greatness.  In  May,  1688,  he  received  a  unanimous  call  to  settle  as  pastor 
of  the  church  in  New  London,  Conn.,  which  call  he  accepted,  and  was  or- 
dained November  19,  1691.  He  was  in  person  tall  and  .well  proportioned, 
of  dignified  demeanor,  of  eminent  intellectual  endowments  and  acquire- 
ments, and  a  graceful  and  impressive  elocution.  He  was  an  advocate  of 
vigorous  ecclesiastical  authority,  always  striving  to  exalt  the  ministerial 
office,  to  maintain  its  dignity,  and  to  enlarge  the  powers  of  ecclesiastical 
bodies ;  which  gave  him  unbounded  popularity  among  his  clerical 
brethren. 

He  soon  became  a  celebrated  preacher,  and  so  rapid  was  the  growth  of 
his  reputation,  that,  in  1707,  upon  the  death  of  Fitz-John  Winthrop,  he 
was  chosen  Governor  by  the  Legislature.  So  great  was  the  respect  for 
his  character,  that  "  the  Assembly  repealed  the  law  which  required  that 
the  Governor  should  always  be  chosen  from  among  the  magistrates  in  nom- 
ination, and  gave  liberty  for  the  freemen  to  elect  him  from  among  them- 
selves at  large.  Mr  Saltonstall  accepted  of  the  appointment,  and  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  January  1,  1708.  He  was  continued  in 
the  office  until  his  death,  which  was  very  sudden,  on  the  20th  September, 
1724. 

Hon.  JRichard  Saltonstall  ^as  horn  in  Haverhill,  June  24,  1703,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1722.  In  1726,  (at  the  age  of  23  years) 
he  was  commissioned  as  Colonel ;  and  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court,  in  1736,  at  the  age  of  33  years.  He  was  for  several  years 
one  of  His  Majesty's  Council.  He  "was  a  man  of  talents  and  learning; 
was  distinguished  for  generous  and  elegant  hospitality,  and  for  his  boun- 
tiful liberality  to  the  poor.  His  address  was  polished,  affable  and  win- 
ning, his  temper  was  gentle  and  benevolent,  and  he  enjoyed  the  love  and 
esteem  of  all."  He  married,  first,  January  6,  1726,  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Eichard  Waldron ;  second,  March  4,  1740,  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Jekyll,  Esq.,  of  Boston;  third,  Mary,  daughter  of  Elisha  Cooke  Jr.,  Esq., 
of  Boston.  His  children  were  —  Abigail,  married  Col.  George  Watson, 
of  Plymouth  ;  Elizabeth  ;  Eichard,  the  loyalist ;  William  ;  William  ; 
Nathaniel,  physician,  of  Haverhill ;  Mary,  married  Eev.  Moses  Badger ; 
Middlecott  Cooke  ;  and  Leverett,  a  Captain  under  Cornwallis.  Judge 
Saltonstall  died  October  20,  1756,  after  a  long  illness,  and  in  the  54th 
year  of  his  age. 


646  HISTORY    OF    HAVERHILL. 

Gol.  Richard  Sakonstall  was  tte  eldest  son  of  Judge  Eichard  Sal- 
tonstall,  of  Haverhill,  where  he  was  born,  April  5,  1732.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College  in  1751.  He  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the 
regiment  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-two  years,  and  was  the  fourth  of 
the  family  in  succession  who  held  the  office  of  Colonel.  In  the  rank 
of  Major,  he  was  engaged  in  active  service  in  the  French  War  on  Lake 
George,  and  belonged  to  that  body  which  capitulated  at  Fort  William 
Henry,  August  9,  1757.  When  the  Indians  fell  upon  the  unarmed  pris- 
oners, he  fled  to  the  woods,  and  very  narrowly  escaped  death  in  that  horrid 
massacre.  He  commanded  a  regiment  from  17G0  until  the  end  of  the 
war.  Soon  after  this,  he  was  appointed  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  of 
Esssex. 

Col.  Saltonstall  was  a  firm  loyalist,  and  uniformly  opposed  the  measures 
taken  in  opposition  to  the  royal  government.  He  deemed  the  proceedings 
of  the  British  Parliament  extremely  inexpedient,  but  he  never  doubted 
their  right  to  tax  their  American  Colonies.  In  the  autumn  of  1774,  he 
fled  to  Boston,  and  soon  afterward  embarked  for  England.  He  refused  to 
enter  the  British  service,  lest  he  should  be  directed  to  act  against  his 
native  country.  The  King,  nevertheless,  granted  him  a  pension,  and  he 
never  returned  to  America. 

Col.  Saltonstall  resided  upon  the  family  estate  in  Haverhill,  in  a  liberal 
and  hospitable  manner.  He  was  characterized  by  integrity,  frankness, 
a  benevolent  disposition,  polished  manners,  and  a  superior  understanding 
and  knowledge  of  the  world,  which  made  him  much  beloved,  and  gave  him 
great  influence.  He  died  unmarried,  October  6,  1785,  at  Kensington,  Eng- 
land, where  there  is  a  monument  erected  to  his  memory. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  son  of  Judge  Richard,  was  born  in  Haver- 
hill, February  10,  1746.  At  the  age  of  ten  years,  upon  the  decease  of 
his  father,  he  was  received  into  the  family  of  his  uncle,  Meddlecott 
Cooke,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1766,  and 
settled  in  Haverhill,  where  he  devoted  his  life  to  the  practice  of  medicine. 
His  classical  education  and  general  intelligence,  his  eminent  professional 
skill,  and  conscientious  discharge  of  duty,  his  gentle  manners  and  kind 
disposition,  and  his  strong  attachment  to  the  liberty  and  independence  of 
his  country,  acquired  for  him  great  respect  in  the  community,  and  the 
affection  and  entire  confidence  of  his  patients.  He  was  remarkable  for 
his  humane  and  assiduous  attention  to  the  poor,  consoling  them  by  his 
friendly,  cheerful  demeanor,  and  by  the  medicines  and  other  necessaries 
which  he  freely  supplied,  without  the  prospect  of  any  pecuniary  remuner- 
ation. 


HISTORY   OF    HAVERHILL,  647 

At  a  time  when  all  bis  brothei-s,  and  brothers-in-law,  adhered  to  those 
principles  of  loyalty  in  which  they  had  been  educated,  Dr.  Saltonstall 
remained  true  to  those  principles  of  civil  liberty  and  humanity  which  he 
inherited  from  his  worthy  ancestor,  Sir  Eichard  Saltonstall,  and  his  not 
less  worthy  son,  Richard,  of  Ipswich.  He  was  a  firm  and  self-sacrificing 
patriot.  This  conscientious  adherence  to  his  principles  separated  him  for- 
ever from  those  he  most  loved.  It  was  to  him  a  severe  trial,  and  gave  the 
strongest  proof  of  his  sincerity,  and  the  strength  of  his  principles.  These 
had  probably  been  much  invigorated  by  his  training  in  the  patriotic  Cooke 
family.     He  died  May  15,  1815,  aged  65. 

Hon.  Leverett  Saltonstall,  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Nathaniel,  of  Haverhill, 
was  born  June  13,  1783,  prepared  for  College  at  Phillips'  Exeter  Acad- 
emy, entered  Harvard  University,  in  1798,  at  the  early  age  of  15,  and 
was  graduated  with  distinction,  in  1802.  He  began  the  study  of  the  law 
with  Ichabod  Tucker,  Esq.,  then  of  Haverhill,  who  subsequently,  for 
many  years,  was  Clerk  of  the  Courts  in  Essex  County ;  and  completed  his 
legal  studies  under  the  direction  of  the  late  learned  and  lamented  Hon, 
William  Prescott,  of  Salem.  He  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  his  native  town,  in  1805,  but  in  May,  1808,  removed  to  Salem, 
Mass.,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed,  and  became  distin- 
guished as  an  advocate.  He  was  early  called  upon  to  take  part  in  the 
public  councils ;  was  a  member,  at  various  times,  of  the  Massachusetts 
House  of  Eepresentatives  ;  President  of  the  State  Senate,  in  1831 ;  first 
Mayor  of  the  city  of  Salem;  Eepresentative  to  Congress;  President 
of  the  Bible  Society,  of  the  Essex  Agricultural  Society,  and  of  the  Essex 
Bar ;  a  prominent  member  of  various  literary  and  scientific  institutions, 
and  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  Harvard  College,  from  which  institution 
he  received,  in  1838,  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws.  He  ever 
cherished  an  ardent  affection  for  the  places  of  his  education,  and  in  his 
will  he  made  a  bequest  of  books  to  the  library  of  the  Exeter  Academy ; 
and  a  legacy  to  Harvard  College,  to  increase  the  fund  long  before  be- 
queathed to  it  by  his  ancestors.  He  attended  every  annual  Commencment 
of  his  Alma  Mater,' except  two,  from  the  time  he  graduated  until  his  death. 
As  a  public  man,  Mr.  Saltonstall  was  an  effective  debater,  a  pleasing  and 
favorite  speaker,  in  politics  a  Whig,  inflexible  in  his  principles,  unwaver- 
ing in  his  course,  and  unstained  by  a  single  suspicion  of  vacillation  or 
inconsistency.  He  was  in  every  sense  "  a  true  son  of  Massachusetts," 
and  his  death  was  mourned  as  a  public  bereavement.  He  died  May  8, 
1845. 


^48  HISTORY   OP   HAVERHILL. 

Sargeant,  Hon.  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  was  a  son  of  Eev.  Christophey 
Sargeant,  tlie  first  minister  in  Metliuen,  Mass.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Peaslee,  Esq.,  of  Haverhill.  He  received  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1750,  and  soon 
after  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  this  town.  He  had  the  character 
of  an  able  and  honest  attorney,  though  never  distinguished  at  the  bar  as  an 
advocate.  He  possessed  sound  judgment,  and  excellent  learning,  and  but 
few  men  were  more  respected  for  integrity,  and  uniformity  of  conduct. 
He  may  justly  be  ranked  among  the  patriots  of  1770  and  1775,  He  was 
not,  perhaps,  so  ardent  as  some  others ;  but  he  was  decided  in  support  of 
civil  freedom,  and  could  always  be  depended  upon,  as  a  prudent  and  effi- 
cient supporter  of  the  ancient  privileges  and  rights  of  the  colonies.  Mr. 
Sargeant  was  a  delegate  from  this  town  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  which 
met  at  Cambridge,  in  February,  1775  ;  and,  in  1776,  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Kepresentatives.  In  both  of  these  bodies  he  was  a  prominent 
working  member,  and  was  frequently  placed  on  the  most  important  com- 
mittees. 

After  the  Constitution  of  Massachusetts  was  adopted,  in  1780,  he  had 
a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court ;  and  on  the  appoint- 
ment of  William  Cushing,  to  be  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States,  Mr.  Sargeant  was  made  Chief  Justice.  As  a  Judge,  he 
won  the  respect  and  commendation  of  all,  for  his  ability,  integrity,  and 
impartiality.     He  died  in  1792. 

Sibley,  Jacob,  (born  May,  1746,  died  June  25,  1831,  at  Hopkinton, 
N.  H.,)  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Gideon  George,  a  shoemaker  and  far- 
mer of  East  Haverhill,  Mass.,  whose  wife,  a  Jewett,  came  to  this  country 
when  fourteen  days  old.  She  was  born  September  11,  1749,  and  died 
September  20,  1828.  After  their  wedding  they  rode  on  one  horse  from 
Haverhill  to  his  sister  Stevens',  on  Sugar  Hill  in  Hopkinton;  whence, 
there  being  no  road,  they  walked  two  miles  in  a  narrow  path,  through  the 
woods,  to  their  humble  dwelling,  driving  before  them  a  little  spotted  pig. 
Her  "fitting  out"  consisted  of  three  white  cups  and  three  saucers,  three 
knives,  three  forks,  one  coverlet  made  of  hair  and  tow,  and  one  of  wool. 
In  1774,  they  took  a  journey,  on  horseback,  to  Haverhill  and  Stratham, 
and  back  ;  the  mother  seated  behind  the  father,  who  carried  his  only  child 
in  his  arms  before  him.  In  1776,  Mr.  Sibley  was  in  the  military  at  Ports- 
mouth, and  worked  on  Fort  Constitution.  While  there,  his  wife,  besides 
attending  to  her  domestic  duties  and  taking  care  of  her  two  children,  hoed 
three  acres  of  corn  upon  burnt  land.     This  was  a  few  months  before  the 


HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL.  649 

Mrth  of  her  third  child.  In  the  latter  part  of  her  life,  her  physical 
strength  gradually  failed,  till  she  lost  entirely  the  power  of  locomotion. 
She  left  ten  children.  —  From  Sibley's  Hist.  Union,  Me. 

Smiley,  De.  David,  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  April  10,  1760. 
At  an  early  age,  he  was  bound  an  apprentice  to  a  Mr.  Hale,  in  this  town, 
a  shoemaker.  He  continued  to  work  with  his  master  till  his  seventeenth 
year,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  American  army.  He  was  stationed  at 
Winter  Hill  for  three  months,  the  period  of  his  enlistment,  when  he  re- 
turned home.  He  afterward  enlisted  again,  and  was  at  Stillwater,  "West 
Point,  and  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  finally  placed  in  command  of  a  small 
guard  on  Fishkill  Mountains,  where  he  remained  until  his  term  of  service 
expired.  In  returning  to  Haverhill,  he  walked,  in  company  with  five 
others,  sixty  miles  in  one  day,  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  wages,  in 
the  depreciated  currency  of  the  country  for  his  day's  food.  In  1782,  he 
married  Rachel  Johnson,  of  the  East  Parish  in  this  town,  and  in  the  same 
year  moved  to  Peterborough,  N.  H.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  about 
two  years.  In  1784:,  he  moved  to  Alstead,  N.  H.  Two  years  later,  he 
purchased  a  small  farm  in  the  northeast  part  of  Peterborough,  where 
he  immediately  moved.  In  1793,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  with 
Dr.  Stephen  Jewett,  of  Rindge,  N.  H.  His  practice  commenced  almost 
simultaneously  with  his  studies,  and  for  many  years  he  had  a  large  prac- 
tice. His  ride  extended  into  all  the  neighboring  towns,  and  not  unfre- 
•quently  into  more  distant  town3  in  other  counties.  Though  not  a  regularly 
educated  physician,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  many  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent families,  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
resided  on  his  farm  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1 842,  when  he  went  to 
live  with  his  son  in  the  village  of  the  same  town.  He  gave  up  the  labo- 
rious duties  of  his  profession  only  when  compelled  to  do  so  by  the 
infirmities  of  age.  He  died  at  the  same  place,  October  3,  1855,  aged  95 
years  and  nearly  six  months. 

Varnum,  Hon.  John,  was  born  in  Dracut,  in  1778,  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  in  1798,  and  entered  the  office  of  Judge  Smith,  of  Exeter, 
as  a  student.  In  1802,  he  came  to  Haverhill,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  the  law.  He  was  highly  successful.  Liberal  to  a  fault,  warm-hearted 
and  gentlemanly  in  his  profession,  he  usually  had  the  satisfaction  of  con- 
ducting his  cases  without  giving  ofience  to  either  party.  He  was  of  the 
Federal  school  of  politics.  In  1811,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  in 
1826,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Essex  North  District.     He  wag 

ffe-eleeted  in  1828.     During  this  period  he  was  associated  in  business  with 

82 


650  HISTOBY    OP   HATERHILl. 

Isaac  E.  Howe,  Esq.  After  he  returned  from  Congress,  he  removed  to 
Lowell,  and  from  thence  to  Niles,  Michigan,  where  he  died  July  23, 1836, 
after  a  short  illness.  He  married,  Octoher  9,  1606,  Mary  Cooke,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  of  Haverhill,  by  whom  he  had  three 
sons. 

White,  Hon.  Leonard,  was  a  native  of  Haverhill,  a  direct  descendant 
of  William  White,-  one  of  the  first  company  of  settlers  in  Haverhill,  and 
the  Eev.  George  Phillips,  the  first  pastor  of  Watertown.  He  took  his 
christian  name  from  his  maternal  grandfather,  the  Eev.  Nathaniel  Leon- 
ard, of  Plymouth,  who  was  a  descendant  of  James  Leonard.  His  grand- 
father, Leonard,  married  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Eogers,  of  Ipswich ;  was 
the  Eegister  of  Probate  for  this  County  for  twenty  years,  and  a  practicing 
physician,  who,  on  his  return  from  a  visit,  was  bewildered  in  a  snow-storm 
and  perished.  Mr.  White  was  the  class-mate  and  friend  of  John  Quincy 
Adams,  and  they  were,  before  going  to  college,  fellow-students  with  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Shaw,  of  Haverhill.  They  were  of  the  class  of  1789,  at  Har- 
vard College.  At  the  period  of  his  college  life,  every  freshman  had  his 
patron,  selected  by  himself,  in  the  senior  class ;  and  Mr.  White  was  the 
patron  of  President  Quincy. 

Mr.  White  married  early,  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Hon.  Tristram 
Dalton,  and  the  grand-daughter  of  "  King  "  Hooper,  of  Marblehead.  By 
this  marriage  he  had  a  numerous  family.  This  lady  died  some  ten  years 
previous  to  Mr.  White,  and  he  afterward  married  Mrs.  Cummings. 

Perhaps  no  man  ever  lived  more  distinguished  for  fidelity  to  every  trust 
and  punctuality  in  the  performance  of  every  duty.  He  was  for  many 
years  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  and  represented  his  town  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  his  District  in  Congress,  from  1811  to  1813, 

At  this  period,  the  Merrimack  Bank  was  incorporated,  and  he  became 
its  first  cashier,  which  office  he  held,  with  unsullied  reputation,  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  and  until  the  infirmities  of  age  rendered  repose  from  its 
arduous  duties  necessary.  He  was  a  real  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  of 
the  kindest  and  most  cheerful  disposition.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  his  old  age  was  cheered  by  the  benignant  light  and 
cheering  hopes  of  the  gospel,  in  which  he  was  a  firm  believer,  and  an 
humble  and  faithful  follower.  Modest,  retiring,  and  unassuming,  he  en- 
joyed the  most  unbounded  confidence  and  trust  in  his  integrity.  For  the 
last  two  years  of  his  life,  he  declined,  under  the  repeated  attacks  of  paraly- 
sis, and  his  death  was  as  quiet  and  undisturbed  as  an  infant's  sleep ;  and 
on  his  tomb-stone  maybe  most  emphatically  inscribed  —  "Here  lies  an 
honest  man."     He  died  October  10,  1849,  aged  82  vears. 


oJ^i^yi^CZ^J/^^'^^ 


aiSTORT   OF   HAVERHILL.  651 

WoODBRTDGE,  Benjamin,  who  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Eev.  Jolin 
Ward,  (sec  page  168)  was  probably  a  son  of  John  Woodbridge,  who  was 
born  in  Stanton,  Wiltshire,  in  16.13,  came  to  New  England  in  1634:,  and 
to  Newbury  in  163.3.  The  latter  married  Mercy  Dudley,  daughter  of 
Gov.  Thomas  Dudley,  and  died  March  17,  1695.  He  was  town  register 
of  Newbury,  in  1636, 


r 


652  HISTORY   OP   HAVEHHILIfc. 


CHAPTEE  XXXI. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


Newspapers.  —  The  first  newspaper  published  in  this  town,  was  the 
"  Guardian  of  Freedom.  Printed  and  published  every  Friday  morning, 
by  E  Ladd  and  S  Bragg,  in  Haverhill  (Massachusetts,)  9s.  pr.  ann." 
The  first  number  was  issued  September  6,  1793.  It  contained  sixteen 
columns  of  print,  each  fifteen  and  one-half  inches  long  and  two  and  one- 
quarter  inches  wide,  nearly  all  of  which  was  in  small  pica  type.  At  first, 
the  paper  hardly  contained  a  "  stickful  "  of  advertisements,  and  it  was 
nearly  two  years  before  they  had  increased  so  as  to  occupy  one  whole 
column.  In  politics,  the  paper  was  classed  as  Federal.  The  publication 
day  was  changed  in  a  few  weeks,  to  Mondays,  and  still  later,  to  Thurs- 
days. ••^  May  10th,  1791,  (vol.  1,  No.  29,)  Eliphalet  Ladd  assumed  the 
sole  proprietorship  of  the  paper.  On  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  (vol. 
1,  No.  35,)  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Aiken,  who,  four  weeks  after- 
ward, (June  26th,  vol.  1,  No.  40,)  transfen-ed  his  interest  to  Benjamin 
Edes,  Jr. 

In  1798,  the  above  paper  was  discontinued,  but  was  soon  succeeded  by 
another,  styled  the  Impartial  Herald.  This  enjoyed  an  existence  of  only 
two  years,  however,  when  it,  in  turn,  was  allowed  to  die,  for  want  of 
support. 

In  November,  1800,  Tlie  Observer  was  started,  by  Galen  H.  Fay.  This 
was  continued  until  December  4,  1804,  when  the  establishment  was  sold 
to  Francis  Gould,  who  changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  Haverhill 
Museum.  The  Museum  was  published  two  years,  (until  November  22, 
1806,  — just  two  volumes,)  when  it  was  discontinued,  for  want  of  sup- 
port.    The  printing  office,  however,  was  not  abandoned. 

-  The  first  newspaper  publi she  I  in  America,  was  the  Boston  Aeivs  Letter,  April  21,  1704.  In  1771, 
there  were  but  twtnty-five  published  in  America.  The  first  published  in  this  county,  was  the  Essex 
Gazette,  at  ijalem,  in  1768.  The  first  printing-press  in  the  country,  was  established  at  Cambridge.  Hass., 
in  1639. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL.  653 

In  1808,  Wm.  B.  Allen,  who  had  succeeded  Gould  in  the  printing  busi- 
ness, commenced  the  publication  of  a  paper,  styled  the  Merrimack 
Intelligencer.  In  February,  1812,  Mr.  Allen  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  brother,  and  the  paper  was  published  by  the  firm  of  Wm.  B.  &  H.  Gr. 
Allen.  August  1,  1813,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  disposed  of  his 
entire  interest  to  his  partner,  who  continued  the  paper  until  the  following 
January,  (January  1,  1814,)  when  he  sold  out  his  paper,  printing-office, 
and  book-store,  to  William  Greenough  and  Nathan  Burrill.'-' 

Mr.  Burrill  was  a  book-binder,  and  the  first  one  in  the  town.  He 
removed  here,  and  commenced  the  business,  in  February,  1809.  Mr. 
Greenough  was  a  printer,  and  removed  his  printing-office  from  Boston  to 
Haverhill,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  1812. 

November  5,  1814,  Mr.  Greenough  sold  out  his  interest  to  Thomas 
Tileston,  who  had  been  his  apprentice,  and  the  three  branches  of  business 
were  carried  on,  under  the  style  of  Burrill  &  Tileston,  until  January, 
1818,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  the  property  divided.  The 
Intelligencer  had  never  paid  its  cost,  and  when  the  above  firm  dissolved,  it 
was  made  over  to  Peter  W.  Green,  (afterward  Nathaniel  Green)  as  a  gift. 
Mr.  Tileston  went  to  New  York,  where  he  founded  one  of  the  earliest  and 
largest  wholesale  shoe-houses  in  that  city  —  that  of  Spofi'ord  &  Tileston. 
Mr.  Burrill  continued  to  carry  on  the  book-binding  and  book-selling  busi- 
ness, as  heretofore. 

After  lingering  a  few  weeks  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Green,  the  Intelligen- 
cer died.  The  same  gentleman  soon  after  started  a  new  paper,  called  the 
Essex  Patriot.  This  was  a  "  democratic  "  newspaper,  and  the  first  of  the 
kind  in  town,  —  the  others  mentioned  having  all  been  Federal  organs. 
Mr.  Green  continued  to  publish  the  Patriot  about  three  years,  when  he 
sold  out  to  William  Hastings. 

The  gradual  fading  out  of  the  federal  sheet,  and  the  establishment  of 
the  democratic  Patriot,  was  not  particularly  agreeable  to  tne  federalists, 
and  a  new  paper  was  soon  started.  This  was  the  Haverhill  Gazette,  by 
Nathan  Burrill  and  Caleb  Hersey,  under  the  style  of  Bumll  &  Hersey. 
The  first  number  was  issued  January  6,  1821.  It  was  published  Saturdays, 
at  two  dollars  per  annum,  and  was  edited  by  Mr.  Hersey.  Mr.  Burrill 
having  just  received  admission  into  the  Masonic  fraternity,  signified  his 
high  appreciation  of  that  mystic  brotherhood,  by  displaying  the  Masonic 
emblems  at  the  head  of  his  paper.     Mr.  Hersey  continued  as  editor  and 

*  A  book-store  had  been  kept  in  town,  in  connection  with  the  printing  business,  since  1804,  or  perhaps 
earlier. 


654  HISTORY   OF   HAVERHILL. 

joint  proprietor,  until  the  close  of  the  second  volume,  when  he  sold  out 
his  interest  to  his  partner,  and  retired  from  the  editorial  chair,  leaving  the 
whole  concern  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Burrill. 

The  able  manner  in  which  the  Gazette  was  conducted,  having  completely 
eclipsed  its  rival,  the  Patriot,  the  two  papers  were  consolidated,  February 
1,  1823,  under  the  name  of  the  Haverhill  Gazette  and  Essex  Patriot,  — 
"W.  Hastings,  editor  and  printer,  N.  Burrill,  proprietor  and  publisher." 
This  change,  however,  was  merely  a  plan  to  cover  the  actual  death  of  the 
Patriot,  and  in  a  little  less  than  two  months,  (March  29)  Mr.  Hastings 
retired  from  the  establishment  altogether. 

In  1824,  Mr.  Burrill  sold  out  his  printing  business,  and  paper,  to  Isaac 
E.  Howe,  Esq.,  and  the  bookstore  to  Mr.  James  Gale."'  Mr.  Howe  edited 
and  published  the  paper  until  October,  1826,  when  he  engaged  the  services 
of  Abijah  W.  Thayer  to  edit  and  superintend  its  publication.! 

In  February,  1827,  Mr.  Thayer  purchased  the  establishment,  changed 
the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Essex  Gazette,  and  assumed  its  entire  con- 
trol. Mr.  Thayer  was  a  native  of  Peterborough,  N.  H.,  and  served  his 
apprenticeship  to  the  printing  business,  in  Boston.  In  1817,  he  worked 
in  Andover,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  Caleb  Hersey,  a  fellow- 
journeyman.  When  Messrs.  Burrill  &  Hersey  started  the  Gazette,  in 
January,  1821,  Mr.  Thayer  was  engaged  to  superintend  its  publication, 
in  which  he  took  an  active  interest.  In  May,  1822,  he  removed  to  the 
State  of  Maine,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  Independent  Statesman, 
at  first  as  editor,  and  subsequently  as  editor  and  proprietor.  From  Octo- 
ber, 1826,  to  July  1835,  Mr.  Thayer  resided  in  this  town,  during  which 
time  he  was  one  of  our  most  active,  useful,  and  respected  citizens.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  in  the  temperance  movement,  —  was  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  first  meeting,  and  the  first  Secretary  of  the  first  society  when 
organized,  in  which  office  he  continued  until  his  removal  from  the  town. 
He  early  advocated  the  cause  in  his  paper,  but  such  was  the  opposition  to 
the  movement,  that  in  a  short  time  he  lost  about  four  hundred  subscribers. 
His  Gazette  was  the  first  political  paper  that  ever  came  out  in  advocacy 
of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating  liquors,  and  the  second  of  any  kind, 

•>  While  Mr.  Burrill  was  connected  with  the  printing  business  in  this  town,  quite  a  large  number  of 
books  were  printed  at  his  office.  Some  of  them  were  published  by  the  several  firms  with  which  Mr. 
Burrill  was  connected,  but  the  greater  part  were  printed  for  booksellers  in  Boston,  and  Salem.  Among 
the  books  thus  printed  was  the  Bible,  Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns,  Murray's  English  Reader,  Watts' 
World  to  Come,  Beauties  of  Masonry,  etc. 

t  During  this  period,  E.  W.  :Reinhart  was,  for  a  short  time,  editor,  and  John  Varnum,  Esq.,  joint 
proprietor  with  Mr.  Howe.  Reinhart  afterward  started  the  Daily  Republican,  at  Baltimore ;  and,  stil' 
later,  published  the  Virginia  Advocate,  at  Charlotteville,  Va. 


HISTORY' OF   HAVERHILL.  655 

either  in  America,  or  in  the  world  !  When  the  movement  was  commenced 
in  Haverhill,  there  were  twenty-nine  places  in  town  where  liquors  were 
sold,  but  in  five  years  from  that  time  there  was  not  a  single  place  where 
it  was  openly  sold,  and  but  one  where  it  was  supposed  to  be  sold  clandes- 
tinely. As  a  political  paper,  the  Gazette  was  at  that  time  classed  among 
the  very  first  in  the  county  and  State. 

January  26,  1828,  H.  B.  Brewster  issued  a  prospectus  for  a  new  weekly 
paper,  to  be  called  the  j&are^-M^  ^ecorc?er  /  "  impartial "  in  politics  and 
religion.     But  it  was  never  issued. 

February  4,  1832,  Mr.  Thayer  issued  proposals  to  publish  a  semi- 
weekly  paper,  under  the  name  of  ttft  Haverhill  Advertiser.  The  price 
was  to  be  $2.50  per  annum,  and  it  was  to  be  neutral  in  politics.  Suffi- 
cient encouragement  not  being  ofi"ered,  the  paper  was  never  issued. 

May  5,  1832,  Mr.  Thayer  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Christian 
Messenger,  a  small  weekly  newspaper,  of  which  he  was  principal  editor, 
assisted  by  Eev.  Dudley  Phelps,  and  ^^v.  Abijah  Cross.  It  only  reached 
a  circulation  of  four  hundred  copies,  and  was  discontinued  February  23, 
1833,  after  an  issue  of  thirty-two  numbers. 

In  the  same  year  (1832)  a  political  campaign  paper  was  established  in 
the  town,  under  the  name  of  the  Haverhill  Iris.  Edwin  Harriman, 
editor.  It  was  started  principally  to  advocate  the  election  of  Caleb  Gush- 
ing to  Congress.  It  was  published  about  a  year,  when  it  was  removed  to 
Methuen.  Harriman  was  subsequently  (1838)  associate  editor  of  the 
Nashville  (Tenn.)  Banner.  We  believe  he  is  now  a  resident  reporter  for 
the  press,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

May  4,  1834,  Mr.  Thayer  issued  proposals  to  publish  the  Essex  Gazette 
semi-weekly,  at  $2.50  per  annum,  provided  sufficient  encouragement  was 
oflFered  to  warrant  the  undertaking.  But  the  project  was  abandoned  before 
the  change  was  made. 

In  July,  1834,  Eev.  Thomas  Gr.  Farnsworth  and  Eben.  H.  Safford, 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Essex  Banner  and  Haverhill  Adver- 
tiser, a  weekly  democratic  paper,  at  $2  per  annum.  The  former  gentleman 
was  editor,  and  the  latter  superintended  the  publication.  At  the  close  of 
the  second  volume,  (June  25,  1836,)  Mr.  Farnsworth  retired  from  the 
editorial  chair,  and  left  the  whole  concern  in  the  hands  of  his  partner. 
From  this  time  until  January  6,  1838,  the  paper  was  edited  by  "  an  asso- 
ciation of  gentlemen."  At  the  latter  date,  William  Taggart,  Esq.,  became 
editor  and  joint  proprietor,  and  so  continued  until  March,  11,  1843,  when 
Mr.  Saiford  again  assumed  the  sole  charge  and  proprietorship  of  the  paper. 


656  HISTORY  OF  HAVERHILL. 

From  that  time,  until  the  present,  Mr.  Safford  has  continued  to  be  the 
editor,  proprietor,  and  publisher,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  period, 
under  the  presidential  administration  of  James  Buchanan,  when  the 
mechanical  department  of  the  paper  was  under  the  charge  of  C.  C.  Dear- 
born. 

With  the  exception  of  six  months  in  1830,  (from  January  1  to  July  10) 
when  John  G.  Whittier  occupied  the  editorial  chair,*  Mr.  Thayer  was 
sole  editor,  publisher,  and  proprietor  of  the  Essex  Gazette,  from  the  time 
already  mentioned,  until  1835.  In  July  of  that  year,  he  sold  the  estab- 
lishment to  Erastus  Brooks,  (who  had  been  a  former  apprentice  of  his,  at 
Portland,  of  which  place  Mr.  Brooks  was  a  native,)  and  removed  from 
town.f 

Soon  after  purchasing  the  establishment,  Mr.  Brooks  received  an  ap- 
pointment in  one  of  the  departments  at  Washington,  to  which  city  he 
removed,  but  continued  the  nominal  editor  of  the  Gazette,  which  was  then 
published  by  J.  H.  Farwell,  until  #e  following  spring. 

May  4,  1836,  John  G.  Whittier  again  assumed  the  editorial  charge  of 
the  Gazette,  Mr.  Brooks  continuing  to  furnish  "  letters  from  Washington," 
until  the  close  of  the  volume.  At  the  same  time,  Jacob  Caldwell  became 
proprietor  of  the  paper,  taking  possession  at  the  close  of  the  volume. 

September  17,  of  the  same  year,  Dr.  Jeremiah  Spofford  became  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  AVhittier,  taking  the  position  of  political  editor. 

In  October,  Dr.  Spofford  became  joint  proprietor  with  Mr.  Caldwell. 
December  17,  Mr.  Whittier  retired  from  the  editorial  chair,  and  Dr. 
Spofford  remained  sole  proprietor. 

January  7,  1837,  the  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to  its  original  one 
—  Haverhill  Gazette.  It  was  now  published  by  Spofford  &  Harris.  At 
the  close  of  the  volume,  in  1838,  (December  28)  John  H.  Harris  became 
associate  editor,  as  well  as  proprietor  and  publisher,  and  so  continued  un- 
til July  5,  1839,  when  he  purchased  the  entire  interest  of  his  partner, 
who  retired  from  the  concern,  after  a  connection  of  three  years. 


o  Friend  Whittier  was  editor  of  the  Boston  Manufacturer,  in  1828.  He  left  the  Gazette,  in  1830,  to 
take  editorial  charge  of  the  New  England  Review,  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  taking  the  place  of  George  D. 
Prentice,  who  went  to  Louiaville,  Ky.,  to  edit  the  Louisville  Journal,  a  paper  established  to  advocate 
the  election  of  Henry  Clay  to  the  Presidency.  Mr.  Whittier  was  connected  with  the  Review  about 
eighteen  months. 

t  Since  he  removed  from  Haverhill,  Mr.  Thayer  has  been  connected  with  papers  in  Philadelphia, 
Northampton,  and  Worcester.  He  is  at  present  residing -in  Northampton,  JIass.,  beloved  and  respected 
in  every  relation  of  life. 


BISTORT   OF   HAVERHILL.  657 

May  1,  1840,  Mr.  Harris  sold  the  establisliment  to  Wm.  E.  P.  Eodgers, 
who  continued  to  edit  andpublisli  the  paper  until  October  1,  1843,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  its  present  editor  and  proprietor,  Edward  Gr.  Froth- 
ingham,  Esq. 

For  many  years  past.  Dr.  Spofford  has  regularly  contributed  to  its 
editorial  columns,  being  virtually  its  political  editor.  Since  the  decease 
of  the  Whig  party,  the  Gazette  has  advocated  the  interests  of  the  so-called 
Eepublican  party. 

In  1845,  The  Star  in  the  East,  a  religious  (christian)  weekly  quarto 
paper,  edited  by  Eev.  H.  P.  Guilford,  was  published  in  this  town  for  a 
few  months,  by  E.  G.  Frothingham. 

May  1,  1856,  the  first  number  of  the  Haverhill  American  Citizen,  a 
weekly  paper,  was  issued  by  John  M,  Harding,  (son  of  Isaac)  of  this 
town.  The  paper,  which  was  American  in  politics,  was  printed  at  Law- 
rence. The  publication  was  continued  but  three  months,  when  (August 
2,  1856,)  the  subscription  list  was  transferred  to  the  Haverhill  Gazette. 

In  April,  1857,  The  Masonic.  Journal,  a  monthly,  quarto  paper,  George 
W.  Chase,  editor  and  proprietor,  was  removed  from  Brunswick,  Maine,  to 
this  town.'-"'  In  July  1859,  it  was  changed  to  a  semi-monthly,  and  so 
continued  until  January  1,  1860,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Eev.  Cyril 
Pearl,  who  immediately  removed  the  office  of  publication  to  Portland, 
Maine. 

January  1,  1859,  Z.  E.  Stone,  formerly  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
American  Citizen,  Lowell,  Mass.,  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Tri- 
Weekly  Publisher,  "  an  independent  paper,"  at  $3.00  per  annum.  The 
enterprise  met  with  favor,  and  tRe  new  sheet  was  at  once  placed  on  a  per- 
manent footing.  In  January,  1860,  Mr.  Stone  disposed  of  his  establish- 
ment to  Messrs.  E.  G.  Woodward  and  J.  M.  Palmer,  both  natives  of 
Haverhill,  who  have  continued  its  publication  to  the  present  time.  The 
paper  is  issued  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Saturday  evenings. 

In  1859,  Messrs.  D.  P.  Bodfish  and  A.  L.  Kimball  commenced  the  pub- 
lication of  a  weekly  paper  called  the  Essex  County  Democrat.  It  was 
established  as  the  organ  of  the  administration  wing  of  the  democratic 
party.     It  is  now  published  by  Mr.  Kimball. 

We  have,  therefore,  at  this  time,  (July  1,  1861,)  four  newspapers  pub- 
lished in  the  town,  viz.  :  the  Haverhill  Gazette,  Essex  Banner,  Tri-  Weekly 
Publisher,  and  Essex  County  Democrat,  with  an  aggregate  circulation  of 
a  little  over  four  thousand  copies  per  week. 

»  Frum  June,  ISjj,  to  Miirch,  1857,  Mr.  Chase  was  editor  and  proprietor,  o?  the  BrunstvicJc  Tele- 
grai)h,  a  weekly  paper,  at  Bnmswick,  Maine. 


658  HISTORY    OF   HATEnniLl. 

DiTSTON  Monument  Association. — This  Association,  wliicli  originatedf 
in  tlie  West  Parish,  was  organized  in  Octolber,  1855,  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing,  enclosing,  and  improving  the  site  of  the  house  from  which 
Hannah  Duston  was  tahen  by  the  Indians,  in  1697,  and  erecting  thereon 
a  monument  to  her  memory.  Charles  Corliss  was  chosen  President,  and 
George  Coffin,  Secretary.  A  deed  of  the  supposed  site  of  the  house  was 
secured  Octoher  15,  1855,  (Essex  Keg.  Book  520,  p.  287).  Soon  after, 
(January  22  and  23,  1856,)  a  levee  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  which 
realized  the  handsome  sum  of  $523.39,  for  the  Association.  Among  the 
articles  on  exhibition  at  the  levee,  were,  the  gun  which  Mrs.  Duston  took 
from  the  Indians  at  the  time  of  her  escape ;  the  scalping-knife  said  to  have 
been  used  upon  the  occasion  ;  a  tankard,  presented  to  Mrs.  Duston  and 
Mrs.  Neffe,  by  Gov.  Nicholson,  of  Maryland ;  a  pair  of  tongs,  and  a  plat- 
ter, formerly  belonging  to  Mrs.  Duston  ;  and  the  pocket-book  of  Thomas 
Duston. 

In  March,  1856,  the  Association  was  incorporated,  by  special  act  of  the 
Legislature.  On  the  first  day  of  June,  1861,  a  handsome  monument,  of 
Italian  marble,  five  feet  square  and  twenty-four  feet  high,  resting  upon  a 
base  of  granite,  was  erected  by  the  Association,  at  an  expense  of  about 
$1,200.    The  tablets  contain  the  following  inscriptions:  — 

^'Hannah,  dau.  of  Michael  and  Hannah  Emerson,  wife  of  Thomas  Dus- 
tin,  born  in  this  town  Dec  23,  1657.  Captured  by  the  Indians  March  15, 
1607,  (at  which  time  her  babe,  then  but  six  days  old,  was  barbarously 
murdered,  by  having  its  brains  dashed  out  against  a  tree)  and  taken  to  an 
island  in  the  Merrimack,  at  Pennacook,  now  Concord,  N  H.  On  the  night 
of  April  29,  1697,  assisted  by  Mary  Neff,  and  Samuel  Lennardson,  she 
killed  ten  of  the  twelve  savages  in  the  wigwam,  and  taking  their  scalps 
and  her  captor's  gun,  as  trophies  of  her  remarkable  exploit,  she  embarked 
on  the  waters  of  the  Merrimack,  and  after  much  suffering  arrived  at  her 
home  in  safety. 

Thomas  Dustin,  on  the  memorable  15th  of  March,  1697,  when  his 
house  was  attacked  and  burned,  and  his  wife  captured,  by  the  savages, 
heroically  defended  his  seven  children,  &  successfully  covered  their  retreat 
to  a  garrison. 

Thomas  Dustin,  ^  Hannah  Emerson,  married  Dec  3,  1677.  Children  : 
Hannah,  born  Aug  22,  1678;  Elizabeth,  born  May  7,  1680;  Mary,  b 
Nov  4,  1781,  died  Oct  18,  1696  ;  Thomas,  born  Jan  5,  1683  ;  Nathaniel, 
born  May  16,  1685;  John,  born  Eeb  2,  1686,  died  Jan  28,  1690;  Sarah, 
born  July  4,  1688  ;  Abigail,  born  Oct  —  1690;  Jonathan,  born  Jan  15, 
1691-2;  Timothy,  born  Sept  14,  1694;  Mehetable,  born  Sept  14,  1694, 


HISTORY    OP    HAVERHILL.  G59 

died  Dec  16,  1694;  Martha,  born  March  9,   1696-7,  died  March  15, 
1696-7  ;  Lydia,  boru  Oct  4,  1698."- 

Slavery  in  Haverhill.  —  That  negroes  were  actually  bought  and  sold, 
and  thus  distinctly  recognized  as  property,  in  this  town,  is  placed  beyond 
a  doubt  by  documentary  evidence  still  in  existence.  Through  the  kind- 
iress  of  Wm.  G.  Brooks,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  (a  great-grandson  of  Eev.  John 
Brown,  of  this  town,)  we  have  been  furnished  with  the  following,  copied 
from  the  original  papers,  now  in  his  possession  :  — 

"  Know  all  Men  by  these  Presents  —  that  I  Thomas  Euss  of  Suncook 
in  County  of  Middlesex  and  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land, Cordwainer,  do  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  One  Hundred 
Pounds  to  me  in  hand  paid  by  Benjamin  Emerson  of  Haverhill  in  County 
of  Essex  and  Pi-ovincc  above  mentioned  —  Husbandman,  sell  alicue  convey 
and  confirm  unto  him,  the  above  Benj.  Emerson  his  Heirs  &  Assigns  — 
My  Negro  Boy  named  Cesur,  being  about  seven  years  old,  for  and  during 
his  natural  life  —  In  witness  whereof  I  the  above  named  Thomas  Euss 
have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  tenth  day  of  July  1739  and  in 
the  Thirteenth  Year  of  the  Eeign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Second 
King  of  Great  Britain. 

Signed,  sealed  and  Delivered 

In  presence  of  us  Thos  Euss. 

John  Cogswell 
Joseph  Atwood." 

"  Haverhill  June  16,  1740 
To  all  peopell  to  Home  this  shall  Combe 

Know  ye  yt  I  Benjman  Emmeson  of  Haverhill  In  ye  County  of  Essex 
&  province  of  ye  Mashittusetts  Bay  In  New  England  —  yeoman  — 

for  &  in  Consideration  of  one  Hundred  pounds  In  Hand  j^aid  to  me  by 
Nathll  Cogswell  of  Haverhill  aford  Trader  do  make  over  &  sell  con  vay  to 
Him  my  negrow  Boy  seser  In  all  Eespts  as  fully  &  absolutely  as  He  was 
Con  veyed  to  me  In  ye  face  of  this  Bill  of  sale  —  furthermore  I  do  warrant 
and  defend  Him  from  all  parties  what  so  ever  to  ye  above  Named  Nathll 
Coggswcll,  During  his  Natural  life  as  witness  my  hand  ye  day  and  Year 
above  written. 

witness,  Benjamin  Emerson. 

^   .  Nath  Woodman 

Jabez  Emerson." 

<>  We  ought,  in  justice,  to  add,  that,  by  a  strange  oversight  on  the  part  of  the  Monument  Committee, 
the  name  in  these  inscriptions  is  spelled  "Dustin,"  instead  of  "  Diiston,"  by  which  name  the  Association 
was  incorporated ;  and  also,  that,  througli  the  unwarrantable  liberties  taken  by  the  engraver  with  the 
copy  furnished  him,  the  fii"st  inscrijjtion  given  above  is  rendered  positively  unintelligible,  except  to  one 
familiar  with  the  fiicts  it  professes  to  record.  The  latter  may  yet  be  corrected,  and  we  hope  it  wiU  be 
'done. 


660 


HISTORY    or    HAVERHILL. 


"  Haverliill  Aug  23,  1742 
Know  all  men  by  ttese  Presents  that  I  Nathl  Cogswell  of  Haverliill  in 
ye  County  of  Essex  and  Province  of  ye  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land, Trader  for  and  in  consideration  of  One  Hundred  &  fifteen  Pounds  to 
mc  in  hand  paid  Do  make  Over,  Sell  &  Convey  to  Saml  Phillips  Jr  of 
Andover,  Trader,  my  Negro  Boy  Cesar  mentioned  above  &  in  the  Face 
of  this  Bill  of  Sale :  this  I  do  as  Eully,  Ereely  and  as  absolutely  as 
may  be. 

Moreover  I  do  Hereby  Binde  &  Oblige  myself  to  Warrant  and  Defend 
sd  Negro  from  ye  lawfull  Claims  &  Demands  of  any  person  or  Persons 
whatsoever  to  ye  above  Saml  Phillips  During  sd  Negro's  life. 

As  witness  my  Hand  &  Seal        Nathl  Cogswell. 
Witnessed  by 

Nathaniel  Walker 
Jonathan  Buck." 


Population  and  Valuation  of  Haverhill. 


1764. 
1767. 
1790. 
1800. 
1810. 
1820. 


Population.  Valuation. 

.1,920 

£4791.13.4 

.2,408 $15,194  11 

.2,730 22,350  50 

.2.682 32,941  16 

.3,070 37,540  45 


Population.  Valuation. 

1830 3,912 $  926,556  38 

1840 4,336 1,224,379  00 

1850 5,754 2,243,497  00 

1855 7,932 

1860 9,995 5,450,782  00 


Births,  Marriages  and  Deaths,  from  1845  to  I860. 


Marriages.        Deaths. 


1845. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851, 
1852. 


.106 
.104 

.140 
.  90 
.138 
.182 
.190 


41. 
46. 
37. 
43. 
76. 
,135, 
83. 


aths. 

Births 

74 

1853... 

...  203 . 

58 

1854... 

...231. 

21 

1855... 

...202. 

20 

1856... 

...256 

61 

1857... 

...279 

94 

1858... 

...301 

99 

1859... 

...298 

107 

I860... 

...312 

Marriages.        Deaths. 

..141 96 

..115 141 

..113 95 

..119... '..122 

..101 128 

..106 126 

..133 127 

..128 164 


*  Taken  from  the  State  Registration  Reports. 


HISTORY    OF   HAVERHILL. 


661 


List  of  Members  of  Congress  from  Haverhill. 

1797  to  1801— Bailey  Bartlett,         1826  to  1830— John  Varnum, 
1811  to  1813 — Leonard  White  1848  to  1852 — James  H.  Duncan. 

List  of  State  Senators  from  Haverhill. 


1789— Bailey  Bartlett, 

1810— Israel  Bartlett, 

1811 — John  Varnum, 

1816  to  1821— Israel  Bartlett, 

1828  to  1831 — James  H.  Duncan, 

1833 — Gilman  Parker, 


1844  and  1845— Alfred  Kittredge, 
1848— Ezekiel  J.  M.  Hale. 
1853 — Nathaniel  S.  Howe, 
1857 — Caleb  D.  Hunting, 
1860 — Christopher  Tompkins. 


List  of  the  Eepresentatives  of  Haverhill. 


1645  to  1654— Sohert  Clement, 

1654 — John  Clement, 

1655  to  1660— None, 

1660 — John  Davis,  2d  session, 

1661  to  1666— None, 

1666— Nathaniel  Saltonstall, 

1667— Henry  Palmer, 

1668— William  Davis, 

1669  to  1672— Nath'l  Saltonstall, 

1672 — George  Brown, 

1673 — Humphrey  Davy,  2d  session, 

1674 — Henry  Palmer, 

1675 — George  Brown, 

1676  to  168 0 — Henry  Palmer, 

1680 — George  Brown, 

1681 — Daniel  Hendrick, 

1682— None, 

1683— Peter  Ayer, 

1684 — Eobert  Swan, 

1685  to  1686— Peter  Ayer, 

1687  to  1689— None, 

1689  to  1690— Peter  Ayer, 

1691 — John  Johnson, 

1  nqr,  f  George  Brown, 

''  \  Samuel  Hutchins, 
,pqo  j  Daniel  Ladd, 
(  Thomas  Hart, 
1694— Daniel  Ladd, 
1695  and  1696— Peter  Ayer, 
1697— John  Page, 
1698— Peter  Ayer, 
1699— Pvichard  Saltonstall, 
1700— John  White, 
1701 — Samuel  Ayer, 
1702— John  W^hitc, 


1703 

1704 

1706 

1708- 

1709- 

1710 

1713- 

1714- 

1715 

1717- 

1718- 

1719- 

1720 

1726 

1728 

1730 

1733 

1735 

1737. 

173S 

1739 

1742 

1743- 

1744 

1746 

1749 

1751 

1752 

1754 

1755 

1761 

1769 

1771 


("John  White,  1st  session, 
(  John  Haseltine,  2d  session, 
and  1705 — Samuel  Watts, 
and  1707 — James  Saunders, 
—John  White, 
—James  Saunders, 
to  1713 — John  Haseltine, 
—John  White, 
-John  Haseltine, 
and  1716— John  White, 
—Amos  Singletary, 
—John  Saunders, 
-John  White, 
to  1726 — John  Saunders, 
and  1727 — James  Saunders, 
and  1729— Eichard  Saltonstall 
to  1733 — Nathan  Webster, 
and  1734 — William  White, 
and  1736 — Eichard  Saltonstall 

— Nathaniel  Peasley, 

' — Eichard  Saltonstall, 
to  1742 — Nathaniel  Peasley, 

— Eichard  Hazzen, 
—Eichard  Saltonstall, 
and  1745 — Phillip  Haseltine, 
to  1749 — Nathaniel  Peasley, 
and  1750 — Nathaniel  Saunders 

— John  Haseltine, 
and  1753 — Nathaniel  Peasley, 

— Eichard  Saltonstall, 
to  1761 — David  Marsh, 
to  1769 — Eichard  Saltonstall, 
and  1770 — Samuel  Bachellor, 
to  1776 — Jonathan  Webster  jr 


6G2 


HISTORY    OF   nAVERIIILL. 


List  of  Eepresentatives —  Continued. 


1776 

1777 
1781 
1784 
1786 

1787 

1788 

1789 

1791 

1792 
1796 
1797 
1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1804 
1807 
1809 
1810 
1812 
1819 
1820 
1823 
1825 
182G 

1827 
1828 


1829 

1830 
1831 

1832 
1833 


Jona.  "Webster, 

Nath'l  P.  Sargeant, 
to  1781 — Jonathan  AYebstcr, 
to  1784— Bailey  Bartlett, 
to  1785 — Samuel  AVhite, 

—  Nathaniel  Marsh, 

—  Isaac  Osgood, 

f  Bailey  Bartlett, 

I  Nathaniel  Marsh, 

and  1790 — Nathaniel  Marsh, 

f  Francis  Carr, 

I  Samuel  Blodgett, 

to  179G — Francis  Carr, 

—  None, 

and  1798 — Nathaniel  Marsh, 

—  Benjamin  Willis, 

—  Benjamin  AYillis, 

—  None, 

and  1803 — ^Francis  Carr, 
to  1807 — David  How, 
and  1808 — James  Smiley, 

—  Leonard  AVhite 

and  1811 — Ebenezer  Gage, 
to  1819— David  How, 

—  Charles  AVhite, 

to  1823 — Aloses  AVingate, 
and  1824 — Enoch  Foot, 

—  Stephen  Minot, 

—  None, 

f  Moses  AVingate 
I  James  H.  Duncan, 
J  Charles  AVhite, 
I  John  Briclcctt,.  jr., 

Thomas  Harding, 

John  Brickett,  jr., 

AVilliam  Bachcllor 

Thomas  Harding, 

AVilliam  Bachellor, 

John  Brickett,  jr., 

Caleb  B.  LeBosquet, 

Caleb  B.  LeBosquet, 

Thomas  G.  Farnsworth, 

Kphraim  Corliss, 
\^  James  Davis,, 
f  AVilliam  Bacheller, 

Caleb  B.  LeBosquet, 

George  Keeley, 

Thomas  G.  Farnsworth, 


1834 


1835 


1836 


1837 


1838 


1839 


1840 


1841 

1842 

1843 
1845 

1846 

1847 
1848 
1849 

1850 

1851 

1852 

1853 
1854 


Ephraim  Corliss, 
Thomas  G.  Farnsworth, 
Daniel  P.  McQuesten, 
\^  Nathan  AA'ebster, 
(  Jacob  How, 
!   Jesse  Smith, 
j  John  G.  AVhittier, 
(^  Jjeonard  AA'hittier, 
[  James  Davis, 
Elbridge  G.  Eaton, 
AVard  Haselton, 
Nathan  AVebster, 
[  Joseph  Ayer, 
James  Davis, 
Elbridge  G.  Eaton, 
AA^ard  Hazeltine, 
\^  Nathan  AVebster, 
(  Charles  Carleton, 
J   AVilliam  D.  S.  Chase, 
1  James  H  Duncan, 
[  Leonard  AA^hittier, 
Charles  Carleton, 
AVilliam  D.  S.  Chase, 
James  H.  Duncan, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Jonathan  Crowell, 
j    Samuel  Johnson, 
i    Alfred  Kitredge, 
1^  Iiobert  Stuart, 
j  Jonathan  Crowell, 
I  Alfred  Kittredge, 
j  Piev.  James  B.  Cushing, 
I  Caleb  Herscy, 
and  1844 — None, 

—  Hazen  Morse, 
j  Daniel  F.  Fitts, 
I  James  Hale, 

—  None, 

—  Benjamin  Page, 

—  None, 
Charles  B.  Hall, 
Lemuel  Leonards, 

—  None, 
Samuel  Brainard, 
John  B.  Nichols, 
Samuel  Brainard, 

I  John  B.  Nichols, 

—  None, 


niSTORY  or  HAVERHILL.  G63 

List  op  Kepresentatives —  Continued. 

■xQrr  I  Elbriclge  W.  Chase,  iq^iq  j '^^^^^s  H.  Duncan, 
I  Jesse  Simonds,  \  Nathan  S.  Kimball, 

^  j2;-p  j  Truman  M.  Martjn,  ,  nrn  j  Nathan  S.  Kimball, 

(  William  Taggart,  \  James  Eussell, 

1  QKry  (Jesse  Simonds,  ior>n      -i  ^on^   (  Levi  C.  Wadleigh, 

1857  \  iv-iT       rp  ,  ISGOand  1861  \  ^  ,,.   ^,,  ^  ' 

(  Vvilham  lasgart,  (  {:reorge  VV.  Chase. 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 


Previous  to  soliciting  subscriptions  for  this  History  of  Haverkill,  ^ 
Prospectus  was  issued,  which  contained  the  following  j^roposition  : 

"  As  '  cash  in  hand  '  is  no  small  advantage  in  purchasing  material,  and 
contracting  for  labor ;  and  as  it  is  well  worth  an  effort  to  avoid  all  chances 
for  embarrassments  by  the  neglect  or  failure  of  subscribers  to  comply  with 
the  terms  '  cash  on  delivery,' we  make  the  following  proposition:  —  A 
list  of  the  names  of  those  who  advance  the  price  of  the  book,  at  the  time 
of  entering  their  subscription,  shall  be  published  in  the  book  itself.  It  is 
hoped  that  such  an  '  honorable  mention '  may  be  sufficient  to  insure  a 
large  proportion  of  advance  payments." 

We  now  take  pleasure  in  publishing  the  names  of  those  who  have  respon- 
ded to  our  request,  and  to  whom  our  thanks  are  due  for  their  generous 
and  timely  aid :  —  '  . 

A.  "W.  Davis,  .   Geo.  W.  Day, 

Joseph  Gubtal,  Irah  E.  Chase,  M.  D., 

John  A.  Moody,  Edward  White, 

J.  B.  Swett,  Edward  White,  jr., 

Charlotte  H.  Pettengill,  Tristram  Dalton  White, 


Geo.  Johnson,  Esq., 
Hon.  J.  H.  Duncan, 
Moses  How, 
E.  A.  Porter, 
E.  C.  How, 
C.  B.  Emerson, 
Moses  E.  French, 
Stephen  Chase, 
Eustis  Chase, 
L.  E.  George, 
John  P.  Eandall, 
Ebenezer  AVebster, 
Frank  C.  Swan, 
Geo.  T.  Brown, 


Walter  S.  Ordway, 
A.  H.  Adams, 
A.  W.  Chase, 
Walter  Griffin, 
Calvin  How, 
D.  D.  Flanders, 
Leverett  W.  Johnson, 
Laburton  Johnson, 
Daniel  Fitts, 


Francis  J.  Stevens,M.D.  James  Leach, 
Charles  E.  Heath,  L.  P.  Shattuck, 

Charles  C.  Hills,  James  A.  Bartlett, 

Charles  J.  Taggart,  Geo.  K.  Chase, 

E.  G.  Frothiugham,  Jr.,  E  M.  Ingalls, 


Daniel  Palmer, 
John  E.  Gale, 
E.  Stuart  Chase, 
Charles  W.  Chase, 
Samuel  Chase 
Alfred  Kittredge, 
Geo.  H.  Hoyt, 
Geo.  Cogswell,  M.  D., 
David  P.  Harmon, 
Walter  Goodell, 
William  B.  Eaton, 
William  Caldwell, 


Lucien  George, 
Enoch  Ordway, 
N.  M.  Edwards, 
Geo.  0.  Harmon, 
Warren  Ordway, 
C.  W.  Boynton, 
William  Lucy, 
Bcnj.  Kimball,  2d, 
Moses  D.  George, 
Geo.  W.  Ordway, 
J.  G.  S.  Little, 
N.  H.  Farusworth, 


Mary  Dalton  White, 
Leonard  Dalton  White, 
John  L.  White, 

E.  H.  White, 

F.  White, 
Abncr  W.  Pollard, 
Abijah  W.  Thayer, 
Fisher  Howe,  ' 
James  How, 
Benjamin  W.  How, 
Mary  T,  Waldron, 
John  W.  Dean, 

Wm.  0.  Haskell, 

Ann  D.  Bartlett, 

John  Bartlett, 

Mrs.  Wm.  Jarvis, 
"     Margaret  Longlcy, 
"     C.  Meachaud, 

Edwin  Bartlett, 

Eben'r  Porter, 

Leverett  Kimball, 

Hazen  Morse, 

E.  E.  Stimpson, 

Benj.  E.  Sawyer, 

Sarah  B.  Putnam, 

Thos,  G.  Odiorne. 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Aboriginees  of  New  England  30,  43 

Academy,  The  496,  601,  602 

Acqueduct  471,  521 

Address  to  Prest  Adams  465 

Almshouse  307.  494,  (See  Paupers) 

Audros,  Usurpation  of  148 

Anecdotes,  &c.,  54,  117.  161,  170,  200,  203,  206,  207, 

213,  219,  221,  223,  241,  254,  258,  264,  317,  3X8, 

445.  461,  555 
Anti-Slavery  Society  503 
Artillery  Company  373 
Assessors  64,  169,  472 
Atkinson,  Sketch  of  317 
Auditors  of  Accounts  474 
Ayer,  Oapt.  S.irauel,  Death  of  229 
Aycr's  Village  537,  540,  54.5,  576 
Ayer's  Pond,  (See  Plug  Pond). 

Balloting  137,  141,  145 

Baptists  339,  432,  552,  570,  57g,  584 

Baptist  Churches  584,  594,  611 

Baptist  Hill  543 

Bartlett,  Israel,  Journal  of  400 

Bells  67,  77,  172,  506,  551,  552,  594,  596 

Beer  50,  132 

Bees  67 

Biographical  40,  48  to  60,  108,  136,  254,  262,  274 

to  278,  316,  318,  553.  556,  557,  586,  590,  599, 

607,  612,  613,  615  to  651, 
Birth.  45,  55,  92,  660 
Blacksmiths  60,  76,  79,  88,  334,  634,  637 
Block-Houses  214 
Boston  45,  366,  369,  370,  380 
Bounds  of  Haverhill  43,  65,  70,  71,  74,  81.  91,  97, 

101,  121,  171,  244,  266.  286  to  301,  308,  310, 

563 
Boundary  Dispute  with  N.  H.  286,  310 
Bradley,  Hannah,  Captivity  of,  &c.  210,  216,  303 

"      Joseph.         "  "       179 

Brandy  Brow  82,  164,  283 
Bread,  Weighers  of  430,  437 
Brick-making  71,  500 
Briekkill  Bridge  239 
Bridges  65,  111,  138,  303,  324,  457,  459,  479,  481, 

495,  500 
Buildings  453,  460,  490,  .544 
Bunker  Hill  388,  390.  623  630 
Burial-Grounds  91,209,  223,  303,  323,  545,   556, 

566,  570 
Buttonwoods.  The  309 
By-Laws  of  Haverhill  475 

Canals  492,  510.  511,  622 

Captain's  Pond  269 

Carding  Machines,  &c.  639 

Carriages  33.5,  336,  541 

Casualties  479 

Catterpillars  305,  332 

Cattle,  &c.  59,  79.  82,  109,  256,  426,  477 

Cedar  Swamp  244 

Cemeteries  (See  Burial-Grounds)  G7,  91,  Cl8,  545 

Census  (See  St.iti.stics) 

Centre  Congregational  Church  599 

Chain  Ferry  325,  463,  570 


Christian  Church  590 

Cholera  503 

Churches,  Org>inization  of  58,  60,  303,  306,  495, 

547.     Membership  in  115.     Difficulties  in  84, 

246,  547.    Location  of  544.    History  of  547 

to  614 
Chm-ch  Services  in  Olden  Time  177 
Cider  13i,  139,  149 
Clements,  llobert.  Estate  of  49 
Clothing  for  Soldiers  407.  409,  417,  418,  423 
Coffee,  Introduction  of  258 
Colonie.s,  Confederation  of  28,  56 
Commerce  of  Haverhill  236,  450 
Committees  of   Correspondence,  Safety,   &c.    367, 

371,  372,  378,  380,  381,  393,  394,  399,  404,  405, 

410,  412,  413,  41.5,  420,  436 
Commons  59,  89,  92.  93,  115,  124,  135,  331,  4.54, 
507,  517,  521 

"      Ox  71.  73,  82,  91,  92,  147,  303 

"      Cow  89,  99,  137,  236,  253    254,  266,  273, 
332 
Commoners  75,  204.  21.5.  251.  253.  257.  266,  273 

286,  291,  294.  299,  303,  306,  332.  337 
Common  Lands  204,  215  2"f0,  252,  a53,  266 
Communion  Vessels,  &c.  53,  573 
Concord   N.  H.,  (See  Pennacook) 
Constables  67,  68.  110,  114,  131,  145,  325,  434 
Continent.il  Congress  379 
Cottages,  Lists  of  93 
Cottle's  Ferrv  116,  325,  463,  491 
Cotton  Mill  6+0 
Council  of  Safety  150 
Counties.  Division  into  55 
C.rantry  Bridge  99.  141,  498.  578 
Criminal  58,  78,  80,  90.  100,  116,  122,   131,  138, 

139,  145 
Creek  Pond  483,  540. 
Creek  Brook  570 
Creek  Bridge  482. 

Currency  72,  78,  253,  280,  411,  434.  437 
Customs,  &£.  66,  67,  77,  113,  177,  336 

Darby  Hill  82 

Dark  Days  247,  434 

Deacons  249  (See  Eccl.  Hist.  547) 

Deaths  45,  55,  82,  90,  92,  133,  479.  496,  497,   502, 

660 
Debt  of  the  Town  207,  464 
Deed  of  Pentucket  46 
Distilleries  309.  374.  375,  426,  453,  500 
Dogs  58.  502,  521,  524 
Droughts,  &c.  56,  98,  332,  337,  338,  492 
Duck  i'actory  444,  449,  489,  622 
Duston,   Hannah,  Exploit  of  185.     Monument  to 

191,  196,  653 

Earthqu.akes  56,  280.  337 

East  Parish  305,  320,  324,  387,  577 

"     Meadow  99. 

•'     Meadow  River  116,  164,  170,  268,  323 
Eastman's  Wharf  333 
Elections  68,  78,  80.  141. 151 
Embargo,  The  481,  484 
Epitaphs  228,  245,  555 


Essex  County  55,  133,  278,  435,  496,  520 
Expresses  510 

Fasts  127  332  337 

Ferries  08,  83,  87,  99.  110,  131,217,  236,  238,  248, 
265,  309,  325,  338,  447,  454,  458,  463,  490 

Fines  64,  70,  78,  79,  80,  83,  100,  107,  111,  114,  133, 
138,  149,  429,  435 

Fire  Department  427,  429,  436,  514,  522 

Fires  115,  206,  303,  323,  386,  463,  514 

First  birth  in  Haverhill  45;  death  45,  82; 
corn-mill  49,  57 ;  tanner  49,  57 ;  land 
ploughed  50;  pauper  116;  town  meet.- 
ing  55;  town  clerk  55;  court  55;  mar- 
riage 58  ;  blacksmith  60 ;  selectmen  03 ;  mili- 
tary company  66,  95  ;  bees  67  ;  constable  07, 
68 ;  meeting-house  67,  100 ;  highway  68  ; 
orchard  70;  brick-maker  71 ;  tailor  79;  deed 
recorded  89;  physician  40,  97;  plan  of  the 
town  104 ;  moderator  107  ;  murder  by  In- 
dians 124;  evening  lectures  134;  written  bal- 
lots 137  ;  merchant  137;  potatoes  250;  team 
to  Peunacook  278 ;  coin  in  Mass.  78;  paptr 
money  280;  overseers  of  poor  .303  ;  wagon  336; 
highway  tax  336;  potash  works  338;  salt- 
petre works  393;  butcher  417;  election  of 
governor  423 ;  fire  company  427  ;  fire  engine 
429 ;  salt  works  430 ;  stage  coach  453 ;  school 
committee  441 ;  school  regulations  455  ;  news- 
paper 459;  bridge  459;  assessors  64,  472; 
list  of  voters  473  ;  Fourth  of  July  celebration 
47.3,  474;  hay  scales  473;  cotton  yarn  474; 
cut  nails  474;  town  by-laws  475;  inspectors 
of  police  479  ;  cooking  stoves  484;  singing- 
school  484 ;  town  clock  494 ;  temperance  soci- 
ety 498 ;  steamboat  500 ;  lyoeum  501 ;  anti- 
slavery  society  505  ;  turned  shoes  535  ;  bank 
in  town  633  ;  bookbinder  653  ;  newspaper  652 ; 

First  Parish,  The  325,  550 

Fisheries  58,  81,  87,  118,  145,  245,  265,  206,  432, 
472,  482,  483 

Fishing  River  71,  137,  140,  146,  195,  196,  207,  236, 
245,  266,  283,  496 

Flaggy  meadow  143 

Flannel  factory  506 

Floating  islands  461 

Forts  394 

Fourth  of  July '39.5,473,  474,  494,  505,  511,  515, 
517,  523,  525 

Free  Evangelical  Church  613 

Freemasons  473,  653 

Freemen  72,  115,  141 

French  War.  The  340 

Free  Will  Baptist  Church  612 

Freshets  309,  492 

Garrisons,  &c.  153,  155,  170,  187,  198,  £00, 207,  2G1 

Gas  Company  .523 

Genealogical  48.51,  53,  62,  73,  74,  79,  125,  131,  184 

216.  248,  274  to  278,  582,  615 
Golden  Hill  479,  632 
Gravel  Shoot  578 
Great  Plain  110,  146,  164 
Great  Pond  110,    37,  171.  236,  237,  430,  432,  463, 

48.3,  496,  510.  511,  528 
Griffin's  Feri-y  217,  325 

Hampstead,  Sketch  of  315 

Hardy's  Landing  266 

Harvard  College  40,  .54,  58,  78,  108,  1.33,  136,  274, 
318.  390,  55.3,  556,  557,  564,  668,  580 

Hats,  Maiinfacturo  of,  &e.  539 

Haverhill,  Settlement  of  35  ;  deed  of  46  incorpora- 
tion of  60;  description  of  in  1645,  60;  ditto 
in  1794,  460  to  463  ;  Peke  of  288,  298 ;  plan  of 
104,  462;  histories  of  501;  maps  of  502; 
growth  of  542. 


Haverhill  Bridge  156,  459,  480,  495,  509,  543 

Hawk's  Brook  273. 
"       Meadow  63 

Hay  44 

Hay-Scales  473,  521 

Haynes  Joseph,  Journey  of  338 

Herdsmen  79,  1C9 

High  School  497,  514,  524 

Highways  65,  08,  75,  76,  87,  92,  98,  99,  106,  110, 
115,  141,  143,  244,  265,  270,  278,  306,  324,  336, 
458,  484,  493, 494,  495,  507,  509,  522,  523,  525, 
526,  531 

Highwavs,  Surveyors  of  244,  523 

Hog  Hill  239,  252.  253,  268 

Householders  in  1798,  466 

Houses  93  95,  115,  156 

Huckleberry  Hill  292 

Indians  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  30,  42,  45,  66,  70,  78,  96, 
116,139,2.50,  260,  315;  depredations  by  116y 
123  148,  1.53,  158,  159,  100,  169,  179,  184,  185, 
199,  201,  206,  209,  216,  217,  260 ;  relics  of  42 ; 
Kcv.  John  Elliott's  labors  among  96  ;  number 
in  Pen  tucket  43 ;  deeds  from  43, 143,  297 

Indian  Hill  43 

Bridge  71 

Influenza  495 

Inspectors  of  Police  479 

Insureotion  of  Morrill  158 

Inventories  49 

Ipswich  Fright  387 

Irish,  The  288,  291 

Islands  "0,  79.  87,  254.  304,  461 

Island  Pond  295,  304 

Johnson's  Creek  201 

"      Mill  171,  483 
Jurymen  473,  494 

Kenoza  Lake  82.  387,  48.3, 528  to  530 
King  Phillip's  War  123 

Land  (See  Commons,  Ac)  61,  68,  87,  92,  165,  204 
215 ;  divisions  of,  Ac,  56,  61,  62,  71,  74,  76,  79 
87,  89,  93,  106.  254,  256,  290,  .324.  333 ;  dis- 
putes, &o.,  143,  169.  204,  266  to  274,  286  to 
301,  303,  507;  parsonage  1.3.5,  1.3a  137,  140, 
143,  163.  234,  244,  251,  264,  303,  304,  306,  323, 
.324,3.39,  432,  558,  5.'9,  562.  566,  586;  pur- 
chases, grants,  &c..  55,  65,  67,  68,  70,  71,  7.3, 
76,  82,  89,  90,  91,  135  143,  171,  204,  253,  267, 
308,  433,  496,  507 

Leather  130,  208.  5.32 

Lecture-d.ay  89,  134 

Lectures,  Evening  134 

Letters  from  Gyles  Firman  35;  Samuel  Ayer  150, 
200;  Natlin  Saltonstall  150,  158,  213,  283; 
Daniel  Bradley,  153;  Rev.  Bcnj.  Kolfe  162, 
167  ;  Rev.  John  Ward  105  ;  Thomas  Duston 
191;  Rev.  Joshu"-  Gardner  234;  Ebenezer 
Eastm.an  254;  Richard  Hazzen  294,  209;  John 
Whittier395;  James  Brickett  403,  438  ;  Pres- 
ident Adams  405 

Lexington  Alarm  383,  387,  497 

Libraries  501 

.Light  Infantry  Company  482,  485 

Lime  S3,  95,  256 

Little  River  42,  52,^6,  71,  81,  88  99,  103,  111,116, 
U9,  1.35,  188,  195,  207,  21.5,  229,  236,  306,  324, 
32.5,  338,  438,  44.5,  463,  480.  492.  511,  691 

Little  River  Bridge  434,  ,509,  525,  543 

Londonderry  249,  286  to  301 

Long  Hill  224 

Lovewell's  Fight  201 

Lumber  121,  132 

Lyceums  501 


Ill 


Magistrates  55,  65,  70,  115 

Marriages  55,  53,  92,  107,  117,  643,  660 

Marsh's  Hill  155,633 

MasoQian  Claim  301 

Masonic  Hall  491,  601 

"      Lodsre  473 
Massachusetts,  Discovery  of  18  ;    description  of  in 
1614,21;  settlement  of  27 ;    ohirter   of  148, 
151,164;  boundary  dispute  with  N.    H.   286; 
constitution  of  393,  406,  412,  420,  441,  494 
Meadows  74,  79,  87,  92,  164,  251,  269,  303 
Meeting-Houses  67,  83,  89,  HO,  124,  135,  136,  137, 
171,  208,  223,  253.  282,  306,  454,  460,  495,  507, 
544,547   to  614;  seating   inhabitants   in  99, 
106,  140,  206,  253;  seats  and  pews  in  118, 135, 
174, 176,  232,  233,   252,  265 ;  disorderly  boys 
in  233 

Merchants  451 

Merrie's  Creek  62,  91,  132,  245 

Merrimack  River  287  ;  discovery  of  20 ;  significa- 
tion of  the  name  20;  improvements  in  492, 
519 

Merrimack  Bridge  93,  99,  463,  480  495,  500 

Methodists  570,  573 

Methodist  Church  601 

Methuen,  Incorporation  of  273 

Middle  Names  360 

Military  Companies,  &c.  (See  Soldiers)  Q\  95,  99, 
lOS,  112,  346  to  350,  373,  375,  332,  447,  482, 
484,  485 

Mill  Brook  57,  92,  111,  161,  164,  215,  253, 303,  307, 
309,  332,  333,  430,  455,  494 

Mill  Bridge  333 

Mills  92,  99,  236,  337,  426,  430,  452,  433,  506,  510; 
saw  75,  80,  83.  89,  99,  116,  132,  164,  2:^,  268, 
269;  corn  57,  91,  99,  111,  116,  132,  140,  170, 
105,  196,  215,  253;  flannel  508;  fulling  215, 
253;  plaster  215;  cotton  yarn  474 

Millerism  511,  604 

Minute  Men  381 

Ministers  83,  134,  139,  154,  162,  105,  231,  245,  247, 
273,  279 

Missionaries  642 

Mitchell's  Falls  579 

Mobs  376,  505 

Moderator  107 

Morse,  J(5seph,  Death  of  502 

Mount  Washington  533 
"       Pleasant  545 

Mullikin's  Ferry  355,  458 

Music,  &c.  309,  424,  552,  569,  588,  596 

Names,  Lists  of,  first  settlers  of  Haverhill  38; 
landholders  in  1645,  60;  freemen  in  1650,  72  ; 
in  id  division  plough-land  77 ;  Robert  Pike's 
petition  80;  agreement  with  John  Johnson  88  i 
4th  division  meadow  land  92 ;  accommodation 
land  106 ;  on  location  meeting-house  173 ;  of 
killed  by  Indians  193  ;  for  land  in  Methuen 
252;  pew  owners  232,  238,  265;  school  peti- 
tions 237 ;  soldiers  128,  235,  331,  340  to  36t, 
382,  383,  388  to  420,  440,  486,  487  ;  5th  divi- 
sion land  256  ;  settlers  of  Concord  274  ;  peti- 
tions to  worship  in  Amesbury  279  ;  polls  north 
and  south  of  the  N.  H.  line  in  1741,310  to 
315 ;  petitioners  for  East  Parish  321 ;  and 
occupations  in  1747,  326  ;  about  town  meetings 
327,  328  ;  grantees  of  townships  in  Me.  338, 
433;  artillery  company  374;  minute  men  382; 
of  whom  money  was  borrowed  407,  414 ;  mem- 
bers of  Fire  Cub  428  ;  householders  in  1798, 
466;  streets  509;  disunion  petitioners  516; 
shoe  manufacturers  53.'),  536 ;  brick  blocks 
544;  members  Rev.  Ward's  church  548;  re- 
presentatives, Ac.  661 

Nebraska  Resolutions  523 


Negroes  (See  Slaves)  239,  498 
Newspapers  459,  521,  652 
North  Church  612 

Meadow  99,  283 
"      Parish  282,  303,  306,  562 
Northmen,  Voyages  of  the  17 

Oath  of  Fidelity  71,  72,  115 

Odd  Fellows  518 

Officers  (Town)  55,  99,  107,  121,  164,  163, 171,  205, 

433,  435,  474,  526 
Old  Style  and  New  Style  334 
Orchards  70,  195 
Ordinaries,  See  Taverns 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  303,  433,  472 

Paper  Money  (See  Currency)  280,  411,  434.  437 
Parsonage  Land,  See  Land 
Hill  566 

Houses  135, 136,  137, 140, 143, 233, 279,  547 
Road  153,  179,  224 
Paupers  52,  116,  143,  307,  441,  455,  480,  494,  506 
Pecker's  Hill  74,  155,  170,  188, 198,  543,  545 
Pennacook  30,  90,  255,  274 
Pen  tucket.  See  Haverhill 

Cemetery  42,  67  91,  156,  519 
Pes  (.-Houses  334,  433,  458 
Peter's  Ridge  498 

Petitions  230,  254,  279,  289,  299,  308,  320,  326,  515 
Physicians  40,  97,  179,  275,  637,  646,  649 
Pilgrims,  The  25 
Pipe  Staves  59,  63,  107,  120,  236 
Plains  73 
Plain  Gate  332 
Plaistow  317 
Plough-land  74,  76 

Plug  Pond  57,  229,  324^  462,  463,  571 
Plymouth  21,  26 

Poetry  61,  186,  293,  307,  388,  392,  440,  491,  498 
Police  Court  524 
Policy  Pond  319 
Pond  Bridge  236 

"     Meadow  63,  67,  76,  161 
"    Plain  169 
"    River  119 
Ponds  269,  295,  319,  337,  430,  455,  461,  463 
Post-riders,  &c.  453 
Potash  Works  338,  452 
Potatoes  250 

Pounds  69,  98,  203,  432,  464 
Powder-houses  116,  427,  479 
President  Washington's  Visit  441 
"        Jackson's  "      503 

Prices  49,  50,  64,  68,  76,  87,  118,  132,  138,  235,  304, 

306,  413,  434 
Primrose  Swamp  62,  63 
Printing  business  652 
Proprietors,   (See  Commoners) 
Providence  Neck  269 
Provincial  Congress  378,  386 
Puritans,  History  of,  23 

Quakers  51,  87,  176,  207,  553 

Railroads  493,  504,  521,  537 

Randall  Church  613 

Rechabites  513 

Representatives  115,  335,  366,  368,    399,   435,  436, 

457,  661 
Revolution,  The  362 
Rocks'  Village  50'  236,  243,  450,  480,  491,  493,  500, 

505,  ,523,  544 
Rolfe,  Rev.  Benj.,  Death  of,  219 
Round  Pond  89,  430,  463,  471,  521 
Rum  261,  338.    See  Distilleries. 


IV 


Salaries  63,  77,  84,  86, 110,  111,  113,  116,  136, 165, 

208,  231,  246, 248,  279,  526,  547  to  614 
St.  Greaurv's  Church  607 
Salem,  N.  H.  319 
Sander's  Hill  98,  207,  324 
SaltonstiiU  place  168,  233,  309,  445,  543 
Saltpetre  Manufacture  393 
Salt  Works  430 
Savings  Bank  501,  633 
Saw-Mill  Biver  138,  146,  164,  196,  253,  306 
Sawyer,  John,  Death  of  436 

Schools  65,  91,  113,  114, 116,  135,  142,  171, 177, 205, 
206,  208,  209,  216,  236,  237,  239,  265,  273,  274, 
302,  325,  331,  334,  337,  432,  441,  455,  457,  464, 
472,  490,  496,  497,  501,  513,  522,  524,  569,  578, 
608 
Scotland  Hill  540 
Selectmen  03,  64,  80,  100,  109,  111,  114,  121,   133, 

141,  433,  472 
Shad  Parish  498 
Shatswell's  Bond  389 
Shay's  Rebellion  437 
Sheep  79,  146,  426,  521 
Shenstones,  The  519,  526 

Ship-huildin?  304,  324,  333,  426,  448,  450,  483,  490 
Shoes  69,  111,  130,  219,  530,  532,  632 
Silver  Hill  432,  543 
Slaves  239,  248,  427,  659 
Small  Box  131,  159,  334,  433,  453,  458,  522 
Soldiers    66,  128,  149,  158,  162,  213,  217,   235,  261, 

264,  340  to  361,  382  to  420,  440,  479,  484,  512 
Sour  Meadow  269 
Spicket  Falls  254 
"      Meadow  03 
"      Path  60,  141, 195 
"     Biver  02,  71,  88,  97,  143 
Stage  Coaches  453,  461,  474,  483,  493,  505 
Stamp  Act,  The  362 
Statistics  240,  242,  335,  426,  507,  660 
Steamboats  500,  519 
Stocks  69,  436 
Storms,  &c  45,  57,  59,  118,  247,  280,  310,  431,   432, 

434,  436,  473,  482,  491,  492,  496,  551 
Stoves  483,  358,  596 
Streets  526,  (See  Highways) 
Surplus  Bevenue  508,  517 
Swett's  Ferry  236,  325,  463 
Swine  426,  555 

Tabernacle  Church  606 

Tanners  49,57,  121,  139,  142,  324,  495 


Taverns  50,  52,  64,  74,  131,  1S9,  283,  443,  444,  473, 
474 

Taxes,  &c.  57,  77,  86,  87,  99,  111,  112, 130, 149,  237, 
253,  279,  S25,  409,  415,  417,  420,  423,  434,  455, 
481,  482,  493  494,  553 

Tea  258,  369,  372 

Temperance  498,  506,  515,  517,  518 

Thanksgiving  112,  332 

Throat  Distemper  306,  464 

Timber  56,  59,  63,  68,  75,  107,  120,  236,  296,  364 

Tories  370,  646 

Tornado  431 

Town  Farm  494 

"      Hall  176,  500,  520,  526,  539,  611 

"      Meetings  55,  64,  70,  98,    114,    130,   142,  164, 

270,  226  to  331,  423,  521,  523,  559 
"      Eecords  98,  110,  114,  117,  199,  245,  257,  521 

Trinity  Church  608 

Turkey  Hill  577 

Tything-Men  168 

Unitarians  559 

Universalists  560,  570,  571,  573,  576 

Uiiiversalibt  Society  595^ 

Upper  Bands  455 

Valuations  64,  72,  426,  453,466 
Voting  89,  115, 482,  (See  Balloting) 

Wagons,  &c.  336 

■Warning  out  ot  Town  279 

Washington  441,  471 

Watch-ilouses  69,  113,  156, 177,  205,  256,  261 

West  Bridge  111,  138,  104,  215,  494 

"     Parish  305,  306,  665,  601 

"    Biver,  (See  Little  River) 
Wharfs  303,  332,  333,  426 
Whipping-Post  69,  436 
Whittakcr,  Joseph  179,  201 
Wigwam  71 
Wild-man  496 

Wine,  &c.  64-,  83,  131,  132,  256 
Winter  Street  Church  600,  601 
Witchcraft  109 
Wood  95,  110,  137,  166 
Wolves  59,  96,  98,  147,  171,  248  • 

Work-House  441,  481,  506 
World's  End  Pond  199 

Yankee  boodle  392. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Abbot,  Rev.  Abie]  230,  429,  466, 
471,  557,  558,  559 
Aliiifail  466 
Daniel  416 
Geor?e  97 
Mr.  454 
John  557 
Abell,  Rev.  T.  P.  5D8 
Abercrombie  344 
Adams,  Daniel  399,  409,  470 
James  311 

John  390,  461,  465,  618 
John  Q.  516,  517,  650 
Rev.  Mr.  336 
Rev.    Phineas  568,   569, 
570,  572,  581 
_  Samuel  220,  365,  369 
Agassiz,  Louis  282 
Aiken,  Samuel  652 
Allen,  Ethan  344 

Richard  128 
W.  B.  &  H.  Or.  653 
William  615 
Alley,  Mrs.  386 

John  389,  393,  399 
Ames,  Ezra  C.  600 

Isaac  513,  519 
Moses  344,  350 
Samuel  464 
Amherst,  Gen.  344,  3.52 
Amy,  Michael  340,  34 <,  355 
Anderson,  Samuel  311 
Andrew  (Indian)  125 
Andres,  Sir  Edmund  148 
Annis,  Abraham  310 

Samuel  359,  360 
Appleton,  Daniel  326,  327,   346, 
350,  355,  374,  414,  419, 
428,  429,  466,  487,   539, 
541,  .553 
Hannah  470 
Samuel  159,  312,  327,  330, 

348,  371,  393,  428,  539 
William  407,  408 
Ash,  Nathaniel  359 

Phinahas  359 
Assacambuit  (Indian)  224 
Asten,  Abiel  262 
Atkinson,  Theodore  317 
Attucks,  Crispus  396 
Atwood,  James  348,  429.  533 
John  311,  429,  487 
Joseph  348,  358,  466,  659 
Moses  429,  460,  466,  533, 

641 
William  352,  357,  358 
Austin,  Thomas  237 
Zebediah  262 
Auchmaty,  Robert  294 
Averill,  Isaac  486 
Ayer,  Aires,  or  Eyres, 
Benjamin  73 


Ayer,  David  312,  327,  348,  440 
Elnnezer  73,  262,  264 
Edward  615 
Edwin  F.  540 
Frederick  S.  486 
George  W.  591,  592 
Gibberd  216 
Goodman  98 
Hannah  174 
Jacob  314,  327,  330,   346, 

428 
James  53,  156,  235,   267, 

275,  292,  312,  333,  384, 

400,  407,  466,  549,  615 
John,  Sen.,  60,  64,  77,  256 

312,  330 
John  72,  73,  80,   93,   106, 

156,  229,  256,  274,  275, 

346,  367,  380,  395,  407, 
466,  540,  541,  615 

John,  Jur.,  60,  72,  77,  94, 

138, 155 
John  A.  466 
Jonathan  73,  417,  466 
Joseph  174,  192,  197,  396, 

399,  615 
Josiah  216 
Monroe  545 
Moses  345,  419,  460 
Lott  411 
Nathan  346,  382,  383,  "88 

391,  393,  395,  400,  419, 

466,  471 
Nathaniel  73,  256.  615 
Obadiah  73,  236,  238,  256, 

274,  275,  293,  419,   466, 

615 
Oldgood  106 
Perley  419,  540,  541 
Peter  52,  72,  73,   80,   114, 

124,  138,  139,  151,  157, 

164,  166,  169,  173, 192, 

204,  256,  314,  327,  330, 

347,  348,  466,  565,  568, 
615, 661 

Robert  52,  72,  73,  77,  80, 
142,  164,  166,  174,  256, 
615 

Richard  241,  275,  349,  371 
372,  381,  393 

Samuel  73,  94,  128,  138, 
150,  164,  171,  173,  174, 
176,  179,  200,  204,  207, 
208,  215,  224,  225,  226, 
228,  235,  274,  275,  278, 
302,  312,  327,  342,   343, 

348,  349,  385,  399,  410, 
417,  418,  466,  548,  615, 
661 

Samuel  W.  70,  484,  570 
Simeon  314,  327,  3.30,  345, 
346,  349,  410,  466 


Ayer,  Thomas  52,  62,  12,  13.  ??< 
94,  138,   155,   216,  225, 
615 
Timothy  138,  £74, 312, 401 
Widow  94 
Widow  Sarah  408 
■  William    262,    312,     314, 
328,  349,  396,  567 
&  Brothers  540 

Bacon,  Rev.  Henry  598 
Badgir,  Benjamin  616 
Daniel  616 
Ebenezer  616 
Enoch  347,  616 
Giles  615 
James  615, 616 
John  615 
Joseph  301,  312,  318,  327, 

330,  346,  350,  556,   615, 

616,  617,  626,  644    ' 

Rev.  Moses  374,  378,  608, 

609,  616,  645 
Nathaniel  347,  616 
Peaslee  616 
Samuel  616 
Stephen  616 
Thomas  616 
William  618 
Baehelder,  Batchelder, 
Benjamin  353 
Rev.  Samuel  241,  242,  306 

349,  351,  366,  368,    565, 

566,  567,  568,  661 
Rev.    William    371,    381, 

4C4,  429,  467,  470,   488, 

587,  6G2 
Bagley,  Col.  354 

Jonathan  346 
Philip  382,  383,  392,  393 
Stephen  594 
Winthrop  330 
Bailey,  (See  Bayley.) 
Rev.  Abner"319 
Benjamin  467 
George  F.  516 
Henry  351 
Rev.  Jacob  609 
John  275,  356,  395 
Jonathan,  467 
Joshua  263,  26G,  270,  271, 

274,  275,  278,  305,   309, 

312,  321,  32.3,  330,  333 
Lewis  541 
Nathan  4C6,  467 
Nathaniel  356,  358,  466 
Noah  416 
Phillip  388 
Wood  bridge  467 
Baker,   Benjamin  348,  400,  407, 

408.  418,  419 
Capt  264 


VI 


Baker,  Edmund  397,  40S 
Edwiird  408,  414 
John  347,  350,   3u4,  400, 

407,  419 
Jonathan  418 
Mary  408 
Moses  i;76 
Nathan    342,     344,    345, 

347,  356,  358 
Richard  416 
Samuel  396 

"William    393,    396,     397, 
418,  497,  498 
Ballon,  Ilosea  595,  596 
Bulch,  Deacon  533,  534 

Nathaniel  327,  330,  347 
Westly  471,  533 
Baldwin,  Laorai  492 

Thomas  628 
Bannister,  William  B.  490,  633 
Ballard,  Ebenezer  384,  303,   397, 

410,  4G6 
Ball,  Thomas  516 
Banks,  N.  P.  521,  524 
Barber,  Samuel  411 
Barefoot,  AValter  143 
Barker.  Jonathan  358,  374,  893 
Stephen  244,  251,  252,  273 

470 
Zebadiah  407,  408 
Barnard,  Rev.  Edward  244,  247, 
551,  554,  555,  557,  559 
Edward  374,  375 
Rev.  Jolm  553 
Rev.  Mr.  316,  328 
Rev.  Thomas  246,  553 
Barrows,  Rev.  Homer  365 
Bartlett,    Bailey  88,    374,  415, 
42S,  430,   436,  440,  444, 
4(;!l,  464,  466,   467,  472, 
473,  474,  4S6,  489,   494, 
618,  619,  620,   621,  633, 
661,  662 
Charles  317,  621 
Christopher  164,  208, 235, 
243,  209,  270,  271,  30.3, 
311,  314,  S96 
Enoch  243,  333,  338,  346, 
347,  404,  427,   428,  466, 
621,  635 
Francis  470 
George  621 
Henry  621 
Isaac  393,  620 
Israel  374,  375,  393,   395, 
400,  407,  414,  415,   420, 
428,  4<0,  447,  461,  466, 
C21,  661 
James  429,  621 
John  400,  461,  620 
Jonathan  314 
Joseph  226 
Josiah  621 

Nathaniel  311,  314,  470 
Nehemiah  621 
Richard  132,  138,  620 
Sanmel  281.  429,  620 
Thomas  620,  021 
Eayse,  Mathew  43 
Bayley,  or  BaU-y  (See  Bailey) 

Amos  314,  329,   348,   417, 

418,  419,  420 
Benjcr  418 

Ebenezcr  314,    329,   348, 
355,  417,  418,  419,  420 


Bayley,  Humphrey  315,  349 

Jeremiah  315,  329,  349, 
418,  419 

Joseph  341 

Joshua  550,  618,  635 

Luas  410,  42u 

Orlando  28S 

Richard  328,  348,  419 

Thomas  314,  329 

"William  314,  328 
Beartoe,  Joseph  311,  314 
Bean,  Samuel  453 
Beard,  William  416 
Belfore,  Thomas  80 
Belknap,  Abraham  143, 

Ebcnezer  312 

Moses  312 

Obadiah  312,  349 

Samuel  94 
Bell,  John  628 
Benson,  Henry  353 
Bernard,  Sarah  466 
Berry,  Judge  328 

John  382,  383,  408,  411 
Betle,  Timothy  397,  411 
Bixbee  Nathaniel  354 
Black,  Benjamin  343,  345 

Edmund  342,  344,  345, 
347,  351,  356,  358 

James  312 

Peter  (Negro)  498 
Blanchard,  Samuel  470,  480 
Blaisdel  Jonathan  343,  351 
BIy,  or  Bley,  James  314 

William  279 
Blodgett  &  Head,  5.37 

Judge  4.54 

J.  i).  537 

Nath.an  375 

Samuel  333,  338,  363,  391, 
428,  444,  449,  458,  466, 
021,  622,  602 
Bodge,  Nathaniel  384,  395 
BodwcH,  Bethiah  '^^2 

Daniel  252,  271 

Henry  237,  244,  251,  252 

James  252 

Michael  347 
Bodfish,  D.  P.  657 
Bond,  Gilbert  408 

John  693      ' 

Joseph  128,  1.55,  174,  208, 
233,  312 
Borman,  William  315,  349 
Bowdoin,  Jno.  423 
Bowden.  Michael  ;!,->0,  755 
Bowcn,  Rev.  William  .595 
Bosworth,  Hantiiel  122    i 
Boyd,  Arter,  311 
Eoyea,  Robert  298 
Boynton,  or  Bventon,  Abiel   396 

John  312,  .",26,  330,  347 

O.  G.  516,  601 
Boutwell,  Geo,  S.  325 
Brackett,  Anthony  126 
Bradford,  Mr.  436 
Bradley,  or  Bradlee 

Abrahsm  235,  263 

Amos  34  8 

Benjamin  467 

Brickett  571 

Cyrus  576 

Daniel  136,  141,149,  L53 
163,  198,  312,  348,  351, 
417,  467 


Bradley,  David  69,  348,  417,  418, 
420,  430,  467 

Enoch467,  470,  482,  569 

Francis  466 

Hannah  308,  309 

&  Hersey  536 

Ithamore  419 

Isaac  179,  268,  312,  347, 
467,  623 

Jesse  396 

John  275,  311,  314,  345, 
349,  354,356,  359 

Jonathan  311,  418 

Joseph  153, 156,  160,  179, 
198,  200,  210,  216,  224, 
235,  314,  329,  412,  466, 
470 

Mary  418 

Mehitable  466,  470 

Moses  348,  351 

Nathaniel  348,  380,  435, 
466,  473 

Neamiah  314,  329,  348 

Samuel  348,  389,  466,  470, 
636 

William  312,  348, 418, 420 

Wingate  389,  410 
Bradbury,  Barnabas  S12 

Daniel  470,  512 

David  470 

Eben  408 

James  279,  312,  321,  396 

John  313 

Samuel  349,  385,  418,  466 

Sanders  345,  349 

William  385 
Brady,  William  3.30 
Bragg,  S.  459,  652 
Bradstreet,  Dr.  179 
Brainard,  Samuel  662 
Brant,  Robert  410 
Brattle,  Rev.  240 
Brentman,  Thomas  349 
Brewer,  Peter  52,  04 
Brewster,  H.  B.  655 
Bryant,  or  Briant, 

Andrew  ,312 

David  389,  429 

James  353 

Matthew  353 

William  347,  469 
Bridge,  Col.  390 
Briggs,  Henry  486 
Brickett,  Barnard  467,  599,  600 

Daniel  429,  406,  510 

James  275,  360,  374,  380, 
381,  383,  386,  389,  390, 
391,  392,  394,  399,  400, 
402,  403,  404,  405,  410, 
412,  413,  414,  415,  4-19, 
420,  421,  422,  428,  438, 
440,  447,  455,  466,  471, 
556,  623,  624,  626,  644 

John  408,  467,  662 

Moses  429,  440  . 

Ward  537 

&  Novcs  536 
Brooks,  Cotton  B.  429,  466 

Erastus  506,  656 

Rev.  Edward  248 

W.  G.  639 
Browing,  John  416 
Brown,  or  Browne, 

Rev.  A.  595 

Cotton  248 


vu 


\     Brown,  David  407 
\  Ebenezer  314,  331,  345  i1 

Edmund  3S5,  435,  466 
■    Epbraim  407,  408 
George  48,  62,  72,  75,   77, 
80,    88,  93,   94,  99,  106, 
110,  112,  128,  134,'  137, 
139,   143,  144,  164,  172, 
173,  256,601, 
H.  323   ■• '"  " 
Henry    Young   336,   359, 

360,  624 
Jacob  359,  360 
Rev.  John  241,   248,   261, 
279,  307,  547,  549,   550, 
551,  553,  659 
John  406,  470,  552,  593 
Joseph  341 
Josiah  349,  383,  537 
Nicholas  94,  153 
Kev.  Richard  231 
Samuel  312,  314 
Simeiin  331 
Thomas  248 
Rev.  W.  C.  610 
Ward  248 
William  344 
Brnmidse,  Edward  53,  143,  156, 

230 
Buck,  Ebenezer  312,  327 

Eliplialet  397,  398,  470 

Jacob  411 

John  341 

Jonathan   312,   333,   338, 

348,  354,  428,  660 
Samuel  39;'.,  397,  410 
Bugbee,  Rev.  J.  II.  361 
Burden,  Rev.  John  505 
Bnrgtn,  William  537"^' 
Burgoyne,  Gen.   401,   621,   624, 

630,  041 
Burgess,  Rev.  J.  S.  613 
Buroeaux,  Fortune  390,  397,  411 
Burnham,  Rev.  Abraham  583 

Eenjaniin  396 
Burrill  &  ilersev  633,  654 
John  342,"  343,  345 
Joseph  323,  400,  470 
Nathan  486,  653,  654 
&  Tilcston  653 
Burr,  Aaron  019 

Samuel  S.  637 
Buswell,  or  Buzzel,  Benj.  536 
Capt.  158 
Daniel  391 
Butler,  William  CO,  72,  106 
Eutman,  Thomas  317 
Butters,  Francis  510 
Francis,  Jr.  516 
Otis  W.  316 
Button,  Daniel  115 

Hannah  122  ^  ') 

Matthias  72,   77,  93,  96, 
113,  230 
Cahany,  Nathaniel  382 
Calf,  or  Calfe,  James  347 

Isaac  347 
Caldwell,  or  Cord  well, 
'  Enoch  384,  4(V) 
Jacob  333,  030 
&  Pierce  •335 
William  491 
Callis,  AVilliam  311 
Camball,  Elexander  313 
Campbell,  Samuel  417 


Candace  (Negro)  241 
Cannada,  Robert  353 

Thomas  353 
Capron,  John  593 
Carleton,  Aaron  413,  414,  415, 
.     418,  419,  420,  407 
Benjamin  274,  275 
Charles  062 
Christopher  274,  275 
Daniel  407 
Deacon  224 
Ebenezer  333,  389 
Edward  65,  232,  252,  310, 

313,  328 
Enos  467 
George  295 
Guy,  Jr.  537 
James  H.  519,  .529 
John  72,  92,  99,  100,   199, 

293,  482 
Jonathan  467 
Kimball  443,  467 
Mehitable  407 
Micah  467 
Nathaniel  3-13 
Nehemiah  274,  275 
Oliver  635 
Peter  241,  313,   348,    334, 

389,  410,  411,  567,  569 
Phineas  374,  39.3,  395,  400 
410,  419,  428,  429,   4.30, 
433,  460,  462,  467,  486 
Prudence  414 
Richard  310 
Thomas  293 
Stephen  407 
Games,  Rev.  Jihn  368 
Carr,  Francis  "8.3,  441,  467,  662 
George  49 
James  300 
Carrick,  John  E.  313 
Carter,  Ezra  270 
Joshua  028 
Carver,  Nath.'iniel  470 
Case,  William  389,  397,  410 
Cast,  or  Kast,  Dr.  348 
Castle  Jacob  389 
Castleng,  John  343 
Cesar  (Negro)  639,  000 
Celia  (Negro)  241 
Celly,  Samuel  349 
Chadwick,  James  142,  143,  467 

Mr.  489 
Challis,  or  Chalice,  David  358 
Gideon  343,  345,  358 
Left.  101 
Chambers,  William  311 
Chamberlain,  John  202,  487 
Silas  416 
William  407 
Chandler,  Rev.  John  53 
Josiah  313 
Thomas  97 
Chase,  Abncr  279,  313,  321 

Abraham  311,  314,  625 
Aquila  624,  625 
Amos  467,  333 
Anthony    407,   410,    414, 
418,  419,  467,  535,  536, 
579,  625 
Benjamin  470 
Charles  623 
Charles  D.  626 
Charles  T.  626 
&  Cogswell  533 


Chase,  Daniel  467,  625 
David  48.3,  625 
Deacon  243 
Eben  534 
Ebenezer  349 
Edmund  400 
Elbridge  W.  526, 663 
Ephraim  385,  467 
Ezra  ■  313,  328,   349,   381, 
385,  399,  404,  403,   407, 
408,  410,  414,  419 
Frederick  H.  626 
George  W.  191,  529,   530, 

623,  626,  557,  663 
Humphrey  314,  321,  328 
Isaac  347,  351 
Jacob  313,  321,  625 
James  327,  413,  418,  410, 

407  569 
John  314,   321,   338,  467, 

623 
Joseph  467,  625,  636,  637 
Joshua  467,  625 
Josiah  407 
Leonard  385,  467 
Moody  473 
Moses  M.  601 
Moses  623 
Nathaniel  315,  328 
Phillip  625 
Robert  625 
Samuel  334,  534,  533, 536, 

309 
Simeon  623 
Stephen  623 
Tappan  515,  316,  535,  537 

582,  003,  623,  626 
Thomas  N.  321 
Thomas  025 
W.  D.  S.  521,  394,  662 
William  347,  408,467,  594 

623,  020 
Woodman  407,  474,  625 
Chenarie,  Chcnary, 

John  71,  72,  77,  256 
Cheney,  John  382 

Thomas  311,  314 
Checkley,  Rev.  Samuel  220,  247 
Chiney,  Daniel  383 

Nathaniel  383 
Chickering,  John  467 
Chipman,  John  248 
Choate,  John  331,  507 
Christv,  or  Christie,  Mr.  298 
Peter  311 
Thomas  311 
Church,  Noah  30r. 
Clapp,  Benjamin  429  ' 

Clark,  or  Clarke,  Aaron  572 

Edward  72,  77,  78,  80, 143 

230,  268,  274,  275 
Ephraim  232 
Hanniel  208,  268,  275 
John  400 
Jonathan  232,  232 
Moses  .342 

Nathaniel  348,    414,   418, 
•  424,  407 
Samuel  208,  470 
Stephen.  398 
Timothy  208 
Rev;  W.  C.  612,  613 
Rev.  AV.  T.   562 
Clay,  Henry  636 
Jonas  353 


via 


/K 


Clement,  or  Clements,  256  * 
Abiah  232 
Amos  393,  467 
Benjamin   160,   814,  329, 

348,  380,  388,  410,  414, 

467 
Christopher  389 
David  275,  318,  356 
Hannah  265 

James  341,  395,  397,  411 
Jeremiah  275 
Jesse  160,  306 
Job  38,  45,  48.  57,  58,   60, 

67,  68,  69,  70, 72,  76,  77 

80,   90,   106,   141,  237, 

268,269,  5481 
John  48,  60,  70,'71,  72,  77 

86,  90,  92,  94,  103,  328, 

243,  256,  264,  269,   275, 

302,  213,  314,  349,   351, 

467,  661 
Moses   242,  243,  313,  327, 

329,  330,  346,  348,  274, 

380,  404,  435,  467 
Nathaniel  2:?2,   274,   275, 

315,  329,  349,  351 
Ohadiah  311,  314 
Peter  347 

-llobert  47,  48,  60,  62,   65, 
8,  70,  72,  76,  77,  80,  84, 

90,  110,  121,   133,   138, 

256,  661 
Ruth  265 
SamvicI  239.  275,  312,  315 

329,  347,  348,  384,   467, 

631 
Timothy  341,  348,  354 
^Villiam  352,  355,  357,  359 
Clifford,  Daniel  353 
Clough,  or  Clugh,  Daniel  512 
Jethrew  343,  345 
Mr.  3C6 
Jonathan  152 
Cobnrn,  or  Cobovn,  13cnoni  353 

Jonathan  208,  311 
Cod,  Phillip  198 
Cobbett,  Rp.v.  Thomas  97,  115 
Cockle,  John  392 
Coffin,  256 

Admiral  52 
Alex.  G.  51 
Charles  582,  625 
Pilbrick  340,  384 
George  658 
James  49 
John  49 
Joseph  486 
•    Mr.  106 

Narcissa  B.  51 

Peter  49,  70,  80 

Robert  217 

Tristram  45,  47,  49,  60,  72 

80 
William  227 
Cogswell,  Francis  620 
George  487.  598 
John  242.   313,    318,    .327, 

334.  347,  348,  393,   419, 

428,  407,  659 
Joseph  318 
Nathaniel  242,   313,    318, 

333,  347,  016,  626,   659, 

600 
Thomas    371,    374.     381, 
389,  393, 428,  430,  467, 
494,  626 


Cogswell,  Rev.  W.  583 
Coker,  Joseph  118 
Colby,  Colbey,  or  Colbie, 

Anthony    235,    238,   270, 

279,  .321,  548 
Daniel  382,  383 
Ednnind  353 
Ebenezer    313,   321,   328, 

349,  381,  385 
Elizabeth  407 
Ephraim  407 
Isaac  94,  313,   321,   349, 

300 
Jonathan  353 
Nii-holas  480,  491 
Philbrook  341,   342,  343, 

;-!45,  351,  352,  357 
Richard    313,    321,    350, 

300,  578 
Samuel  93,  112 
Theophelous  349 
■William  35.5,  356,  360 
Cole,  Benjamin  480 

Rev.  Charles  H.  613 
Eliph  396 
Timothy  593 
Colly,  Nathan  353 
Comings,  Rev.  E.  J.  603,  005 
Compton,  William  100 
Connelly,  Christopher  343,  345 
Cook,  benjamin  467 
Ezra  355 
Elisha  645 
James  31.5,  348,  357 
John  374 

William    352,    357,    358, 
360,  384,  389,    96 
Coon,  John  342.  343  345 
Copp  Aaron  ?5  !,  548 
•  David  .311.  353 
.  JoHiah  .311,  314 
■  Moses  311 
Corliss,  Corly,  or  Collv. 
Ch^u-les  628,  658 
Daniel  .355 
Ephraim  74,  467,  627,  028 

602 
George  58,  GO,  02,  67,   72. 
77.    SO.   106.   1"8.   186. 
256  266,  348.  627,  628 
John  128,   138,    315.   329, 
232,  242.  315,  329,  467, 
627 
John    S..  348,    355.  418, 

419,  467 
Jonathan  487 
Joseph  :il5.  348.  428,  627 
Joshu.-.  341,  349 
Mary  2:2 
Stephen  470 
Thomas  31.5.  .329 
Corser,  Samuel  358 
Thomas  358 
Cosset.  Rev.  Rana  609 
Cottle,  Ezra  347.  356 
Levi  360 
Thomas  S21,  325, 323,  350 

407,  491 
William  467 
Cotton,  Rev.  Eolland  109.  248    - 
Cousins.  Isa.ac.  75,  77,  79 
Cox,  John  417 
Craige.  George  390 
Cranch,  William  429 
Crawford,  or  Craflbrd, 
Thomas  311,  353 


Crawley.  126 
Cronnid,  Samuel  348 
Crosby,  Stephen  S.  583 
Cross,  or  Crosse. 

Rev.  Abijah  573,  574,  575, 

655 
John  43,  237 
Peter  122 
Stephen  347,  850 
William  237  .  -• 
Crowell,  Calvin  W.  540 
James  ."^.99 
John  514,  597 
Johathan  540.  662 
Lieut.  419 
i^amuel  3.55 
Currier,  Amos  341'  249.  414 

Asa    351,  382,  383,   388, 

397 
Caleb  313,  821,  349,   851, 

3.52 
D.  323 

Elizabeth  2'8 
Franklin,  516 
John  173,  238,  810 
Jonathan  467 
Joseph  ;^97,  410 
Nathaniel  536,  537 
Reuben  302,  313,  321,  828 

333,  349,  350,   351,  419, 

4  5,  467 
Richard  385 
Samuel  93,  164,  171,   172. 

173,  212.  238,  252,    315, 

34 '.  845 
Willibee  516 
Curtis,  Asa  353 
Curwin,  Samuel  486 
Gushing,    Rev.  Caleb  30.3,   ?99, 

407,  440,  563,  665 
Calebs   486 
Daniel  136 
Rev.  James  303,  563,  564, 

583 
Rev.  James  R.   582,   583, 

662 
Rev.  Jeremiah  136,   138, 

1.39 
Rev.  Jonathiin  245,  246 
Mr.  816,  317 
Mrs.  Anna  407 
Peter  :  96 
Thomas  423 
"W  illiara  648 

Dalton.  Isaac  .318 

John  225 

Samuel  94,  1,36.  161.  172 

Stephen  133 

Tristram  423,  650 
Damon.  Rev.  Mr.  577,  598 
Dana,  248 

Rev.  Mr.  574 

Samuel  040 
Danford.  John  214 
Dantorth,  Jonathan  102, 104,  122 

Samuel  244 
Davis.  Amos  24,3,  249,  351,  407 

Beniamin  276,  .321.  356 

Charles  382.  383,  388,  391 
397,  410,  53.5,  .536 

Daniel  31.3,  :'.27 

Elhridge  G,  516 

Ephraim  80  92, 115.  235, 
274.  276.  313.  821 

Elisha  173,  225,  252,  551 


Davis,  Ezekiel  242 
Henry  580 
James,   Sen.  60.   62,    77 

88,  106,  138,  256 
James  38,  .'iO,  o+,  63,  72 
80.  91,   141,   243,   252, 
2.56,  467,  662 
James,  Jr.,  60.  6.5.  72,  77, 

80,  88.  93,  106,  110 
Jeremiah  408 
John  54,  60,   62,   71,   72 
74,  77,  80,  106,  14o,  256 
v  31.3,  314,  349,  389,  391, 

\  397.  39S,  420,  460,  486. 

632,  661 
Joseph  54,  80,  93,  94,  274 

276 
Joshua  637 
]\Ir.  223 
Moses  313,  328 
Robert  276,  313,  433 
fiamuel  93,  235.  268,  274 
276,  31:^,  321,  329,  349 
Stephen  143,  235 
Thomas  47,  52,  54,  60,  62, 
63,  70,  72,   77,   80,   83, 
88,  94,   106,    111,   138, 
143,  256,  276 
William  661 
William  N.  576 
Davison,  Thomas  311 
Davy,  Humphrey  661 
Dawen,  278 
Day,  William  &  Co. 
Deacon,  Edward  307 
Deale,  William  92 
Dearborn,  C.  C  656 
Delaware,  0.  H.  J?.  516 
Dennis,  Moses  396 
Denuisoii,  Maj.  Gen.  97, 103, 124 
Rev.  John  109 
John  103 
Dike,  Edward  R.  516,  603 
Dimond,  .John  242 
Thomas  313 
Dinah  (Negro)  241 
Dinsmore,  Francis  356,  388,  414 
Dix,  James  385 
Dodge,  Ephraim  393 
David  313 
Joseph  386,  395,  428,  435 

467,  556 
Rev.  Joshua  429,  488,  494 
558,  559 
Donalds,  Reuben  396 
Dow,  354 

Abigail  238 
Benjamin  359 
Daniel  389 
Isaac  347,  350 
James  353 
Jeremiah  353 
John  156,  174,   256,   264, 
311,314,318.342,  382, 
383,388,392,393,   397 
502.  558 
Joseph  329 
Moses  428 
Peter  311,  314 
Polly  483 
Richard  353 
Ruth  2.38 
Samuel  235,  313 
Stephen  03.  142,  143,  156, 
157,  164,  166,  174,  198, 
238,  268,  .314,  353  I 


Dow,  Thomas  80,  82 

Timothy,  311,  314 
Downes,  B.  R.  610 
Downing,  John  384,  393,  470 

Moses  390,  397,  411 
Downer,  John  418 
Dresser,-  N.  P.  516 
Draper,  Adam  235 
Dudley,  George  650 

Paul  291, 
Dummer,  Richard  65 
Rev.  Shubal  39 
Duncan,  Abraham  628 
George  452,  628 
Grant  396 
John  623 

James  69,   338,  348,  386, 

393,  395,  404,  428,   451 

452,  467,  490,  494,  553, 

588,  628,  632 

James,  Jr.   374,  428,  451 

452,  470 
James  H.  429,   4"6,   494, 
501,  504,  507,  509,  521, 
52,3,  536,  542,  609,  638 
661,  662,  663 
Mrs.  James  H.  501 
Robert  628 
Samuel  374,  393,  623 
Samuel  W.  156,  168,  429 

486.  488,  489.  628 
Mrs.  Samuel  W.  309 
Samuel  B.  628 
William  628 
Durgan,  Benjamin  356 

James  306 
Duston,  Dustin,  or  Durstan 
Abigail  232 
Caleb  319 
Charles  197 
David  467 

Dudley  382,  388,  395 
Ebenezer  400 
Hannah  152, 185, 187,  192 

197,  308,  658 
James  353 
John  311,  313,  658 
Jonathan   196,   265,   311, 
315,  329,  331,  340,    341, 
848,  382,  383, 388,   393, 
410,  65S       " 
Joshua  347 
Josiah  194 
Mrs.  Lucia  H.  191 
Moses  356,  360 
Nathaniel  197,  235,  315 
348,351,  389,467,658' 
Obadiah  .319 
Rachel  407 
Samuel  314,  319 
Stephen  393 

Thomas  94,  128,  138,  18.5, 
192,  19-3,  194,  195,   196, 
200,  236.  313,  319.   328 
329,  469,  482,  630,  618 
Timothy  658 
&  Treat  467 
Dwight,  Dr.  193,  459,  461 
Dyer,  Christopher  626 


Eastman  or  Easman,  253 
Capt.  333 

Ebenezer  254,   257,   266 
274,  276.  278,  283,  289,' 
696 
Ephraim  476 

85 


Eastman,  Jeremiah  276 
John  346 
Joseph  276 
Jonathan  235,  269 
Moses  276  ■ 
Nathaniel  276 
Obadiah  276 
Peter  311  ; 
Phillip  94,  125,  128,   138, 

254,  276 
Roger  276 
Sarah  198 
Thomas  94,  128 
William  34 
Easterbrooks   Hannah  467 

Samuel  349 
Eames,  Capt.  432 

Daniel  407,  440 
Moses  342,  347 
Samuel  347,  350,  407,  408 

430,  407 
Theodore  630 
Earwin,  Joseph  311,  314 
Eaton  or  Eatton,  Rev.  Asa  609 
Amos  418,  420,  467 
Benjamin  348 
David  341,  347,  354,  356 
Deacon  336 
Ebenezer  2.32,  266 
Elbridge  G.  528, 597,  662 
Elijah  470 
■    Enoch  382,  383 
Hannah  238 
Isaiah  382,  38.3,  388 
James  315,  329,  349 
Job  235 
John  Sen.,  106,   272,  313, 

348 
John  60,  72,  77,  80,  88,  92 
173.  2.35,  239,    256,  265, 
315,  328,  382,  383,  388, 
391,  393,  433,  550 
Jonathan  173,  231,   233, 

315,  349 
Joseph  348,  410,  414,  415, 

417,  418,  419,  467 
Judith  230 
Moses  313,  321,  329,    341 

349 
Nathaniel  356,  358,    382 

383,  388,  491,  414 
Phineas  467 
Peter  630 
Rebeccah  467,  470 
Robert  W.  487 
S.  224 

Samuel  312,  314,  565 
Timothy   147,    313,    321, 
329,  334,  348,  372,    874, 
377,380,  381,  399,   404, 
405,  410,  414,  417,   419, 
420,  467,  569,  580 
Thomas  52,    72,    80,    164 
168,  173,  198,  208,  256, 
257,  208,  315,  328 
Ward  473 
Edes,  Benjamin  Jr.,  459,  652 
Edwards,  Rev.  Dr.  49§. 

&  Harding  537     ,  • 
John  31.3,  .329,  .349 
Nathaniel  31.3,  349 
William  419,  470,  636 
Ela,  Daniel  .52,  88,  92,  106.    122 
131,  134,  138,  140,    14l! 
143,  173,  174,  175,,  238 
26.5,  313,  321,  328' 


Ela,  Israel  313,  321,  328 

Jacob  275,  313,  328,  385, 

418, 419,  420,  467 
John  232,   235,  238,   313, 

380,  381,  418,  419,  420 
Jonathan  385, 467 
Samuel  232,  313,  321,  329 

349,  382,  383,  388,  407, 

408   . 
Elexander,  Sartle  416 
Elkins,  Joseph  396 
Elliott,  or  Eliot, 

Ephraim   380,    393,  419, 

467,  581 
Rev.  John  96 
Thomas  467 
Emerson,  Abraham  467 
Amos  349 
Beniamiu   174,  237,   311, 

499,  548,  659 
Beniamin  2d  515, 516, 535 

603 
Daniel  467 
David  204,  311,  314 
Elezer  349 
Elizabeth  145 
Ephraim  311,  314 
Ithamar  315,  327, 330,  342 

349,  414,  467 
Jabesh  314,  659 
James  341,  343,  345,   346, 

343,  349,  354,  355,  358, 

360, 388 
James  H.  429 
Jeremiah  418,  419 

John  315.  .329,  342,  346, 
349,  418,  467 

Jonathan  156,   174,  188, 

206,  215,  223,  231,  236, 

315,  329,  345,  348,  351, 

419,  541,  548,  567,  630 
Joseph  52,  149,  174.  235, 

237,  303,  314,  315,  329, 
342,  346,  348,  351,  358, 
360,  382,  383,  388,   391, 
417,418,  419,  548 
Josiah  345,  349,  418,  467 
Luther  522 
Mark  347,  382.  389 
Mehitebal  (widow)  314 
Michael   52,   86,   92,  122, 
IHO,  138,  145,  1P4,  174, 
192,  208,  315,  329,  348, 
418,  630,  658 
Moses  382,  383,  388,   389, 

392,  400,  467,  630 
Moses  E.  510 
Nathan  486,  630 
Nathaniel  122,  232,  486 
Nehemiah222,   223,   229. 
314,  347,  384,393,   418, 

420,  424,  429,  467,  470, 
543.  630 

Obadiah  315 

Orenzo  T.  526 ' 

Tcter  315,  348,  355,  382, 

383,  388,  418,  419,  5j9 
Phillip  353,  357 
Kichard  313,  327,  330, 347 

356 
Robert  52,   94,   115,   116, 

137,  140,  195,  311,  314 
Ruth  41 8 
Samuel  164,  235,  315,  329 

382,  383,  630 


Emerson,  Stephen  274,  276,  311, 

315 

Susannah  467 

Thomas  198 

Timothv  198,  311,  314, 
315,  329,  348,  351,  467, 
541,567 

Toothaker  W.  348 

Webster  355,  358  ' 

William  341 

&  Webt  536 
Emery,  Benjamin  357  536 

Caleb  353 

Ephraim  429,  467 

Humphrey  311 

John  79,  158,  348,  407, 
467 

Jonathan  311 

Joshua  315,  348,  349,  382, 
383,  388,  417,  418,  419 

Moses  468 

Noah  353 
Endicott,  John  27,  143 
Evans,  David  593,  606 
Fales,  Rev.  T.  F.  610 
Farley,  George  129 
Farmer,  William  352 
Farnsworth,   Rev.   Thomas     G. 

574,  596,  655,  662 
Farnham,  Barachias  328,  337 

Douglass  592 

James  407 

John  347 
Farnnum,  David  348,  352,    354, 
356 

John  430 

Roswell  536 

William  350,  356 
Farrar,  Kimball  537 
Farwell,  Rev.  Asa  575 

J.  H.  656 
Favor,  John  39,  45,  72 
Fay,  Aaron  358 

Galen  H.  4?9,  652 
Felt,  Joseph  B.  556 
Ferren,  Alpheus  396 
Fessenden,  Josiah  383 

Moses  428 
Finney,  Rev.  Geo.  W.  604 
Fiske,  James  60,  64,  71,   72,  74, 
77,  80,  256 

Rev.  246 
Firman,  Gyles  35 
Fitch,  Rev.  Charles  516,  604 
Fitts  &  Roberts  530 

D.  F.  602 
Fitz,  Nathaniel  470 
Flags,  Joseph  3471 
Flanders,  Joseph  516 

William  353 
Fletcher,  Rev.  C.  595 
Fling,  Peter  341 
Flint,  or  Flynt,  Edward  300,  313 

324,  327,  332 
Flood,  Daniel  353 

Richard  311 

Silas  343,  344,  353 
Folsom,  Rev.  N.  P.  562 
FoUonsbee,  John  480,  534 

Thcjuias  30n.  312,  314 

William  313 
Foot,  Enoch  062 

John  355 

Nathaniel  516 

Bowel  347 


Foot,  Samnel  184 
Ford,  James  174 

Mary  160 

Robert  94,  138,  155,  311 

Robert,  Jr.  52,  264,  268 

Samuel  143,  155 
Foss,  John  4S0 
Forsh,  Askebell  311 
Foster,  Abrel  313 

Asa  592 

Isaac  346 

John  353 

Jonathan  408 

Oliver  470 

Phineas  264 

Samuel  342,  343,  345, 
347,  354,  416 
Foules,  Benjamin  347,  352,  355, 

357 
Fowler,  Benjamin  350 

Mr.  276 
Franklin,  Jonathan  165 
French,  John  312,  314 

Jonathan  557 

Moses  534 

Nathaniel  300 

Sampson  352,  350,  357 

Sampson,  .Ir.  352 
Frink,  Andrew  326,  327, 330,486 
496 

John  341,  342,  344,  347 

Jonathan  345 
Frost,  Cato  (Negro)  396 
Frothingham,  E.  G.  657 
Frye,  James  346.  361,   388,   389, 
390,  392,  623 

William  F.  470 
Fuller,  J.  &  N.  S.  .'■)36 

John  S.  597 
Fulsom,  (See  Folsom)  Josiah  347 

Samuel  396 

Samuel  B.  410 

Gage.  Abel  419 

Alfred  516,  603 
Ebenezer   347.   384,   407, 

428,  468,  662 
Job    331,  .347,   359,   382, 

383,  388,  393,  397,  410 
John  313,  324,   827.   353, 

384,  395,  400,  408 
Joseph  353 

Josiah  94.  132,  13.5,  138, 
139,  141,  142,  164,  174, 
208 

Lemuel  388 

:Mr.  453 

Rev.  Nathaniel  562 

Samuel  315,  329,  397,  411 

Solomon  358 

Stephen  315,  349 

Thomas  347,  370, 468 
Gale,  Benjamin  313,   3i7,   330, 
346,  433 

Daniel  347 

James  501,  502,  654 

Moses  428,  468,  491,  532 

Samuel  347 

Stephen  349 
Gardner,  Cipt.  217 

James  535 

Rev.  Joshua  232,  234,  241 
244,  256,  547.  548 

Samuel,  Jr.  486 
Guy,  or  Guie, 

William  341,  349,  359 


XI 


&atchell,  Ezra  3'9 

Nathaniel  :a2,  314 
Gates,  Gen.  4U.3,  623 
George,  Amos  419,  403 

Austin  341,  347,  407,  468 

David  349,  385 

Gideon  313,  321,  323.  344, 
345,  346,  349,  407,  414, 
578,  648       • 

James  79 

John  238,  313,   321,   328, 
300 
1  John  S.418 

Jonathan  347,  330 

Joseph  T.  601 

Justin  414 

Lewis  382,  383,  388,  463 

Moses  D.  526 

Eichard  468 

Samuel  344,  348,  354,  383 
535,  537 

&  Whittier  53« 

William   313,    .321,     328, 
348,  349,  356,  487 
Gerrish,  Col.  389 

Samuel  341 
Gerry,  Gov.  619 
Giddin?,  George  43 
Gile,  Guile,  or  Gild, 

Aaron  537 

Asa  342,  343,  34.5,  347, 
350 

Amos  393  468 

Daniel  314 

Ephraim  164,  174,  235, 
263,  347,  548 

Goodman  108 

James  313,  328,  408 

James  F.  526 

John  138,  14.3,  171;  347, 
352,  353,  358,  403 

Joseph  208 

Joshua  353 

Mehet.ible  233 

Mr.  258 

Sarah  238 

Samuel  38,  52,  60,  71,  72, 
77,  80,  88,  93,  98,   138, 
256,  313,  328,  347 
Gill,  Daniel  312 

Ebenezer  311 

Joseph  311 

Moses  311 
Gilman,  Capt.  389,  396 

Jolin  53 

Rev.  Josiah  576 

Jno.  Jloody  359 

Nath^aiicl  359 
Gilmer,  M.  516 
Gilmore,  James  311 

Robert  311 

AVil'iam  311 
Gin,  (Negro)  241 
Gibson,  Gipson,  or  Jipson, 

Jolin  382,  383,   396,   398, 
.     411 
Girdler,  John  636 
Glover,  John  403,  408 
Gleason,  David  470,  637 

Macajah  389,  391 
Gofte,  John  348,  355 
Goldwin,  George  72,  lOS 
Googins,  Mr.  505 
Goodrich  or  Goodridge  161 

Barnard  468,  490,  oM 

John  385,  408, 


Goodrich,  Rev.  M.  598 

Timothy,  Jr.,  305,  565 
Gookin,  Jlr.  30 
Gorden,  Michael  311 
Goss,  or  Gross,   John  348,   355, 

397,  408,  414 
Gould,  Francis  652 
William  411 
Graves,  Ebenczer  407 
James  311 
Samuel  311 
Graham,  John  411 
Gray,  Harrison  346 
Great  Tom  (Indian)  43 
Greelee,  Grealy,  or  Grealey, 

Andrew  99,  100,  106,  111, 

130, 133,  170,  532 
Benjamin  128,  313,   329, 

350,  516 
Joseph  143,  171,  173,  238, 
242,  313,  32  i,  328,    333, 
349,  350,  385,  41 8,  420, 
468,  535,  537,  578,  581 
Gregory,  Jonas  122 
Green,  David  400 
Ebenezer  344 
Jacob  384,  400 
John  31.3,  329,    393,   463, 

470,  490 
Moses  470 
Nathaniel  314,  653 
Peter  94,   173,  194,   195, 
.     235,  238,  239,  269,   275, 
313,  321,  329,  578,  653 
Greenleaf,  Abel  468 
Caleb  46-8 

Daniel  357,  374,  430 
Dorothy  468 
Ebenezer  408 
Edmund  324,  327,  330 
Henry  355 

Samuel  374,  393,  593 
Sarah  470 

William   327,    346,     357, 
307,  374,  375,  380,   393, 
397,  411,  419,  428,  429, 
4:30,  468 
Greenough,  Allen  346 

Ebenezer  374,  400,  429 

Moses  369 

Parker  542 

Robert  353 

Sally  and  Betsy  4G8 

Simeon  390 

Symoods    327,    333,   345 

347 
Thomas  M.  486 
William    374,    429,   553, 
653 
Greenwood,  Rev.  Thomas  J.  597 
Gridley,  Col.  389,  390 
Griflin,  Mr.  217 

Daniel  341,  349,  357,  382, 

383,  388,  392 
Ebenezer  382,  383,  388 
Grimes,  Charles  G.  536 

James  536 
Griswell,  Rev.  A.  V.  609 
Grosvenor,  Rev.  M.  G.  571 
Gubtal  it  Haseltine  535 
Guilford,  Rev.  H.  P.  593,  657 
Gatterson,  John  237,  252 
Gyles,  John  220 

Haddock,  Charles  .347,  400,  407 
Daniel  429 


Haddock,  James  463 
Hadly,  Abel  358 

George  352,  335,  357,  338 
Hagar  (Negro)  220,  241 
Hale,  429 

Christopher  486 

Ebenezer  320,  327,  330 

Edman  243,  312,  314 
V         Enoch  353 
\     Ezekiel  215,  468,  474,  481 
■■..       482,  480,  499,  506,   510, 
"x    511,  541,  003 

tezekiel,  Jr.,  516 

E.  M.  J.  001 

Joseph  348,  355 

James  002 

Saraui^l  486 

Sarah  J.  186 

Thomas  60,  63,  65,  68,  71 
72,  73j  70,  83,  106 

William  510 
Hall,  Charles  3/j6,  3.58 

Charles  B.  662 

John  347 

Joseph  407 

Nathaniel  347 

Prince  240 

Thomas  311 

Samuel  84 
Hammond,  A.  W.  499 

E.  H. 525 
Hamilton,  Robert  336 
Hancock,  John  423,  619 

William  311,  313,  327  330 
Hanniford,  Asa  539 

Zachariah  313,  321,   341, 
338 
Hanson,  Elizabeth  153 

Itev.  J.  W.  599 
Hardy,  Daniel  392 

Joseph  385 

Timothy  242,  314,  326 
Harmon,  David  P.  534 

George  O.  516 

James  516 

William  397 

&  Kimball  535,  536 
Harding,  Isaac  657 

Jesse  429,  471,  482,  S34, 
535 

John  M.  657 

Thomas  53V,  663 
Harris,  or  Harrice,  Abiel  466 

Benjamin  350 

C.  D.  470 

Rev.  Edward  N.  589 

David  348,  393 

Jonathan  343,  35.5,  393, 
400 

John  H.  656 

Rev.  J.  M.  395 
Harriman,  Abner  312,  314 

Edwin  .504,  655 

Enoch  419 

Jesse  317 

Joel  347,  350,  3,82,  383, 
407,  414,  415,  419,  420 

John  268,  209,  312,  314 

Jonathan  .349,  351 

Joseph  243,  312,  314,  316 

Joshua  243,  314 

Leonard  312,  314 

Matthew  94, 138,  174,  135 
235,  237,  239,  2.52,  268, 
269,  283,  314 

Moses  384,  393,  408 


xu 


Harriman,  Page  341,  343,  349 
Kiohard  314,  327 
Siimuel  585 
Simon  407,  40S,  409 
Stephen  314,  3i'7,  347,  348 
Tiustworthj'  414 
■William  397,  411 
Harrod,  176 

Benjamin  242 
James  374 
Joseph  428,  468 
Harrison,  Gen.  629 
Hart,  Thomas  601 
Haseltine,  Amos  545 
Benjamin  313 
Charles  536 
Daniel  345,  346,  349 
Henry  312,  314 
James  315,  329,  348,   351, 

400.  419,  453,  468,  470 
Jeremiah  315,    348,   418, 

419,  420 
John  69,   72,    74,   93,  94, 

116,  128,  135,  138,   155, 

164,  172,  174,  235,  249, 

313,  315,  328,  349,   356, 

468,  548,  549,  661 
Jonathan  313,   341,   345, 

346,  348,  355 
Joseph  315,  328,  342,  345, 

£49,  567 
Ladd  468,  493 
Lydia  417,  420 
Maxe  347 

Moses  382,  383,  388,  417 
Nathan  314,  327,  3H0,  348 
Nathaniel    94,    128,   138, 

155,  170,  174,  237,  315 
Philip  315,  329,  417,  661 
Polly  318 
Eiohard  389,  420^ 
Eobert  69,  74,  84,  86 
Eiith  417,  420 
Samuel  232,  241,  253,  315 

327,  342,  345,  348,   351, 

420 
Sarah  238 
Timothy  313 
"Ward  662 
William  500 
Hassel,  Rev.  Eoliert  263,  562 
Hartshorn,  John  94,  138 
Euth  IGO 
Susannah  232 
Thomas  94,  128,  138,  221, 

225 
Hastings,  George  313,  321,  328 
John  252,  348,  419 
Levi  414,  416 
Eobert  94,  238,   279,  284, 

313,  321,  349,  577,  578 
"William  653,  654 
Hatch  Aroet  533 
Estes  220 

Eev.  Leonard  B.  593,  594 
Phebe  408 
&  Spofford  533 
Haynes,  or  Haines,  Ammi  418 
Amy  E.  348,  351 
David  348,  351 
Guy  C.  185,  203 
Jonathan   184,   198,   199, 

315,  328,  399 
Haynes,  Joseph  184, 198, 201, 242 

315,  338,  348,  351,   372, 

379,  380,  404,  468,  567, 

568 


Hayes.  Mary  184 
Moses  535 
Perly  398,  411 
Phineas  545 
Eev.  Mr.  303 
Thomas  184,  271,  315  327 
333,  400,  468,  565,  666, 
567 
Hayes,  Thomas  M.  519 
&  Peniberton  5y7 
Hazzen,  Hannah  265 

John  242,  316,  317,  353 
Moses  53,   243,   264,  274, 
276,  303.  313,  329,   332, 
342,  343,  345,  348 
Gen.  Moses  53,  623,  640 
Eichard   173,    253,    261, 
265      267,     271,     274, 
276,  289,  291,  292,  294, 
296,  298,  299,  313,   316, 
327,  330,  333,  513,  551, 
661 
Sarah  265 
Head,  John  L.  516 
Heath,  Bartholomew  52,  60,   71, 
72,  73,  74,  77,  80,  88,  93 
100,  213,  256,  266,  312, 
314 
Benjamin  311 
Caleb  311 
Daniel  348 
David  300,  311,  359 
Enoch  416 
Goodman  106 
Hannah  238 
James  237,  268,  311 
John  80,  88,  94,  115,  200, 
213,  235,  269,  276,  311, 
312,  314 
Joseph  174,  237,  312,  314, 

548 
Joshua  352,  357 
Josiah  94,  200,   235.  237, 

268,  312,  314,  353,  548 
Mr.  273 
Nathaniel  311 
Nehemiah  274,   276,   312, 

314 
Eichard  311 

Samuel  312,  314,  389,  537 
.'  590 

Bylvanus  347,  355 
Bttphtn  342 

William  264,    312,    314, 
■   353 
Hendrick,  Abraham  160 
Israel  156,  164 
Jonathan  12S,  235 
Jotham  138,  17;i,  208,  239 

214 
Daniel  52,  60,  72,  75,   77. 
•  80,83,  106,  143,256661 
Hertel  of  Chambly  224 
Henry,  Patrick  379 
Henshaw  Joshua  411 
Herrick,  Daniel  313 
Hersey,  Caleb  521,  535,  537,653, 
&34,  662 
&  Whittier  537 
Houston,  Heuston,  or  Huston, 
John  313 

John  A  &  Co.  541 
"William  410 
Heivlt,  Rev.  Mr.  498 
Heyward,  Oliver  221 
Hibbard,  Daniel  356 


Hyde,  James  342,  345 

Hills,  Daniel  384,  393,  418,  419 

Georce  W.  470 

Eev.  Stephen  P.  589 

Nathaniel  429 
Hilton,  Benjamin  315 
Hind,  John  i21 
Hinkley,  Eev.  Fredrick  562 

John  327, 
Hobson,  Daniel  534,  536 
Hodge,  Capt.  342 
Hogg,  Hog,  or  Hoag 

John  311 

Joseph  51 

Samuel  343 

William  311       ^ 
Hogkins.  John  31 
Holdridge,  "William  72,  77,' 256 
Holgate,  James  313,  321 
Holt,  Joseph  155 

Nicholas  99 
Hollaway  410 
Hopkins,  516 

Thomas  395,  410 
Hopewell  (Indian)  241 
Horsford,  Rev.  Benj.  F.  600,  612 
Horner,  Thomas  311 
Hovey,  Mr.  009 

J.  484 

E.  P.  486 
How,  Howe,  Calvin  "W.  486 

David  391,  429,  460,  46?, 
490,  512,  533,  540,  588, 
631,  632,  633,  634,  662 

David  W.  631 

Isanc  468,  540,  541,   542 

Isaac  E.  429,  498,  501, 
634,  650,  654 

Mrs.  I.  R.  501 

Isaiah  199 

James  429,  631 

Jacob  062 

Moses  344 

Nathl  S.  661 

Phineas  540,  543 

Sarah  588 

&  Mitchell  542 
Howard,  Benjamin  343,  344,  345 

John  313 

Joshua  317,  347 
Hoyt,  Hoitl,  or  Hoight, 

Daniel  635 

George  H.  528 

Jabez  353 

John  71,  72,  184 

Moses  468 

"William   342,    343,    345, 
353,  480,  537 
Hewlett,  Ensign  65 
Hubbard,  D;ivid  408 

Eev.  Ml-.  108 
Hudson,  James  430 
Hull,  John  128 
Humphrey,  Eev.  Edward  595 
Huukings,  or  Hnnkins, 

Benjamin  352,  357,  358 

Caleb  D.  661 

David  408 

Hannah  420 

John  311 

Jonathan  385,  468 

Eobert  235,  238,  279,  313, 
321,  329,  .349 

Thomas  313,  321,  349 
Hunt,  Jonathan  353 


xm 


Hunt,  Samnel  313 
Huse,  Capt.  474 

John  348,  420,  468 
Stephen  313,  327,  330,  348 
Hussey,  Christopher  38,  60,  72 
Hutchins,  or  Hutohings, 
BeDJamin  174 
David  313 
Hezekiah  344 
I  Jeremiah  348,  509 

I  John  02,  72,  79,  83,  87,  99 

106,  118,  208,  235,  241, 
250,  397,  410,  411      " 
Jonathan  311 
-.^  Joseph  94,  138,  208,   223, 
315,  328,  :-o4,  357,  507 
Nathan  315 
Eobert  243 

Samuel  94,  128,  132,  138, 
104,  174,  208,  235,   252, 
315,  061 
Thomas  119 
Willi;mi  348,  355,  356 
Hutchinson,  Elisha  516 
Lt.  Gov.  301,  370 

Ingalls,  Eltlad  315 

Elias  T.  499 

Henry  341,  408 

Timothy  343 

&  Johnson  536 
Ingerfiekl,  John  342,  345 

Peter  342,  345,  347 
IngersoII,  Rev.  Ira  571 

John  480 

Zebnlum  470 
Ingraham,  Josiah  358 

Jack  (Negro)  358 
Jackm->n,  Moses  312,  314 

Samuel  407 
Jackson,  Major  442,  447 

Stephen  382,  383,  393 
Jacques,  A.  B,  432,  404 

John  349,  358 

Stephen  247,  281 
Jarvis,  Wm  035 
JefllTS,  John  349 
Jekyll,  John  045 
Jeuueson,  Matthew  389 
Jenness,  Cornelius  510,  537 
Jennings,  Rev.  John  595 
Jenny  (Negro)  242 
Jewett,  Joseph  74,   80,   88,   256, 
257 

Stephen  649 

Sewell  E.  516 
Jipson,  John  300,  398 
Johnson,  Allan  M.  030 

Andrew  539,  507,  636 

Beniamin  408,  030 

Charles  317 

Charles  E.  036 

Cornelius  314,  329,  346 

Daniel  243,  313,  314,  328, 
346,  349,  380,  407,  408, 
414,  415,  420,  474,  496, 
679,  635,  630 

Elias  358,  410,  418,  419, 
420,  468,  579,  581,  583, 
630 

Enoch  348 

Freilriek  G'.O 

Frederick  W.  030 

George  036 


Johnson,  George  Hazen  636 

Hannah  210,  025,  635,  636 

Hazen  W.  030 

Herbert  M.  036 

J.  Henry  516 

James  T.  636 

John  72,  88,  92,  94,  107, 
128,  137,  143,  158,  164, 
172,  174,  221,  225,  228, 
250,  257,  270,  314,  323, 
308,  410,  429,  468,  469, 
470,  484,  485,  495,  018, 
625,  034,  O^iO,  001 

Jonathan  210,  312,  314 

Joseph  72,  02, 94, 106,  138 
164.  174,  237,  304,  393, 
396,  548,  002,  035,  636 

Leonard  537,  636 

Maverick  313,  329,  349, 
419, 635 

Michael  311,  317 

Moses  636 

Nathaniel  268,  209,  312, 
314,  329,  347,  350,  468, 
635,  6  ;0 

Nathan  582,  583,  036,  637 

Peter  343,  346,  418,  420, 
636 

Samuel  813,  327,  347,  399, 
597,  035,  030,  002 

Samuel  M.  486 

Sarah  238  (Sally)  590 

Seth  242,  349,  418,  419, 
420,  030 

Stephen  2o5,  311 

Susannah  409 

Thomas  225,  235,  237, 
238,  252,  313,  314,  317, 
328,  408,  483,  548,  583, 
635,  630 

Timothy  274,  276,  310, 
340,  351,  353,  K57,  358, 
382,  383,  388,  391,  407, 
413,  414,  415,  418,  420, 
440,  035,  630 

Washington  88,  516,  637 

William  174,  231,  235,  253 
208,  302,  310,  314,  330, 
415,  420,  034,  035,  037 

William  P.  036 

Zacariah  311 

&  George 
John  (Indian)  43,  297 
Jones,  Abner  500,  503 

Joshua  410 

Josiah  306 
Jose,  Richard  411 
Judith,  (Negro)  243 
Judson,  A.  .Ir.  012,  643 
Kancamagus  (Indian)  31 
K.eeley,    Rev.   George  332,   4'i9, 
458,  409,  588,  589,  662 
Josiah  521 

Chase  &  Co.  536 
Kelcy,  Alexander  311 
Kelly,  or  Kellev, 

John  &  Co.  536 

Joseph  279,  313,  321,  329, 
349,  380,  407,  414,  469, 
578 

Langley  407.  408 

Richard  305,  349 
Kendrick,  or  Kenrick,  490 

Aimer  408 

Daniel  374 


Kendrick,  John  468 
Kendall,  Asaph  470,  596 

Rev.  S.  E.  575 
Kcnniston,  John  126 
Kent,  Jeremiah  353 

John  311 

Justin  429,  468 

Richard  273 

Stephen  70,  72,  70,  77,  78, 
80,  81,  88,  119,  256 
Kezar,  Kezer,  or  Keyzar, 

Ebenezar  313 

George  198 

John  121,  128,  139,  142, 
101,  172,  173,  311,  313, 
315,  348,  417,  420 

Moses,  393,  398,  410 

Timothy  347, 350,  355, 408 
Kimball,  A.  L.  057 

Abigail  108 

Abner  313,  327,  333,  385, 
308,  410 

Abraham  313,  327,  330, 
345 

Benjamin  153,  408 

Betsey  590 

Charles  O.  499 

Cotton  384,  400,  468 

David  350,  468 
*      David  C.  571 

Ebenezer  352,  354,  35t 

Edmund  407,  537 

Eliphalet  499 

Hazen  487 

Hermon  516 

Henry  128,  133 

Jabez  420 

James  348,  383,  384,  388, 
380,  399,  407,  408 

John  125,  108,  275,  470 

Jonathan  311,  353,  357, 
414,  408 

Joseph  125,  357,  480 

Joshua  309 

Mary  (widow)  312,  314 

Moses-  408,  480 

Rev.  Moses  035 

Nathan  408 

Nathan  S.  063 

Nathaniel  3S0,  393 

Phinehas  433 

Richard  261,  308,  410,  414 
418,  439,  408,  535,   536 

Samuel  313,  314,  393 

Solomon  408 

Thomas  125,  254 

Timothv  354,  358,  359 

William  343 
Kingsbury,  Col.  344 

Ephraim  134,  151 

Henry  53,  110 

James  94 

John  94 

Joseph  94,  132,  138,  174, 
200 

Samuel  138 

Thomas  128, 155,  174,  193 
200 
Kinnicum,  Askebell  311 
Kittredge,  Alfred  500,  504,    521, 
601,  052 

Cato  300 

Thomas  .303 
Knapp,  John  3>50 
Knight,  Abicl  341 


XIV 


Knight  John  138 

Nathaniel  311 

Richard  353,  Soi 
Knowltou,  Capt.  390 

I'rancis  353 

Nathaniel  313,  32G,  327, 
330 

Samuel  353 

Knowles,  Eufus  K.  537 
Lacount,  or  Leacount, 

James  348,  353 

Moses  398,  -110 

Samuel  393,  409 
La  Chasse  260 
Ladd,  or  Lad,  539,  541 

Abigail  232 

Asa  349 

Daniel,  Sen.,  93,  94,  138, 
315 

Daniel  38,  48,  60,  62,  68, 
72,  74,  77,  89,  93,  94, 
96,  124,  12S,  235,  256, 
315,  328,  329,  348,  349, 
355,  357,  548,  567,  661 

Dilly  318 
_  E.  459,  652 

Dudley  347,  400,  468,  553 

Ezekiel  138,  317,  347 

Goodman  106 

Heman  375 

John  232,  252, 269  315  328 

Natiianiel  128,  160,  468 

Samuel  94,  128,  145,  164, 
199,  201 

Timothy  313 

William    348,    351,   410, 
418,  419 
Laferty,  James  416 
Lake,  Kphvaim  E.  486 

Joseph  470 

Joshua  580,  636 

Oliver  P.  535 
Lamhard,  Rev.  Mr.  571 
Lamson,  William  374.  468 
Lamout,  William    89,  393 
Langdon,  Rev.  Mr.-  390 
Laneeton,  Roger  100 
Lawrence,  Rev  Edw.  A.  600 
Lawson,  Christopher  72 
Lear,  Mr.  442, 447 
Lebeter,  Henry  347 
Leach,  Benjamin  347 
Lee,  George  W.  536 

John  4 11 
Le  Bosquet,  Caleb  429,  470,  499, 

539,  662 
Lenardson,  Samuel  190 
Leonards,  James  650 

Lemuel  662 

Nathaniel  650 
Levett,  Daniel  359 

Sarah  414 
Leverett,  Rev.  246 
Levi  (Negro)  241 
Lewis,  Rev.  Wales  583 
Lindall,  226 
Linforth,  Thomas  72,  77, 88,  256 

Little,  Bond  333 

Rev.  Daniel  316 

Daniel    '03,  311,  316,  549 

Ezekiel  318 

George  311 

Joseph  511 

Moses  355 


Little,  Samuel  311 

Thomas  313 

William  470 
Littlehale,  John  117,  123 

Richard  38,  55,  00,  67,  72, 
77,  80,  106,  250 
Long,  Benjamin  396 

Richard  109 
Loring,  William  P.  486 
Lovell,  John  279 
Lovewell,  Capt,  263 

John  353 

Joseph  333 
Lovejoy,  Henry  433 
Lovekins,  Samuel  349 
Longley,   Rufus  429,  460,    521, 
635,  6-17 

Mrs.  Rufus  501,  518 
Loughlar,  John  410 
Low,  Hannah  468 
Lowger,  Jonathan  382,  383,  398, 

400 
Lufkin,  Jonathan  313 
Lull,  Moses  541 

Macy,  Thomas  80 
Mansise,  Cornelius  3 17,  389,  394, 
427,  428,  429,  430 
Hannah  40.3 
Simon  400,  428,  463 
Mansfield,  Col.  389 
Mansur  J.  W.  500 
Maine,  Rev.  Amos  53 
Mather  Rev.  Increase  97 

Rev.  Cotton  37,  186,  247 
Marble,  Caleb  353 
Enoch  348 
John   315,   329,  349,  417, 

590,  591 
Jonathan  315,  339 
Nathaniel  283,  315 
Samuel  269,  315,  396 
Marsden,  George  375,  383 
Mariah  (Negro)  241 
Marland,  G39 
Marsh,  or  Mash, 

Abigail  418,  496 
Cutting,  347,  428,  433468 

6;!8 
David  313,  3'^8,  346.   348, 
374,   393,  400,  418,  419, 
420,    428,  429,  468,  549, 
638,    639,  661 
Deacon  269 

Enoch  347,  353,  374,  381, 
393,  395,  400,  419,  420, 
4»,  468,  532,  638 
Ephraini  315,  328,  638 
George  638 
Hezekiah  359 
James  639 
John  155,  174,  235,  429, 

548,  349,571,638,  639 
Jonath.an  217.   313,    .328, 

349,  351,  578,  638,  639 
Lvdia  496 
Moses  347,  .350,  429,  440, 

468,  470,  638 
Nathaniel  347,  374,  37.5, 
393.  394,  393.  400,  407, 
412,  414,  428,  430,  433, 
433,  440,  408,  471,  539, 
541,  62,3,  638,  639,  662 
Onesiphorus  138.  149,  153 
164,  174,  188,638 


Marsh,  Samuel  639 

Thomas  160,  638 

&  Hutchinson  536 
Marshall,  Henry  358 

Mr.  516 
Martin,  Rev.  Job   H.   600,  603, 
603,  604 

Oliver  470 

Robert  410 

Truman  M.  516,  663 
Mason,  Rev.  L.  B.  598 

John  280 
Massey,  Barthol.  416 
Maverick,  Elias  88,  634: 

John  633 

Samuel  239 
Maxfield,  Elipha.  359 

Henry  357,  339 
May,  Rev.  Mr.  505 
Mayhew,  Nathaniel  470 
McCurdy,  John  345,  346 

Roberd  311 
MoCasling,  John  347 
McCafee,  Daniel,  ill 

Hugh,  311 

John  311 
McCaster,  John  311 
MeDurmid,  Hugh  396 
McDonnell,  Rev.  John  T.  603 
Mci'arten,  James  311 

Paul  311 
McEarland,  James  0.  463 

Moses  380,  391,  396,  403 

Nathaniel  389 
McHard,  James   243,  243,   309, 
313,  327,  330,  338,  347, 
374,  428,  430,  433,  468 
McMaster,  William  311 
McNiel,  Rev.  Wm.  .599 
Mclvissich,  John  3.39 
McQuesten.  Daniel  P.  662 
McWhite,  Thomas  396 
Mead,  Mr.  570 
Meady,  Thomas  534,  596 
Mercer.  Abiel  173,  269 

Richard  116 
Mercy,  (Negro)  243 
Merrill,  or  Merriel 

Mr.  594 

Abell  232 

David  317,  349,  353,  357 

Rev.  Giles  407,  442,  44.5, 
468,  564,  639 

Isaac  386 

Israel  347,  350,  351  • 

James  386 

James  0.  639 

John  274,  276 

Jonathan  277,  311 

J.  B.  540 

Joseph  265,  315,  323 

Moses,  188,  192,  196,  276, 
342,  343,  344,  345,  349 

Nathan  313,  340 

Nathaniel  232,  268,  276, 
311,  31.3,  548,  551 

Ruth  (Widow)  315 

S.amuel  264,  348,  371,  380, 
381,  393,  399,  404,  405, 
407,  410,  414,  415,  416, 
418,  419,-420,  441,  408 

Sarah  232 

Thomas  276,  348 

Rev.  W.  P.  593 

William  521 


Merrie,  Daniel  329 

Joseph  38,  60.  106 
Merrick,  Josepli  486 
Merritt,  Rev.  D.  N.  604,  605 
Messe"-,  Massar,  or  Mercer, 
Abiall  252,  263 
Leonard  486 
Thomas  2o3 
Timothy     313 
MiUer,  John  311 
'  Stephen  344,  346 

Rev.  William  511,  604 
Mills,  Samuel  J.  642 

James  311 

Milliken,  See  Mullikin. 

Daniel  350 

John  394,  399,   412,  415, 
42S 
Middleton,  Peter  359,  393,  395, 
408 
Samuel  345,  847,  350,  352 
354,  357,  359,  360,   384, 
393,  393,  410.  440 
Wiliam  341,  342,  345,  347 
Mingo,  Thomas  314 
Minot,  George  040 

Stephen  429,  639,  662 
Mirick,  B.  L.  502 
Mitchell,  Mr.  310 
Abigail  232 

Andrew  23.5,  269,  31.5,  327 
Bradley  .349,  351,  407 
Daniel  399 
Eben  541 
Kbenezer  348,  419 
George  269 
James  315 
John  315,   348,   351,   404, 

419.  575 
Jonathan  323 
Marv  232 
Philip  315 
Samuel  G.  382 
William  264,    315,     328, 
348 
Mogg,  (Indian)  126 
Moice,  Goodman  72 
Montgomery,  J.  P.  516.  537 
Moody,  Abigail  468,  470 

Benjamin  314,  398,  410 
Cutting  594 
David  359 
Elisha  347,  3.50,  3.55 
Humphry  398,  410,  644 
Moses  414,  408,  470 
Moses  B.  558,  559,  629 
Nathaniel  398,  410 
Rev.  246 
William  644 
Morley,  Mr.  333 
Morgan,  Moses  314 
Mooers,  or  Mores, 

Amrairahama  347 
Benjamin    347,  374,  395, 
41)1),  428,  429,  468,   553, 
640,  041 
Capt.  389,  391 
David  385,  393 
Daniel  340.  347 
Edmund    320,    327,   330, 
34<X  342,  343,  345,   354, 
,357,  358.  428 
Edward  347 
John  398,416 
Jonathan  468 
Joseph  353 


Mooers,  Moses  .398 

William  3.56 

Morrill,  Francis  383 

Micajah  353 

Morrison,  Mr.  276 

Bradbury  313,  341 
Daniel  349,  351 
Holbert  311 
John  313,  321,  329 
Samuel  349 
Morse,  David  470 

Hazea  402,  662 
Henry  349,  351,  46S 
Isaac  499 
Jedidiah  463 
John  350,  593,  606 
Rev.  John  B.  597 
Joseph  352,  396,  502 
Moses  429 
Oliver  463 
Rev.  Stephen  571 
William  242, 243,  313, 407 
&  Fox  483 
Morrill,  Abraham  72 
Is.aac  158,  3.50 
Moulton,  Nathaniel  356 
Mullikin,  or  MuUican,  232 
John  348 
Joseph  314,  440 
Susannah  470 
Mullin,  Robert  468 
Muzzee,  John  311 

Nanamacomuck,  31 

Neff,  Mary  186.  308,  309.  658 

William  93,  138,  186 
NeUon,  Jlr.  42 

Jin  111  than  389 
Phillip  389 
Nesmith,  John  486 
Newcomb,  Capt.  Jesse  156,  503 

Thomas  480 
Newell,  David  Jr.  347 

Harriet  460,  041,  642,  643, 
Rev.  Sam'l  642,  643  644 
Newmarsh,  223 
Nichols,  Abel  592 
Daniel  414 
David  309,  32.5,  389 
Dorothy  408 
Francis  J.  608 
Rev.  Henry  M.  574,  576 
Humphree  382,  383 
Jacob  347,  469 
John  B.  577,  625.  636,  662 
Joseph  350 
J.  R.  519 
Phineas  323,  385,  435,  468 

594 
Moses  219,  559 
Mosos  &  Co.  536 
Nicholson,  Gov.  653 
Niles,  Rev.  Asa  595 
Nimock,  James  315 
Nixon,  John  344,  3G0,  586 
Nott,  Samuel  Jr.,  642 
Noyes,  Eliphalet  470,  534 

Follansbee  .309,  418,  468 

Goodman  106 

Ir.a  504,  597 

James  83,  534,  335, 536 

Josiah  463 

Rev.  Nathaniel  568 

Parker  408 

Samuel  486 


XV 

Noyes,  Thomas  101,    122,   213, 
220,  261 
Timothv  311 
W.  H.  5'l6 
&  Dunbar  513 

Old  Will,  (Indian)    43,   71,   97, 

143 
Oliphant,  Rev.  David  563 
Ordway,  or  Ordiway, 

Benjamin  348,   885,   399, 

415,  418,  419,  469 
Edward  235,  315,  329, 348 
357,  381,  404,  414,  415, 
469 
Joseph  Hill  348 
Rev.  Nehemiah  385,  580 
Samuel  341,  349 
&  Websttr  537 
Ormsby,  Richard  72, 77 
Osgood,  Abigail  469 
Hannah  470 

Isaac  33S,  348,   895,  412, 
427,  428,  441,  451,   452, 
552,  635,  662 
John  65,  90,  99,  350,   351, 

352,  354 

Joshua  B.  374,  624 

.  Peter  429,  452  409,  535 

Timothy  428,  443 

William  120,  353 

Osillaway,  Joseph  345,  352,  357, 

358 
Otterson,  William  312 
Otis,  James  362 

Packard,  Rev.  Dr.  610 
Padington,  Joshua  2:^5 
Page,  Abel  ;<49,  419,  536 

Abraham  2)8,  239,    269, 
313,  321,  328 

Amos  349,  419 

Beniamin    9:<,    173,  235, 

238,  321,  662 
Caleb  :ai,  469 
Cornelius  17.?,  277,  313 
Daniel  "Q^,  410 
Dorcas  409 
Ebenezer  217 
Edmund  311,  318 
Elij>hlet  311 

Ezekiel  31',  321 
John  52,  62.  138,  139.  142 
143,  164,  173, 174,   238, 

239,  256,  38.5,  418,  661 
John  Jr.  72,  93,  173,   235, 

277,  356 
John  C.  469 
Jonathan  311,  318,  345 
Jeremiah  261,  313 
«  Joseph  94,  174,  213,  217, 

208,  274,  277,  311,  388, 

409 
Joshua  311,  ol3,  :i27,  330. 

342 
Lewis  31.3,  ,^21,  328,   .M9, 
Mich.iel  352,  357,  358 
Nathan  340.  342,  'Mi,  345 
Nathaniel  274,   277,   313, 

.321 
Obediah  352 
Oliver  .342,  343.  .345,    353, 

359,  389,  398,  411 
Parker  424  • 
Peter  349 


XTl 


Page,  Samuel  349,  385,  420 

Solomon  344 

Stephen  35:5 

Thomas  274,  277,  315,  329 
424,  567 

Timothy    311,    345,   353 

William  348  349  351  352 
357  385 

&  Kimball  535 
Paine,  Mr.  42 

Palmer,  Henrv  38.  60,  63,  65,  67, 
70,  72, 77,  80,  83,  85,  88 
94,  106,  114,  137,  256, 
615,   661 

James  593 

John  E.  590,  592 

Joseph  313 

J.  U.  657 

Timothy  459 
Parker,  Mr.  577 

Rev.  Benjamin    242,   350, 
555,  578,  579,  580 

Daniel  398,  410 

Elias  590 

Gideon  344 

Q-ihnan  505,  661 

James  112,  343, 

John  101,  121,  122 

Eev.  L.  S.  605,  606 

Leonard  516 

Moses  360 

Eev.  250 

Samuel  131,  159,  241 

Timothy  343,  344 
Parmlee,  Alfred  S.  516 
Parsons,  Eev  246 

Eev.  Joseph  246,  549 

Moses  428 
Partridge,  John  349 
Passaquo,  47 

Passaconnaway,  30,  42,  46 
Pattee,  Patie,  Pettee, 

Benjamin  315 

John   317,    319 

Peter  130,   143,  170,  171, 
284,  310 

Eich.ird  311 

Samuel  2.32 

Seth  310 
Patten,  Joseph  327,  330 
Patterson,  Samuel  311 
Paugus,  (Indian)  262 
Payson,  Jonathan  428,  442,  445 

Joseph  460 
Peabody,  Rev.  Andrew  P.  561 

Joseph  469 
'      Nathan  382,  383,  388  398 

Nathaniel  410 

Oliver  374 

Eev.   Stephen  3I8,    461.  , 
556 
Pearl,  Cyril  657 
Pearsons,  Ebenezer  616 

James  yli,  321,    323,  326, 
357 

James,  Jr.  ZlS,  346 

Jonathan  343 
Peaslee,  or  Pcaslcy 

Abigail  265 

Amos  242,  313,  .328 

David   384,  389,  396,  398, 
399,  410 

Goodman  106 

Jonathan  238,  389 


Joseph  60,  62,  71,  72,  77, 
80,  94,  143, 145, 156  164 
171,  173,  176,  204,  206, 
215,  239,  256,  274,  644 

Nathaniel  53.  156,  239, 
255,  265,  267,  271,  274, 
277,  289,  307,   313,   321, 

326,  h28,  333,    334,   338 
348,  615,  644,  648,   661 

Eobert  235,  243,  274,  277, 

313,  356       . 
Samuel  328 
Sarah  232 
Susannah  265 
Pecker,  Mr.  309 
Ann  252 
Bartholomew  74,  341,  342, 

343,  345,  a54,    389,   393, 

447 
Daniel  470 
Doctor  395 
James  73,  77,  92,  93,  103, 

121,  251,   267,  274,  277, 

289,  326,  327,   330,  348, 

389,   393,  398,  407,  408, 

548 
Jeremiah  74,  274,  277 
John    74,   274,   277,   313, 

327,  329,  330,  232 
Ruth  469, 
Samuel  155 
William  f98,  411 

&  Brickett  536 
Peckham,  Re\'.  Samuel  H.  564 
Pell,  James  400 

John  355 

Sanmel  416 

William  341 
Pemberton,  Dr.  557 
Perkins,  Baithl.  347 
Perlej',  Pareley,  or  Pearly, 

Daniel  S.  435 

David  ..93 

Jonathan  384 

Nathan  3iS 
Perry,  Ephiaim  342 

Francis  .359 

Joshua  342,  343, 351,  355, 
358 

Ob.idiah  310,  331 

Rev.  Mr.  499,  505,  571 

Thomas  77 

Rev.  WiUiam  S.  608 

William  343 

William  W.  .359 
Peter,  (Negro)  243i 

Indian  125 

Mr.  184 
Pettingall,    Benjamin  312,   314, 
396 

Jed.  diah  409 

Matthew  469,  480     . 
Phersen,  Nathaniel  :il4 
Phelps,    Rev.   Dudley  499,   559, 

560,  5011.  655 
Philbrick,  John  516 
Phillip,  (Indian)   123 
Phillips,  Re\-.  George  650 

Rev.  Sanmei  53 

Samuel  :i85,  660 
Phipps,  Sir  William  161- 
Phillis  (Negro)  241,  242,  248 
Pike,  Charles  487 

Ueugh  311,  314,414 


Pike,  James  328,  388,  892,  410, 
415,  418,  419,  420,  469 

Joseph  169,  405 

Eobert  80  ' 

Simeon   382,  383,  388,  391 
Pierce,  Abraham  247 

Charles  396 

Joshua  345 

Samuel  347 

Em^^rson  &  Co.  536 
Pillsburv,  242 

Chase  410 

Edmund  342,    343,    345, 
347 

Samuel  594 
Pitt,  William  346 
Plummer,  Asa  469 

Frederick  591,  .592 

Eev.  Henry  592,  593,  606, 
607 

John  591,  617,  639 

Silas  470,  590 

Samuel  516 

Thomas  469  591 
Plant,  Rev.  Mathias  280,  620 
Pollard,  Amos  G53 

Barton  341 

John  312,  314 
Pomfret,    Rev.    James  E.   576, 

598 
Pomeroy,  Rev.  Ur.  .571 
Pomp,  (Negro)  241 
I  oplin.  Capt.  389 
Pope,  Thomas  311 
Poor,  Ecniamin  347 

Daniel  311 

John  469 

Thomas  302 
Porter,  Dudley  429 

Ebenezer  400 

Eleazer  A.  46,  486 

Henry  429 

Moses  396 
Potter,  Henry  590,  592 
Powers,  David  389 
Prentice,  George  D.  656 
Prescott,  Stephen  353 

William   .390,    631,   634, 
647 
Preston,  John  185 
Presson,  Ton  at  ban  344 
Pressey,  or  Presley, 

Benjamin  o98,  411 

James  256,  257. 

John  340,  342,  343,  345 

&  Fletcher  537 
Price,  Capt.  217 

William  S.  411 
Prince  (Negro)  248 
Putman,  Ebenezer  467 

Gen.  390,  392,  631 

Oliver  429,  469 

Quimby.  Mrs.  126 

Daniel  408 

Rev.  Mr.  598 
Quincy,  Edm\ind  293 
Quint,  Rev.  A.  M.  612 

Ealle,  Father  260,  261 
Eand,  Samuel  389,  592 
Randall,  Benjamin  618 
Rawson,  Edward  385 
Reddel,  Robert  311 
Redington,  Daniel  347 


Redlngton,  Isaac  371,  372    878 
380,  381,  393,  395,   40o! 
404,407,^13,417,   428 
632 
Nathaniel  347,  350 
Reed,  James  416 
Eeinhart,  E.  AV.  654 
Eemington,  John  02,  106,  110 
Eemick,  Remock, 
I  Daniel  389,  393,  396 

'  David  415,  430 

James  382 
Samuel  398,  410 
Eenes,  Samuel  398 
Rewy,  John  232 
Richards,  Benjamin  311 

Joseph  398,  411 
Eichardsou,  James  342 
Eev.  James  562 
Parish  353 
William  353 

Winslow    347,   352,  355, 
357 
Eichmond,  Rev.  J.  C.  609 
Bicker,  Lewis  342 
Eideout,  Rowland  313 
Rix,  James  352,    357,   388,  393 

395,  398,  410 
Eindge,  John  292 
Eogers,  Dnniel  650 
W.  E.  P.  657 
Roberts,  Daniel  343 

Ephraim    164,   174,   232, 

235,  236,  237,  247,  548 
Hannah  313 
Jonathan  243,  312,  314 
Oliver  H.  593 
Samuel  232,  235 
Robie,  or  Eoby 

Ichabod  160 
John  94,  128,  138,  160 
Robinson,  Ebenezer  592,  593 
Ephraim  418,  419,  420 
John  38,  45,   60,   68,   72, 

74,  106 
Joseph  385,  469 
Rogers,  D.  D.  372,  374,  380,  395 
428 
Hannah  469 
Hope  232 
Robert  346 
Thomas  118 
Rolfe,  Rev.  Benjamin  154.   160, 
162,  165,  168,  171,  207, 
208,  219,  225,  228,  232, 
241,  547,  548 
Ezra  94,  153 
Henry  67 
Nathaniel  310,  327,  330 

348,  371 
William  382 
Eouville,  Hertel  de  212 
Rollins,  John  469 
Rowe,  Jacob  398,  410 

John  359 
Rowell,  Benoni  353 
Elias  398,  411 
Jacob  288 
Phillip  313 
Eowlandson,  Rev.  Mr.  189 

Mary  152 
Ruggles,  Timothy  346 
Runniels,  David  347 

Hannah  469,  470 
Stephen  382.  38-',  392  893 
541 
Russ,  Thomas  659 
William  470 


Russell,  Ebenezer  347 
Edward  347,  350 
James  342,   343  S44   "45 
347,  663  '  ■    ' 

John  310,  348,  469  470 
Samuel  535,  637    ' 

Ryland,  John  588 

Saggahew,  47 
Saltonstall,  Anna  588 
Doctor  489 
Gurdon  48,  109,  645 
John  48 

Leverett  377,  429,  454 
461,  469,  497,  502.  628' 
630,  645,  347 
Nathaniel  47,  48,  99,  106 
109,  112,  114,  184,  137' 
150,156,158,160,  164 
168.  173,  174,  175,  176* 
199,  204,  213,  217  230 
233.  235,  284,  374  40a' 
588,  639,  645.  646,'  647' 
650,  661  ' 

Richard  48,  108,  129  143 
204,  208,  241,  242  "89' 
292,  302,  304,  309,'  Sls! 
329,330,3.32,342  344 
345,  346,  348,  351,  354,' 
363,  375.  377.  378,  550 
556,  565,  645,  646,  647 
661  ' 

William  645 
Safford,  Fhen  H.  655,  ^656 
Salter  &  Co.  474 
Salem  (Negro)  243 
Sanborn,  Sloses  356,  360 
Sanclare,  George  313 
Samuel  (Indian)  116 
Sanders,  or  Saunders, 
Abigail  420  * 
Amos  540  -' 
Avery  277,  349  -- 
Benjamin  349 
Bradbury  343 
Henry  232,  239,  252,  268 

2G9,  300 
Jacob  313,  321,  327,   330, 

350 
James  94,  164,  173,   174 
207,  238,  239,  245,  252! 
265,  271,  277,  279,  313, 
321,  329,  661 
John  238,  243,   252    267 
270;  274,  277,  279,  313 
320,  327,  330,  349,   351 
382,  383,  388,  661 
Jonathan  274,  277 
Lemuel  388 
Nathaniel  274,   277    313 

327,  330,  349,  661 
Peter  347 
Rachel  265 
Ruth  418,  420 
Samuel  349, 382,  383, 420 
469 
Santeler,  George  321 
Sargent,  or  Sargeant, 
Aaron  350 
Amos  470 
A.  A.  526 
Barnard  385 
Charles  382 
Chase  383,  388 
Rev.  Christopher  273,  644 

648 
Edwin  A.  516 
Elias  420,  469 

68 


XVll 

Sargent,  Henry  34D 

Jonathan   341,   347,   354 

393,  396,  428 
Mary  469 

Nathaniel  P.    300,     367 

380,  386,  404,  413,   417* 

422,428,441,454,   644* 

648,  662 

Reuben  359,  382,  3S3,  388 

392 
Samuel  279,  345,  349,  416 
Thomas  407,  408,  416 
William  396 
Zebediah  342,  343,  345 
Zebulon  156 
Satchwell.    TheopTiilus    74    76 
77,  80,  S8,  141,  256        ' 
Savory,  William  498 
Savage,  Henry  60,  62,  72,  77  106 

James  107 
Sawyer,  Abner  353 
Amos  470 
Edward  388 

James  347,  381,  382,   383 
338,  391,  3C9,  407,  430' 
John  242,  313,    327,    333 
347,  371,  374,  395,  405 
410,  414,  419,  420,  423. 
436 
Jonathan  347,  384,  407 
Joseph  353 

Joshua  327,  337,  348,  469 
Nathan  156 
Oliver  346 
Paul  .396 
William  382, 383, 388  391 

399,  415,  469 
Wyded  637 
&  Cross  474 
Scales,  Oliver  331 
Scammon,  Col.  391 

James  73,  352,   357,    359 
416,  430 
Seaver,  Rev.  Nicholas  231 
Seeley,  Rev.  R.  H.  612 
Senter,  Levi  407,  408 
Sewall,  Henrv  281 

Judge  281 
Seymour,  Rev.  Charles  H.  610 
Shatswell,  Theophilus  75  79  39 

91     (See  Satchwell)' 
Shackford,  Samuel  347 
Shaw,  Edward  354 

Rev.  John  318,  429,  445 
555,  556,  557,  559,  650 
Roger  83 
William  S.  556 
Sbay,  Daniel  437 
Shepard,  Gen.  437 
John  235 
Jonathan  313,    347,  848 

393,  399 
Ruth  420 

Samuel  138,  143,  346,  347. 
348,  393,  399 
Sherratt,  Hugh  39.  45,  47,   52 
60,  64.  71,  72,  74,  77,  88 
196,  256< 
Shirley,  Gov.  William  321 
Shirgley,  Rev.  J.  598 
Short,  Henry  81 
Shute,Gov.  258 

Jacob=^274,  278 
John  278 
Sibley,  Jacob  648 
Samuel  223 
Silliway,  Joseph  3  9,  354 

Reuben  4lo 


xvin 


Silver,  222 

Abraham  iOS 

Daniel  331,  409 

James  343 

John  232,  315,  348,  082, 
470 

Jcnathm  408 

Jcseph  343,  414 

Saniuol  348 

Thomas  232 

Zebadiah  414 
Simons,  Abic^ail  232 

Elizabeth  2.2 

Goodman  87 

Hannah  238 

James  347 

John  174,  237,  313,  487 

Jonathan  235,  313,  327, 
330,  346,  347,  408 

Nathan  313 

Eichard  347, 354,  357,  359 

Samuel  130,  138,  313 

Sarah  469 

"William  87,  88,  90,  256 
Simonds,  Jesse  537,  663 

Jonathan  348.  356 

Moses  408,  414 

Nathan  217,  223.  235  347 

Nehemiah  408,  415, 469 
Simson,  James  469 
Simeon  (Indian)  116,  125 
Singletery,  Amos  94,  128,    164, 
17.3,  661 

Benjamin  94.  128,  143 

Nathaniel  94,  153 

Richard  72,  80,  256 
Skinner,  565 

Rev.  Otis  597 
Slackman,  Robert  382 
Sleeper,  Thomas  89,  256,  257 
Slocomb,  Rufus  528,   535,    536 

601 
Smiley,  David  407.  408,  649 

Francis  311,  314,  407,  408 

Heugh  311,  314,  389 

James  382,  383,  389,  396. 
470,  662 

John  311,  314,  327,  330. 
347 

Mar3'460 
Smith,  Abigail  407 

Benjamin  310 

Rev.  Daniel  D.  573, 574 

Kleazer  341,  617,  626 

Rev.  Elias  590,  592 

Hezekiah  (RW.JlS*,  339 
422,  429.  432,  461,  464, 
469,  579,  584,  586 

Jesse  662 

John  311,  315,  329,  348, 
396,  407,  417,  419,  |469, 
669  *■ 

Jonathan  K.  429,  498 

Jonathan  470 

Joseph  356 

J.  B.  522 

Moses  347 

M.  H.  (Rev.)  597 

Mrs.  219,  225 

Nathaniel  93,  2.35,  312, 
342,  345 

Peter  486 

Rebecca  501 

Samuel  174,  236,  252,261 
208,  312,  313,  314,  321 

Eimu  3S9 


Smith,  Rev.  Thomas  250,  461 

Thomas  310 

Timothy  349 

William  232,    396,     308, 
470 

Walker  419,  469 
Snow.  Isaac  347,  380,   381,  393. 
390,  404,  405,  410,  418, 
419 

James  382,  383,  388 

John  279 

Joseph  407,  408,  400 
Soley,  Mathew  74,  348 

Nathan  416 

Nathaniel  408,   414,   469, 
480 
Souther,  Elbridge  537 

John  400 

Jonathan  469. -471 

S.-imuel  24.3,  371,  395,  400 
428,  469 
Southridge.  William  460 
Spaulding,  Rev.  Willard576 
Sparhawk,  Nathaniel  428 
Spear,  Thomas  348 
Spiller,  Joseph  B.  155,  433,  458, 
516,  5.33 

Samuel  &  Son  537 
Spoiford,  Dr.  460,  656,  657 

Moody  459 

Paul  533,  5.34 

&  Tilestou  053 

&  Hiirris  636 
Sprague,  Joseph  E.  635 
Springer,  Henry  304,  313,   324, 
327,  382.  388 

Jonathan  313 

Joshua  347,  352 

Joseph  354,  358 

Solomon  347 
Stanton,  Rev.  Robert  245,  246 
Stanley,  or  Standley, 

Benjamin  203,  548 

Matthew  315 

Samuel  315 
Stanford,  John  411 
Stanwood,  Phillip  313 
Staniel,  Anthony  65  '     • 

Stark,  Caleb  429 
Starbuck,  Nathaniel  51 
Starlin,  or  Starling, 

Josiah  160 

William  140  143.  164  195 
Staples,  Samuel  .341,  398,  410 
Stebbins,  Charles  H.  176 

Mrs.  69 
Stcdman,  Mr.  238 
Steere,  Rev.  M.  J.  .576 
Stephens,  Aaron  237,  269 

John  237. 

Moses  268 
Stevens,  Anna  433 

Benjamin  271,  274 

Ephraim  469 

Rev.  John  H.  582 

John  31, 174,  235,  268  311 
526 

Jonathan  311,  312,   314, 
353 

Joseph  311 

Joshua  237 

Josiah  396 

Moses  312,  ,<?14 

Nehemiah  311 

Othro311j 

Samuel  311 


V 


Stevens,  Wait  311 

William  311 

&  Co.  516 
Steward,  John  314,  315,  347,  348 

3.54 
Stiekncy,  Jeremiah  347,  3,50,  382 
396,  400,  470,  486 

Mrs.  Jeremiah  518 

John  393 

Jonathan 

IVloses  342,  344,  345 

Samuel  355. 

Thomas  428 
Stimson,  John  311 
Stone,  Benjamin  312,  314,  353 

Ezekiel  357 

Thomas  331,  351 

Stockbridge,  John  94,  136,  160 
Stuart,  or  Stewart, 

Richard  08,  207 

Robert  662 

Samuel  358,  516 
Straw,  Benjamin  396 

John  ,347,  398,410' 

Sherbon  469 
Swaddock,  John  93 
Swan,  222 

Asa  254 

Francis  460,  582 

John  215 

Joshua  237,  252,  268,  271 

Richard  254 

Robert  72,  80,  85,  SB,  100, 

106,118,  122,  128,  1.32. 

138,  139,  143,  164,   160, 

237,  238,  244,  256,  661 

Swasey,  Moses  417.  418,  420,  469 

William  186,  627 

Swett,   or  Sweet,  Abraham  374, 

395,  429,  469 

Col.  392 

John  236,  243,  248,  243. 
'.^79,  283,  313,  321,  323. 
338 

Joseph  79 

Thomas  358 

Timothy  349 

William  486 
Swonten,  William  242,  348 
Symouda,  John  348 

Mark  015 
Symmcs,  Dr.  554 

Kev.  Zachariah  110,  246 

Taggart.  John  3P6 

William  521,  655.  663 
Tailer,  John  428 
Tappan,  Rev.  246,  580 
Tarbox,  John  353 
Talent,  Hugh  309 
Tenney,  Rev.  Charles  503,  365 

John  593,  635 
Terrell,  Jetise  360 
Thayer,   A.   W.   498,   499.  502. 
505,  600,  654,  655,   656 
Thaxter,  John  428,  628 
Thomas,  .John  398,  399,  410 

William  118 
Thompson,  Edward  313 

E.  C.  &  Co.  510 

Isaac  411,  469 

Paul  374 

Samuel  341 

Thomas  344,  346 

William  53,  180 


ZIX 


Thornton,  John  410 
Tileston,  Thumas  534,  653 
Tilton,  J.  C.  530 
Titcomb,  Col.  399 
Tindle,  Nilcs  '469 
Toil,  Francis  396 
Toney,  Robert  313 
Tomlinson,  John  293 
Tompkins,  Christopher  661 
I  Eev.  Isaac  580,  581,   582, 

)  583 

Townsend,  James  382,  383,  388, 
392,  393 

William  314,  341,  486 
Tozier,  E.  S.  516 
Tracy,  John  387 
Train,  Rev.  A.  S.  589,  530 
Trask,  Mr.  326 
True,  Eev.  Einry  316 
Truel,  Samuel  416 
Trumbull,  John  486 
Trussel,  Moses  311 
Tucker,  Asa  350 

Dr.  554 

Ezra  347 

Ichabod  429,  469,  647 

Moses  311 

Nathaniel  312,  314 

Leonard  311 
Tufts,  Mr.  20S 

Eev.  246 
Turner,  Major  217 
Tuttle,  Samuel  615   ---^ 
Tyler,  Abraham  38,   60,   72,  77, 
80,  256 

Barnaby  470 

Daniel  393,  396 

Dean  429 

Dudley  242,  243,  396,  419 

Goodman  106 

Job  243,  419,  469,  535 

John;^82,  388,   392,   393, 
396,  410 

Jonathan  321 

Joseph  313,  321,  328 

Theodore  393,  396,  408 

Thomas  382,  383,  388  396 
Tyng,  Edward  300 

Underbill,  John  487 
Upham,  Charles  W.  525 
Uran,  345 
Urine,  Jonathan  346,  355' 

Varnon,  Baracrah  315 
Varnum,  John  429,  628,  «49  654 

661 
Vercheres  224 
Vines,  Eichard  33 

Wackfarlee,  Nathaniel  311 
Wadleigh,  L.  C.  539,  663 
Wade,  Nathaniel  408 
"VVakciield,  Joseph  393 
Wainwright,  Col.  254 

Francis  137,  229 

Eev.  Dr.  609 

John  137,  229,  289 

Mary  225 

Simeon  137,  142,  143,  156 
169,  174,  175,  208,  222, 
225,  228,  229 
Wftldron.  Richard  645 
Wales,  Ebenezer  538 


Walker,   James   .^84,   428,   470, 

512 
Nathaniel  2.50,  313,   327, 

330,  347,  367,  371,  374, 

414,  415,  428,  430,  469, 

660 
R.  ft.  382,  586 
Samuel  393,  400,  419,  428 

455,  457,  469,  470,  471 
Timothy,  Jr.  433 
Wallace,  John  380 
Walton,  Col.  260 
Waldon,  Major  127 
Ward,  James  58 

Eev.  John  35,  36,  38,   39, 

40,  47,^8,  53,  55,  58,  60 

63,  70,  72,  77,  84,  88,  91 

99,  100,  108,   110.   133, 

137,  ]  54.  165,  258,  548, 

651 
Nathaniel  36,  38,  40,  55 
Wannalancet,  30 
Warren,  Gen.  392 

James  378,  395 
Washington,  George    441,   442, 

443,  444,  445,  446.   447. 

448,  458,  471,  630 
Wasse,  Thomas  91,  116 
Watson,  George  469.  645 
Watts,  Elizabeth  232 
Jesse  396 

-John  235,  311,  315,'^333 

Samuel  128,  155,  232,  315 

348,  351,  356 
Webb,  David  470 
Webster,  Dr  554 
Abigail  418 
Benjamin  131 
Caleb  470 
Daniel  575,  576 
David  419,  476,  490,  540, 

542,  571,  575 
Eben  155,  315.   349,  382. 

408,4  0 
Enos  349 

Grant  318,  326,  327,330 
Isaac  349,  470 
Isaiah  535 
Israel  79,  118,  311 
James  348.  358.  417,   419. 

420 
John  76,  79,  SO,  155.  235. 

269,  311.  428,  470 
John  S.  537 
Jonathan    243,  315,   326, 

.327,  330,  347,  348,   351, 

372,  373,  379,  380,  381, 

386,  387,  404,  410,  417. 

420,  428,  469,  539,  541, 

569,  661,  662 
Joshua  469 
Joseph  353,  382,  383,  470, 

487,  541,  572,  576 
Moses  336,  349,  419,   469, 

569,  572,  573,  574,  576 
Nathaniel  315,  320,  355 
Nathan  79,  252,  269,  291, 

303,  :  15,  329,  333,   334, 

429,  516,  539,  542,   566, 

568,  576,  661,  662 
Peter  349 
Phineas  533,  534 
Samuel  315,  328,  349.  417 


Webster,  Stephen  79,  93,  94,  138 
155,  269,  315,  328,  343, 
348,  349,  380,418,  419, 
470,  539,  541,  548,  569. 
570 

Stephen  P.  318 

Thomas  3;^.  349.  419, 509 
576  ■—     - 

Toothaker  351 

William  311 
Weed,  Benjamin  360 

Joshua  469,  480 

Nathaniel  360 
Welch,  Ezra  B.  575. 576 

Rev.  Moses  564 
Welde,  Rev.  Thomas  58 
Wells,  David 359, 469 

John  314 

Joseph  480 

Rev.  216 
Wentworth,  John  617 

Gov.  364 
Wescomb  Moses  384 

Thomas  331 
West,  Henry  429,  469 

Jackson  352,  357,  860 

Mary  469 

Nathaniel  360^ 

Eev.  Samuel  581 

Thomas  115,  347,  367  371 
374,381,  393,  394,  404. 
410,  415,  419.  451.  486. 
569 

Wilks  354 
Westcott,  Mr.  594 
Weymouth,  Edward  123 
Wheeler,  Abner  353 

Amos  487 

Eev.  Benjamin  568.  611 

Benjamin  311 

John  624 

Jonathan  311 

Eichard  K.  537 

Stephen  Hll 
White,  Charles  46,  429,  494,  603 
662 

David  358 

James  311 

James  D.  53 

John  53,  156,  157  164  168 
169, 172,  174,  175,  204, 
206,  208,  215,  232,  242, 
243,  245,  256,  261,  262, 
267,  270,  273,  274,  277, 
313,  347,  358,  360,  386, 
389,  394,  395,  401,  414, 
428,  430,  441,  444,  451, 
469,  470,  548,  549,  553, 
635,  661 

Jonathan  330 

Joseph  353 
><  Leonard  54,  429,  469,  489 
490,  650,  661,  662 

Nicholas  53,  269,  274,  277 
311,  314,  317,  549 

Philip  53 

Samuel  53,  242,  243,  253, 
313,  326,  327,  3^0,  P34, 
347,  369,  372,  878,  380, 
419,  427,  4587  4i6,  460, 
469,  553,  585,  632,  663 

Timothy  53,  347,  350,  354 
553 


xz 


,K 


White,  William  38,  46,  47,  52  60 

62,  63,  72.  76, 77,  88,  89 
96,  106,  114,  134,  137, 
138,139,  168,  245,  250, 
253,  256,  274,  277,  429, 
468,  549,  628,  650,  661 

Zachariah  198 
Whiting,  David  313 

John  313,  393,  469,  552 

Joseph  394 

Jndith  212,  220 

Samuel  347 
Whitefield,  Rev.  George  249 
Whittier,  or  Whitcher, 

Rev.  Benjamin  517 

Ebenezer  313,  321,  329, 
350 

Elizabeth  314 

Francis  359 

Green  279,  321,  345 

Jacob  389 

James  388 

John  94,  137,  143,  164, 
175,  238,  249,  278,  389, 
393,  395,  407,  408,  410, 
433,  469 

John  G.  497,  501,  505  529 
6i36,  062 

Joseph  173,  2?;8,  269,  303 

313,  328,  469 
Leonard  533,  662 
Marvell  343 
Mary  265 
Moses  393,  469 
Moses  H.  499 
Mitchel  382,  383 
Nathaniel  155,  171,  849, 

577 

Rev.  246 

Richard  173,  235 

Samuel  315 

Stephen  515 

Thomas  52,  62,  67,  72,74. 
77,  80,  88,  93,  110,  134, 
137,  145,  170,  172,  173, 
207,  235,  252,  256,  257, 

314,  347,  458,  469 
W.  R.  521,  534 
Warner  453,  534 
William  232,  252,  269  274 

278,  388,  391 
&  George  535 
&  Swett  536 
Whittiker,  Abraham  93, 118, 161 

179,  198,  235 
Anna  221 
Daniel  311,  328 


Whittiker,  David  314.  535 

Hannah  161,  569 

J.  197 

J,ames  382,  383,  407 

Jacob  149,  153 

John  6S7 

Jonathan  Sll 

Joseph  197,  200,  347 

Peter  85  ^,  414,  469 

Sarah  547 

Samuel  328,  349 

Stephen  329,  349 

Thomas  124,  347,  349,  350 
407 

William  235,  237,243  265 
2G8,  3J*,  353,  469,   547, 
548 
Whitcomb,  Col.  389 
Whittlesev,  Rev.  Joseph  561  599 

600 
Wier  Nathaniel  60 
Wigans,  Benoni  356 
Wilcot,  Samuel  163 
Wilford,  Gilbert  94 
WUIett  cfc  Co.  460,  632 

Joshua  396 
Wild,  William  69 
Wilder,  William  74 
Williams,  Daniel  315,  841,   342, 
343,  345,  355 

Hart  330 

John  38,  00,  62,  72,  77, 
80,  94,  106,  256,  419, 
615 

Roger  28 
Willis,  Benjamin  428,450,  452, 
453,  469,  532,  628,  630, 
662 

Benjamin,  Jr.  429,  470 
471,  510 

Rev.  Lemuel  576 

Robert  67,  453,  462,  532, 
641 
Wilcomb,  Moses  393 

NicoUis  398 
Willard,  Jacob  348 

Rev.  Joseph  568 
Wilson,  Ezekiel  314,  347 

James  382,  383 

Jesse  382,  383 

John  314.  398,  399, 411 

Joseph  314 

William  314 

Rev.  W.  W.  576 

Rev.  John  49 
Wingate,  Chai  les  609 

John  374,  395,  428  . 


Moses  69,  429,   432,   494, 

662 
Wingate,  William  384,  393 
Winn,  David  469 
Wise,  Mr.  516 

Rev.  246 
Winthrop,  John  27,  645 
Withan,  Mark  400,  408 
Wood,  Ebenezer  349,  351,  400 

Joseph  396 

Nathaniel  353 

Thomas  198,  487 
Woodbridge,  Benjamin  168,  651 

John  43,  58,  651 

Joseph  251 
Woodbury,  Edward  429 

Rev.  Isaac  595 

Hannah  469 

Samuel  581 
Woodin,  John  77,  79 
Woodman,  Charles  T.  517 

Edward  42 

Ensign  268 

John  198,  429,  495,  535 . 
536,  537 

Jonathan  261,  263,  396 

Joshua  93 

Nathaniel  314 

Richard  593 

Samuel  393,  :i96 
Woodard,  or  Woodward, 

E.  G.  657 

Jacob  313,  348 

Nathaniel  659 

Stephen  341 
Wooster,  Asa  353 

Benjamin  314 

Jonathan  353 
Worthen,  Lyman  515 

L.  A.  C.  537 

Moses  352,  410 

Samuel  237,  209,  311,  312 
314 

Thomas  312,  314,  342  343 
344 
Wright,  Abel  353 
Wyman,  Jacob  469 

Levi  353 

Seth  382,  383,  388,  392 

Young,  Caleb  388 
Israel  314 
John  367 
Joseph  >ilO 
Josiah  344,  346 
Robert  353 

Youring,  Joseph  407 


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